Champaign Nursing Home Wrongful Death Lawyer
Nursing homes are facilities where our elderly loved ones can be cared for with the attention they deserve. Unfortunately, some of these facilities do not uphold their duty of care, and their residents suffer severe injuries and even death due to negligence or abuse. It is extremely painful to lose a loved one for any reason, but even more so when that death is at the hands of those you entrusted to keep them safe. Some nursing home deaths result from mistreatment and negligence, and when those deaths happen, the victims leave behind distraught daughters, sons, husbands, or wives.
If you have lost your loved one in unclear circumstances in a nursing home, you have the legal right to pursue compensation for your losses through a personal injury claim. Our professionals at Patel Law, P.C. can help you with the case. We are passionate about ensuring that families of victims of wrongful deaths in nursing homes get justice and compensation. We understand that no level of compensation can make up for the loss of a loved one, but it can go a long way in consoling the family and helping to, at least, partially fill the financial gap left by the dead family member.
What are the Leading Causes of Wrongful Deaths in Nursing Facilities?
Research has shown that up to 25% of deaths in the US occur in nursing facilities. This is a very high percentage given that it is in these nursing homes where you would expect your loved one to get the best care.
While some of these deaths can be attributed to natural attrition or old age, a high proportion of the deaths result from inattentive or improper care. Some of the causes of nursing home deaths identified by the CDC (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) are chronic lower respiratory diseases, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.
These conditions are understandable if the victim passes on while they were under proper medical attention. However, there are causes of death that are preventable and result from abuse or negligence on the part of the nursing home staff. These causes of death may include:
- Sepsis
- Medication errors resulting in serious complications
- Malnutrition
- Clogged breathing tubes resulting in lack of oxygen
- Falls causing serious injuries like fractures
- Bedsores and other wounds which cause infections
- Burns from fires or chemicals
Many times, those who reside in nursing homes suffer from these conditions because of the substandard level of care offered. Whether these conditions build up over extended periods of time (like bedsores) or result from single events (like falls, choking, or burns), any form of negligence can lead to catastrophic consequences. And once death has occurred, it can never be reversed.
Negligence and Abuse Sign in Nursing Homes
If you can identify the signs of abuse or negligence in a nursing home, you may be able to save a life by bringing the matter to the attention of the nursing home administrators. The victim’s treatment regimen and living condition will have to be assessed to determine whether abuse or neglect is taking place. Abuse and negligence are difficult to uncover, and nursing homes may seek to cover up their negligence to escape legal liability.
That is why it is imperative to learn the signs of neglect and abuse in nursing homes. Some of these signs include:
- Weight loss
- Physical injuries
- Loss of interest
- Loss of appetite
- Lack of energy
- Lack of attention or visits from the nursing home employees
- Failure to provide the medications needed
- Mood swings, depression, and anxiety
- Your loved one getting too emotional when they see you
Try to be on the lookout for any behaviors or signs that are out of the ordinary. In the unfortunate event that your loved one passes on, seek help from a qualified and experienced wrongful death lawyer if you suspect negligence or abuse on the part of the nursing home staff.
Patel Law, P.C. Can Help
We understand how difficult it is to come to terms with the fact that your loved one passed on as a result of mistreatment or negligence by nursing home employees. Our skilled nursing home negligence lawyers will conduct a thorough investigation to prove the cause of death so that your family can receive the compensation you deserve for your losses. We know how nursing homes try to cover up wrongful deaths, and will attempt to expose their misdeeds.
Call or Contact Our Office Now
Have you lost a loved one wrongfully in a nursing home? If yes, you need to take immediate action before the nursing home interferes with important evidence to your case. You can contact us right away, so we dispatch a team of professionals to take up the matter.
