Saint Paul Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities have the right to receive proper care and be treated with dignity and respect. Unfortunately, these residents often suffer many forms of abuse and neglect, leading to serious injuries and damages.
At TSR Injury Law, we seek to obtain justice and fair compensation for these injured and neglected victims who may often be unable to speak for themselves. Our team of legal professionals have decades of combined experience and have successfully recovered over $1 billion for our clients, including $475,000 in compensation for an 87-year-old who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a slip and fall accident.
We have a team of knowledgeable Saint Paul nursing home abuse attorneys, including partner Rich Ruohonen, who has been selected as a Super Lawyer by Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine for the last 15 years.
We offer a free legal consultation with no upfront costs to pay. TSR Injury Law charges no fees at all unless we first achieve compensation for your loved one.
Call (612) TSR-TIME to learn more. Free consultation
How Can I Be Sure I Have A Case?
Nursing home abuse or neglect cases are complex, and there are many details about your potential claim that your attorney will need to understand before he or she can answer this question, including:
- Details regarding your loved ones injuries
- Whether your loved one may have any mental or physical limitations
- Any known history about prior abuse that may have occurred at your family member’s care home
- Staffing conditions at the time of the abuse, such as if there were too few caregivers working
- Any available evidence you may have
If you have concerns about your loved one’s well-being or suspect he or she may have been abused, we encourage you to contact one of our qualified Saint Paul nursing home abuse lawyers. We offer a free legal consultation to discuss your situation and determine whether you may have a valid case. This is also a great time to ask any questions you may have about the legal process for a nursing home abuse claim.
Call to speak with one of our Saint Paul nursing home abuse lawyers: (612) TSR-TIME
What Types of Compensation Can We Pursue?
If you have a valid case, these are the types of damages you may be eligible to pursue:
- Economic – costs incurred for medical interventions, rehabilitation or physical therapy, prescribed medication or required surgeries
- Non-economic – damages that do not have a tangible value, such as pain and suffering
- Punitive – These damages are not intended as an award for the victim, but rather designed to punish the perpetrator for his or her malicious actions.
How May a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Benefit My Claim?
Hiring an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer often results in higher settlements than for those who try to pursue this difficult type of claim on their own.
Additionally, our knowledgeable attorneys handle personal injury cases every day, as opposed to a victim or family member who is attempting to file this type of claim for the first time.
If you hire us to manage your case, there are several steps we may take to aggressively pursue maximum compensation:
- Doing a thorough investigation to gather evidence
- Speaking with authorities and other eyewitnesses on your behalf
- Accurately valuing your potential claim
- Manage each step of the legal process while keeping you fully informed
- Applying our knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations
- Working with industry experts when necessary
- Taking your case to court if we the other side will not offer a favorable settlement
What Are Nursing Home Residents’ Rights in Minnesota?
Nursing home residents in Minnesota are protected not just by federal laws, such as the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act , but also by the state. The Minnesota Bill of Patient Rights provides numerous rights and protections for nursing home residents, including:
- Being treated with dignity, respect and courtesy
- The expectation to be free from abuse and receive proper care
- The ability to create their own schedule and daily activities
- The option to pursue other medical care outside the facility
- The right to be informed about their medical care plan
- The right to communicate privately
- Access to their medical records
- The right to be informed – in advance – of pending medical treatments
- The right to refuse any recommended medical care
- The ability to manage his or her finances
Additionally, the facility must take reasonable steps to ensure each resident is fully informed about his or her rights, such as providing a translator or other types of communication assistance, if necessary.
Our St. Paul nursing home abuse lawyers understand both the federal and state laws and how they apply to your loved one’s care. Contact our office to discuss your potential claim and learn how we may be able to help.
TSR Injury Law: Complete our Free online case form today.
Who May Liable in a Case of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect?
There are multiple parties who may be liable in a case of abuse or neglect.
- Staff members – This may include anyone responsible for providing direct care to residents, including physicians, dieticians, nursing staff and other caregivers.
- Company owners – Facility owners may be liable if there are issues such as negligent hiring, inadequate background checks, lack of training or poor staff supervision.
- Third parties – There are multiple other third parties who could share liability, including contractors or individuals who are on site to visit other patients.
What Are Some Signs That May Indicate Abuse or Neglect?
Signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect may go unnoticed if family members are not able to visit their loved one frequently. Nursing home abuse takes many forms, and unfortunately, many victims are often unable to communicate what has happened to them, either out of fear or because of certain physical or mental limitations.
These are some of the most common signs of abuse or neglect to look for:
Neglect – Any type of substandard care that can result in harm to a nursing home resident
- Noticeable lack of proper hygiene
- Sudden loss of weight accompanied by dry skin and recurring infection
- Dehydration
- Overmedication
- Pressure sores
Physical Abuse – Causing injury to a resident by inflicting physical harm, such as pinching or slapping, punching, kicking or shoving that causes injury to your loved one, including:
- Severe bruising
- Sprains or strains
- Unexplained fractures
- Lacerations
- Concussions
Sexual Abuse – Any non-consensual sexual contact that is forced upon a nursing home resident may lead to:
- Pelvic injuries
- Severe bruising that is focused mainly on the arms, breasts, genitals or legs
- Atypical or sudden difficulty with walking and/or sitting
- The presence of a sexually transmitted disease
- Torn or bloody underwear
- Unexplained spotting or bleeding
- Agitation, depression or moodiness
- Depression or becoming emotionally withdrawn
- Sudden onset of panic attacks
Emotional/Psychological Abuse – Although there are no physical injuries with this type of abuse, which is caused by purposely isolating, bullying, verbally abusing or publicly humiliating a resident, there are still certain behaviors that may suddenly appear, such as:
- Becoming emotionally withdrawn
- Refusing to socialize
- Depression
- Loss of appetite
- Sudden onset of body rocking or thumb sucking
- Mumbling things that do not make sense
Financial Fraud – It can be very difficult to catch caretakers or other parties who take financial advantage of an elderly resident, including stealing money, using a resident’s credit or debit card, or intimidating a patient into signing over his or her power of attorney. However, there may be signs such as:
- Being billed for unexplained medications the resident does not normally take or atypical services
- Personal items of value may go missing
- Unusual purchases may show up on bank statements or credit card bills
- Cash withdrawals that happen at unusual times, such as when the resident is sleeping
- Unexplained medical bills, such as being billed twice for a service that was never received
Are you concerned your loved one may have suffered abuse? Call TSR Injury Law today: (612) TSR-TIME
How Long Do I Have To File A Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit?
Like other types of Minnesota personal injury claims, a case of nursing home abuse must be filed within the state’s strict two-year statute of limitations – or deadline. It is important to note, however, that since no claim is the same, your potential case could be regulated by a different timeline.
We encourage you to contact our team of nursing home abuse lawyers today. If you have a case, we will have ample time to investigate and file before the deadline passes.
What You Can Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
- Speak to the administrator, director or owner of the facility
- Contact the Office of the Area Ombudsman for elderly Minnesota Residents
- Report the abuse to the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center to create an official record of the incident. This call center is available to take your calls 24/7
If you suspect your elderly family member has suffered any type of nursing home neglect or abuse, protect them from further harm by immediately reporting the incident immediately. We also strongly recommend that you contact a trusted nursing home abuse lawyer to discuss potential legal options.
Contact a Saint Paul Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Our personal injury attorneys at TSR Injury Law have been giving a voice to injured victims for over 20 years and have recovered millions in compensation on their behalf. If you hire our team of legal professionals, we are prepared to handle the entire legal process of your case, protecting your rights and bests interests, as well as keeping you informed.
If we determine you have a case and you hire us to represent you, we will investigate your claim to the fullest, including gathering statements, medical reports and any other evidence that may strengthen your claim.
Our phone lines are open 24/7. (612) TSR-TIME Free consultation.
