Birmingham Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

Justice for Your Loved Ones Residing in Birmingham Nursing Homes

Cross & Smith has a reputation as experienced Birmingham nursing home abuse attorneys. Our firm passionately represents the rights of the elderly and has recovered substantial recoveries for victims injured by nursing home abuse and neglect. In addition to abuse cases, our Birmingham nursing home neglect lawyers are committed to helping you achieve the greatest possible recovery at trial or through settlement. Because it is the largest city in Alabama, Birmingham and the surrounding areas have a large elderly population that often requires nursing home care.

Nursing Home Abuse

We entrust the care of our elders to those who promise quality treatment. Some patients require around-the-clock supervision by medical professionals and staff. Others need help with basic life requirements that only a skilled nursing facility can provide. Sadly, many of these patients are vulnerable to abuse by the staff of nursing home facilities that are not properly managed. The abuse may take the form of physical injury or emotional scars. Signs of intentional nursing home abuse include:

• Cigarette burns
• Deep cuts and bruises
• Visible strangle marks
• Fractures, broken bones
• Overmedication, sedation
• Withholding needed service
• Intentional infliction of shame

Nursing home abuse is a serious crime and should be reported immediately. Any unexplained physical marks or change in behavior may indicate intentional abuse. Staff members who suspect or know of abuse are required to report directly to law enforcement. Injured patients and affected family members are also entitled to compensation in a civil proceeding. At the first signs of abuse, it is important to consult with a lawyer. Our Birmingham nursing home neglect lawyers will know how best to proceed.

How to Recognize the Signs of Nursing Home Neglect

The doctors and staff at nursing home facilities are supposed to be skilled health care providers. This requires providing for the patient’s basic needs and honoring reasonable requests. Failure to perform these duties may result in rapid deterioration of the patient’s health and quality of life. Small mistakes can lead to large complications and even death. Signs of neglect may include:

• Bed sores
• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• Constipation
• Open wounds
• Unsanitary odor
• Chronic infection
• Weakness or fatigue
• Weight loss, swelling

Because elderly patients take longer to recover, the consequences of neglect are severe. Failure to provide adequate food or water deprives patients of nutrients essential to survive. The resulting weakness makes patients more vulnerable to instability and falls that break bones. Complications from surgery and post-operative treatment further compromise patient health. This is how minor mishaps seriously hamper recovery and even lead to death. Nursing home negligence refers to any act or failure to act. The patient’s resulting injury often involves a staff member’s failure to:

• Fill out charts
• Change bed sheets
• Provide a clean catheter
• Administer enema, laxative
• Properly bathe, dress wound
• Give correct medication, dose
• Prevent and treat pressure sores
• Ensure proper feeding, hydration
• Help patients out of bed, to restroom

Liability for Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Nursing homes and other medical facilities in Birmingham and other areas of Alabama employ around-the-clock staff, including temporary workers and outside contractors. Many nursing home patients die from pneumonia and urinary tract infections that could have been prevented but for careless mistakes of the staff. Because the facility is responsible for the negligent acts of its employees, injured patients may have a claim against the individual staff members, employers, outside contractors, and the facility owner. The responsible physician may also be liable for medical malpractice. Injured patients are entitled to damages for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. If the patient died as a result of abuse or neglect, the family may recover damages for wrongful death. In Alabama, liability for nursing home abuse and neglect is governed by the Alabama Medical Liability Act. As our Birmingham nursing home neglect attorneys can tell you, this statute provides strict requirements for proof and establishing liability in nursing home cases.

How a Birmingham Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer Can Assist with Your Claims of Abuse or Neglect

Even families that promptly report nursing home abuse or neglect cannot shorten the waiting time until they see relief. However, an experienced local lawyer often has the knowledge and resources that can help ease the stress. Individuals who turn to a nursing home abuse or neglect attorney can expect the following types of assistance:

• Incident reporting: Attorneys know the people and processes required to report these incidents, and they can often cut through red tape to accelerate the process.
• Advice: A nursing home abuse lawyer can help families identify when they need to take immediate action to protect their loved ones, even before complaints can be resolved through normal channels.
• Resources: Attorneys can identify options to help families that need to find immediate alternative care, ranging from other facilities that can take seniors in on a temporary basis to helping find caregivers who can provide necessary care in the family home.

When a loved one is at risk, time is of the essence. Obtaining experienced legal support may be the best way to obtain quick and thorough results.

Birmingham Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Dedicated to Helping You

If you were injured or lost a loved one due to nursing home abuse or neglect, the experienced Birmingham nursing home abuse attorneys of Cross & Smith can help. For over 20 years, we have helped injured patients and bereft family members get back on their feet. While a monetary award could never make up for the suffering endured by the patient, the process of recovering compensation from those responsible may help. In these cases, it is often difficult to get to the source of injury because incidents of abuse or neglect are covered up in the patient’s chart. At Cross & Smith, we thoroughly investigate all medical records to identify the liable parties and help recover compensation for you. In 2012, there are at least 50 facilities in the Greater Birmingham Area that provide nursing home services. Most of these homes and their staff provide excellent care. We understand the sensitive nature of such cases and pursue each claim with dignity and respect. Call (877) 791-0618 for a confidential consultation or contact us online.