Call a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today
We have been advocating for the injured since 1984. Let us fight to hold wrongdoers accountable and recover the financial damages your family needs.
CALL US NOW Do You Have a Nursing Home Abuse Case?
Long-term care facilities, the people they hire, and any companies they contract with have a responsibility to care for residents to the best of their ability. Unfortunately, they do not always live up to this responsibility. Nursing homes may fail residents by:
- Not hiring enough staff to ensure residents are properly looked after
- Not vetting staff before bringing them on or not providing appropriate on-the-job training
- Refusing to investigate or take action when staff is accused of abusing or neglecting residents
When a nursing home resident suffers injuries like bedsores, it generally means that the home and/or a worker employed by the home has been negligent. Negligence is the basis for nursing home abuse cases, so if you can prove that your loved one’s injuries were preventable, you could have a case.
Our Personal Injury Attorney Can Prove Negligence in Your Case
At The Rooth Law Firm, we understand that you are currently focused on caring for your loved one or grieving the loss of a loved one who passed away from abuse-related injuries. You can depend on our law firm to collect evidence like medical records and bills, photos or videos, prior complaints against the home, and witness testimony to prove that:
- The nursing home had a duty to care for your loved one
- The nursing home failed in their duty
- This failure caused your loved one’s bedsores and all related economic and non-economic losses
What to Do if Your Loved One Was the Victim of Negligence
If you suspect your loved one is in danger, your first step should be to get help. This may involve calling the Chicago Police Department and Adult Protective Services (APS) or making a complaint with the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Once your loved one is out of immediate danger, you can call our firm and have us start looking for evidence of negligence. If we find that negligence caused your loved one’s bedsores, we are ready and willing to do everything possible to get the nursing home’s insurance company to pay for your losses. As a small but aggressive firm, we can:
- File a claim with the insurance company
- Negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement
- Take the nursing home to trial and fight for a jury verdict
Our main priority is earning your trust and confidence. We understand how traumatizing a nursing home pressure ulcer can be for both the resident and their entire family. This is part of why we are well-regarded throughout the Chicago area: we are fervently dedicated to helping clients move forward after such devastating injuries.
We Can Seek Damages to Help Your Family Rebuild
The Rooth Law Firm can handle even the most complex of bedsore cases. We work hard to recover the compensation you deserve so you no longer have to worry about paying for:
- The cost of your loved one’s medical treatment
- The cost of relocating your loved one to a new nursing home
- Any other money lost, such as if your loved one was the victim of financial abuse
You may also have the right to pursue compensation for the physical and emotional pain your loved one endured:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- New or worsened disability
- Scarring or disfigurement
It’s important to ask for an amount that accurately reflects your losses. Otherwise, the insurance company may be able to push back against your claim and reduce or deny your payout.
Robert J. Rooth has a great deal of experience helping clients from the Chicago area, so he and our entire legal team can make sure you pursue the maximum amount you are eligible for. We provide you with clear, attentive guidance as you seek justice for your loved one. Call today and pay nothing until you get financial compensation.
What Causes Bedsores in Nursing Home Residents?
Also known as pressure ulcers or pressure sores, bedsores are wounds caused by prolonged pressure or friction (e.g., skin rubbing against cloth) on a particular area of the body, especially bony areas and joints. Nursing home employees should know the causes of bedsores, know whether the resident is at risk for developing a bedsore and be proactive about preventing them by:
- Regularly moving patients who cannot or struggle to move independently
- Keeping patients clean and dry, since dampness can irritate the skin
- Monitoring patients for bedsore symptoms and taking action at the first signs of injury
If staff is not trained well enough to understand the risk of bedsores, or if they are overworked or underpaid to the point where they can no longer do their jobs, the residents may end up paying the price.
An injury caused by inadequate nursing home wound care can be a major cause of stress and frustration. While many bedsores get better with time and treatment, they can quickly become life-threatening, especially if the resident has preexisting health issues that make it difficult for them to heal or to fight off infections.
In worst-case scenarios, bedsores may become infected, resulting in painful wounds, amputation, or even death. The Rooth Law Firm understands how debilitating these injuries can be, and the suffering that it can cause for families who have lost loved ones due to complications from bedsores. We can provide the compassionate legal representation you need during this difficult time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Homes and Bedsore Injuries
It is natural to have many questions and concerns as you consider taking legal action in response to nursing home neglect or abuse. We are available 24/7 to answer questions like the following for our Chicago-based clients.
Who Is at Risk of Developing Bedsores?
Nursing home residents who are disabled or have trouble moving independently may be at increased risk of bedsores. The risk increases if staff do not take steps to prevent sores and to keep patients clean and well-groomed.
What Is the Average Payout for a Bedsore Lawsuit?
Calculating an “average” payout would be very difficult, as many personal injury settlements are kept confidential. Even if we could calculate this number, it would not be relevant to your case: your payout is based on your specific losses, not on what other injured plaintiffs received in the past.
Our lawyer can work closely with you to understand the ways that this injury has affected your family and identify all the damages you may qualify for. If the insurance company offers less than a fair amount, we can fight back.
Are Bedsore Lawsuits Hard to Win?
Every case is different. How straightforward or complex your case is depends on:
- What and how much evidence is available
- If there is any disagreement about liability or the chain of events
- If the nursing home or their insurance company cooperate with your claim
- How many liable parties there are
We will explain how these and other factors may come into play in your case. If and when we run into any obstacles, our firm will be prepared to fight back.
How Difficult Is it to Sue a Nursing Home?
It is important to note that most nursing home abuse cases do not go to court, meaning we resolve the case without a trial.
If necessary, we are certainly happy to file a lawsuit and go to trial on your behalf and present your case to a jury, which involves:
- Selecting jury members
- Submitting trial exhibits
- Preparing and questioning witnesses
- Presenting your entire case before a judge and jury
Although the process of filing a lawsuit and taking a case to trial may take a long time to complete, The Rooth Law Firm does everything we can to advance your case in an expeditious manner and would handle all day-to-day tasks. All you would have to do is receive regular updates from us, ask questions as you think of them, and stay focused on ensuring your family’s wellbeing.
If Your Loved One Suffered Bedsore Injuries, Let Our Chicago Lawyer Help
You do not have to go through your nursing home bedsore case alone. The Rooth Law Firm has over four decades of experience helping Chicago residents like you with their legal cases. We treat each client with attentive personal care, which is absolutely necessary to achieve the best possible results for you and your loved ones. Call now for a free consultation to learn more.
