Even though many people know about nursing home abuse and think they ask enough questions when choosing to care for a loved one, physical, sexual, or emotional nursing home abuse still happens in Gladstone and the surrounding areas.
If you think your loved one is being mistreated in a nursing home in Gladstone, MO, Ricket Law Firm is here to help. Nursing homes have been in the news for years because they are common places to get coronavirus. As more people in nursing homes got sick or died, more family members, journalists, and loved ones asked large care organizations to be more open.
But most nursing homes are run by big companies with smart lawyers who will fight hard for their company in a case of abuse. So you will need our skilled Gladstone nursing home abuse lawyers. They have years of experience winning compensation for our client’s pain and suffering and other damages caused by personal injury, abuse, or neglect. Call our medical malpractice law firm today to learn more.
Why Do You Need Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Missouri?
If you think your loved one’s safety is in danger, it is a good idea to work with our skilled nursing home abuse lawyer. We give you legal advice and support throughout the process while we find the facts and evidence to back up your case. There are also other reasons to hire our competent nursing home abuse lawyers in Gladstone, MO, such as:
Uphold Your Rights
When you file a case of nursing home abuse or neglect, you have legal rights to protect and duties to carry out. Our Gladstone nursing home abuse lawyers will ensure that your claim fits the criteria for negligence or abuse and that the attorney-client privilege is upheld.
Gather Evidence
Your claim of abuse or neglect in a nursing home must be based on evidence. We will try to find medical records, bills, expert testimony, and eyewitness accounts that show the nursing home or its staff did not meet their general or medical duty of care.
Focus on Your Family Member
Your loved one’s health and happiness depend on how safe they are. Our skilled nursing home abuse lawyers will devise a plan to get them out of harm’s way and then look for ways to get them paid.
Talk With Insurance Companies
An insurance adjuster’s job is to determine if a policy should cover the different parts of your claim. So, their view may not match up with the truth. We will fight against denials to ensure you get the money your family deserves.
Litigate a Claim
If you can’t reach a deal with the insurance company, the next step is to take your case to civil court. Our competent Gladstone nursing home abuse lawyers will start the legal process before trial by filing a petition, gathering evidence, taking depositions, going to mediation, and proving your case at trial.
Our medical malpractice and elder abuse law firm helps people in Gladstone and all over Missouri who have been injured in a nursing home. We have worked on cases like yours for years and helped claimants win settlements and court awards. Schedule a consultation with us to discuss your potential nursing home neglect case!
What is Nursing Home Abuse?
Abuse in a nursing home happens when a caretaker or other person hurts a resident on purpose or by accident. Abuse can happen in many ways and can lead to physical harm, emotional trauma, emergency medical care, long-term injuries, or even death.
Some common ways that elderly people are abused in Gladstone nursing homes are:
Physical
Physical abuse of nursing home patients can happen when a staff member hits or kicks a resident on purpose to harm them. But physical abuse can also occur when a staff member mistreats a patient or in the wrong way, such as:
- Getting the patient into and out of bed
- Giving the resident a bath
- Helping the person in the bathroom
- Changing the clothes of the resident
- Taking part in other things
Emotional
Any kind of emotional abuse can hurt a patient’s spirit just as much as physical abuse injures their body. It can make it hard for the patient to get along with family, friends, staff, and other people living in the same place.
- Emotional abuse can take the form of:
- Threatening to hurt the patient or acting as if they would
- Intimidation
- Name-calling
- Embarrassing the patient in front of their family or other residents
- Blaming the patient for things they did or did not do
- Putting the patient aside
- Separating the patient from the other residents or not letting them take part in activities
- Not letting the person use the bathroom or go outside
- Taking away any personal or sentimental items from the patient
- Letting the sick patient know that no one wants to see them
Sexual
Sexual abuse happens when a person touches a resident in an intimate way without permission. It can also happen when a member of staff forces a resident to take off their clothes, take a bath, pose for pictures, or touch other residents.
Women and patients with dementia who can’t defend themselves or tell a family member, friend, or another person in charge about the abuse are often sexually abused.
Financial
Financial abuse can happen when someone takes the resident’s money or property. But it can also occur when someone takes advantage of a patient’s mental or emotional weakness and gets them to give up money or property on their own. This kind of abuse can come from the staff, other residents, or even family and friends.
What Are the Common Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?
This puts them at risk for many kinds of abuse in a nursing home, which can manifest as:
- Elopement
- Dehydration
- Broken bones
- Bedsores or pressure ulcers
- Malnutrition
- Sudden loss or gain of weight
- Infection
- Emotionally agitated
- Other residents have died or been hurt in ways that can’t be explained
Then there are signs of abuse that can’t be seen, such as:
- Sudden changes in mood and behavior
- Fear or going quiet all of a sudden when staff is around
- Paranoia
- Not being interested in things they used to like
Who Do You Inform About the Abuse?
Call 911 if there is an immediate, life-threatening danger.
If you think someone is abusing you or if you are being abused, you can call the Missouri Adult Protective Services (APS) office at 800-392-0210. Their abuse and neglect hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by people from Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services. It can be hard to do this on your own, so it’s best to tell a trusted doctor, friend, or family member.
How Can You Report Abuse in Missouri?
When you call APS, they will need to know certain things before they can investigate the abuser or the home.
- The victim’s name, address, phone number, age, gender, and health.
- The same information needs to be given about the person who hurts them.
- The things that make the reporter think that the alleged victim is being abused, ignored, or used. Even if it’s hard, the reporter must be very clear.
- Whether the victim is in immediate danger, the best time to reach them, and does the victim know that a report has been made.
- If you are not the victim and are reporting on behalf of the victim, you will need to give your contact information and explain how you know the victim.
- If there is any other important information, please give it. The more information the investigator has, the more they can do.
The reporter, the person who was hurt, and the investigator will keep their identities secret. When a report is made in good faith, the person who reports the abuse can’t be sued in civil or criminal court and can’t be harassed, fired, or punished in any way. In case of abuse, there will also be a long-term care ombudsman at the care facility. These are people who give their time to help people who have been abused feel less alone.
Because the ombudsman is unbiased, many residents who have been injured would rather talk to them than to a staff member or a family member. The ombudsman ensures the victim’s information stays private, supports them, and can even speak up for them if they want.
What Happens Following a Reported Nursing Home Abuse?
An investigation will be launched. Interviews with the reporter, relevant witnesses, and the offender are all part of this. After the inquiry is completed, their findings will be presented in one of three categories:
- Reason to Believe. There is substantial evidence to back the report’s allegations.
- Suspected. Based on the investigator’s assessment, the allegations in the report are probable or likely.
- Unsubstantiated. There is no proof to back up the charges.
Often, more than one sort of abuse is being investigated against the perpetrator against the same victim, but the investigator can only prove one. For example, a reporter may allege physical, emotional, and financial abuse but only uncover evidence to support the financial charge.
If there is evidence to back up the allegations of abuse, intervention services will arrange for the victim to be transferred or whatever the victim considers necessary. The victim gets to choose where they go from here.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Gladstone Nursing Home Abuse Claim?
There are two types of damages: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are financial losses suffered by the victim or the victim’s family, such as additional hospital bills, money stolen from financial exploitation, and so on. If the nursing home resident required medical care to treat injuries sustained at the nursing home, those costs would be factored into their damages.
Non-economic damages compensate the victim and their family for the pain and suffering caused by the defendant’s abuse and neglect.
When negotiating with the nursing home’s lawyers, our skilled nursing home abuse lawyers will add up the total costs and include them in their settlement letter. However, loved ones might seek another sort of compensation in court. These damages are much more difficult to assess because they are based on an individual’s subjective experience of abuse, neglect, or violence. However, we can help your loved one get the compensation they deserve.
What Are the Possible Challenges to Overcome If You File a Claim Alone?
The laws of the United States give people the right to sue without the assistance of a lawyer. However, you may face certain difficulties as you traverse the legal system. As you consider your alternatives, keep the following points in mind:
Insurance Companies Will Fight Back Through Their Attorneys
Lawsuits are regarded as a risk to doing business by insurance companies. While this may appear harsh, it is correct. Every day, insurers are served with a lawsuit. As a result, they retain in-house counsel that feeds on dismissing insurance claims. Fighting them without the assistance of our skilled Gladstone nursing home abuse lawyer might be overwhelming when filing a nursing home abuse claim.
You Will Be Held to the Same Standards in Court
In addition to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, each state enacts its own rules. When drafting court documents and presenting your arguments, judges expect you to understand these requirements. A single blunder could derail your entire case and lead to its dismissal in court.
It is Expensive to Finance Your Lawsuit
Proving a nursing home abuse lawsuit necessitates significant financial and time resources. Filing fees, expert testimony, depositions, and mediation all cost well into the five figures. In the past, persons who filed lawsuits on their own would fund their cases by taking out a line of credit or selling their property.
While the list above does not include every challenge you will face, it does provide a fair image of self-representation in a nursing home abuse case. Hiring our trained Missouri nursing home abuse lawyers has various advantages. Call us today to educate you on how we can assist you with your nursing home abuse claim.
Facts About Gladstone, Missouri
Gladstone, like neighboring North Kansas City, is now totally encompassed by Kansas City. Before 1952, this neighborhood was known as Linden. According to the 2010 census, the population was 25,410. Happy Rock is the city’s informal nickname, and there is a Happy Rock Park near the northeastern city borders on Old Antioch Road.
The Mid-Continent Public Library system and the North Kansas City School District serve the city. Tornadoes strike the city multiple times per year.
The Gladstone Four Corners Monument is a popular tourist destination because it is where four states (Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa) meet. The monument is made up of four large stone pillars, each one representing one of the states. Visitors can take photos of the monument and learn more about the history of the area.
The Liberty Memorial Museum is another popular tourist destination in Gladstone, Missouri. The museum is dedicated to the history of the United States. It features a variety of exhibits on topics such as the American Revolution, the Civil War, and World War II. Visitors can also see a replica of the Statue of Liberty and learn about the history of the Liberty Bell.
The Arabia Steamboat Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in riverboats or American history. The museum is located on the site of the Arabia, a steamboat that sank in the Missouri River in 1856. The museum features a variety of exhibits on the history of the steamboat, as well as a replica of the boat itself. Visitors can also take a ride on a replica of the Arabia steamboat.
Call Our Gladstone Nursing Home Abuse Law Firm If You Suspect Abuse
If a loved one is living in a Gladstone nursing home and you are concerned about the possibility of abuse or neglect, it is important to consult with one of our skilled nursing home abuse lawyers. We can help you understand your legal rights and options and can help you take action to protect yourself or your loved one.
We will intervene immediately to ensure that your loved one is secure in their environment and receiving sufficient care. If your loved one is injured due to nursing home abuse or negligence, we will make certain that they are compensated for their injuries. Don’t put off safeguarding your loved one if you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect. Contact our Gladstone nursing home abuse law firm right away.
How to Get to Ricket Law?
- Get on I-35 S in KCMO from MO-1 S/NE Antioch Rd
- Follow I-35 S and U. S. Hwy 71 S to Euclid Ave in Kaw Township. Take the exit toward Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd/Swope Pkwy from U. S. Hwy 71 S
- Take Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. to your destination
