West Virginia Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Nursing Home Abuse Claims throughout West Virginia

For over 30 years, the Fitzsimmons Firm has provided the highest quality legal representation to victims of nursing home abuse. When an elderly loved one can no longer care for themselves, either through physical disabilities, medical problems or loss of cognitive abilities, it can be difficult to come to the decision that they should be cared for professionally. Usually after much thought and evaluation of various options, many then entrust their care into the hands of the professionals in a nursing home.

Loving families fully believe that their loved one will be cared for with compassion and respect, and that this will help them stay healthy and safe. In recent years, as the population ages, there has been an increase in the number nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities that serve the community and offer to care for the elderly. Tragically, there has also been a frightening increase in the numbers of cases of abuse, neglect and loss of life through nursing home abuse throughout the state. There are countless reports of deficiencies, abuse the rights of residents as well as cases of failures to provide good nutrition, cases of mistreatment, and failures to correctly assess the condition of the resident.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in West Virginia

There are several types of nursing home abuse cases that the firm represents, including cases of abandonment, malnutrition & dehydration, a failure to treat an illness or condition, fall accidents, bed sores and bruises, broken bones, head injuries, medication errors, poor hygiene, doctor errors, nursing errors, physical abuse, and tragic instances of wrongful death that is the result of negligent care. The West Virginia nursing home abuse lawyer from the firm should immediately evaluate your case if you suspect that your loved one has suffered any injury or harm due to negligence or neglect. If the signs of abuse are evident, they should be acted upon quickly for the safety of your loved one. These facilities are owned and operated for profit, and in many cases, the victim who pays the price for their cost-cutting measures is an innocent elderly resident.

When an elderly relative can no longer speak for themselves, such as in cases of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, you must trust what you observe. Is your relative poorly cared for, showing bruises from restraints, or have bedsores or appear to be uncared for, dirty or suffering from malnutrition? These facilities cut corners on training and could have hired unqualified staff that do not make the effort to care for the patients, and in many cases have been found to engage in illegal acts, including over-medicating their residents to keep them quiet. The Adult Protective Services Act was enacted in 2004, requiring the legal obligation to report abuse when it is suspected.

Over-medication can lead to serious physical problems, dehydration, malnutrition and other problems that threaten their lives. If your loved one is always sleeping, groggy, flinches when you come near them, has bruising or appears to be frightened, they may have been a victim of abuse. After a long and productive lifetime, raising a family, and being respected members of the community, the least that could be expected is that their final years are lived out in a facility that cares for them with love, compassion, kindness and professional treatment. This is sadly not what occurs in many cases, and an elderly person can be the victim of criminal acts of negligence or neglect. In such cases, a civil claim can be filed against the facility and other liable parties to seek compensation for damages.

The legal team at the firm is zealous advocates for elders' rights, and can assist you to resolve these terrible cases of abuse. Some are the victims of financial abuse and a caretaker has gained access to their bank accounts or credit cards, while others can ha ve suffered from physical abuse, such as kicking, slapping or even been suffering from a serious illness that was not identified or treated correctly. The firm will take action and file a claim against the negligent facility. The legal team has achieved many victories in personal injury cases, and is recognized throughout the legal community as a high quality, professional firm with the skills you need to get your case resolved. The first step is to contact the firm to discuss your case. They can quickly evaluate the situation and advise you what can be done to pursue compensation for damages, including the pain and suffering that has been inflicted on your loved one.

The Fitzsimmons Firm has received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, U.S. News recognized them as one of the first tier 2011-2012 Best Law Firms, and the National Law Journal listed them as having Top 100 Verdicts in the United States. Our accomplished legal team can provide the highest quality, professional legal counsel in cases of nursing home abuse.

Contact a West Virginia nursing home abuse lawyer from the firm for immediate legal counsel.