Nursing home neglect is more common than most people realize. Some studies show that the worldwide nursing home neglect rate is higher than 15%, which means that tens of thousands of people are injured each year due to negligent care they receive in nursing homes, and the impact can be profound. Victims of nursing home neglect can experience bone fractures, malnutrition, dehydration, bedsores, and medication errors, any of which can prove fatal.
If you or a loved one has been hurt by nursing home negligence, then taking legal action may be the only way for you to obtain a sense of justice and recover compensation for the damage caused. As you prepare your claim, though, you have to be careful that you don’t make costly mistakes that could jeopardize your case. That’s why in this post we want to consider what you can do to avoid falling into common pitfalls in nursing home neglect cases.
Mistakes to avoid in a nursing home neglect case
You might think your nursing home neglect case is straightforward, but in reality, it’s going to be fraught with complications. As a result, here are some of the common mistakes that plaintiff’s often make in these cases:
- Failing to act: A lot of nursing home neglect victims try to tough out their injuries or are afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation. But having your voice heard through a lawsuit may be the only way to ensure you recover what you deserve and bring dangerous behavior to a stop. Don’t wait too long to act, either, as doing so could give the nursing home more time to cover up their egregious acts, and you might forget key details of the neglect that are crucial to your case.
- Improperly documenting neglect: When you file your nursing home neglect case, you need to be as thorough and detailed as possible, capturing every incidence of neglect that occurred. That can be hard to recall, especially if there have been several incidences or if your memory just gets a little fuzzy over time. Writing down each incidence of neglect can help you capture a lot of the information you need to build a strong case.
- Not seeking out medical treatment: Nursing home neglect can lead to serious medical conditions. Those conditions need to be treated properly. If medical care if foregone after neglect, then you or your loved one’s health can be at risk, and it can be hard to show why you need to recover compensation for the harm suffered. Don’t hesitate to seek out care, then, and be sure that the doctor’s orders are followed.
- Settling without a proper analysis: After filing your nursing home neglect claim, there’s a fair chance that you’re going to be approached with a settlement offer. This offer might seem tempting since it promises to resolve your case quickly, but it’s probably not in your best interests. Don’t settle your nursing home neglect case until you’ve fully analyzed the facts and your losses. Only then can you tell if a settlement offer is right for you.
Start building your nursing home neglect case today
You or your loved one need relief after nursing home neglect occurs. Taking legal action to find accountability might seem overwhelming, but the process can seem easier when you work with your attorney to build your case. You don’t want to wait too long to start gathering evidence and crafting arguments, though, as that could weaken your case. So, if you’re ready to get to work building your nursing home neglect case, then now is the time to learn all you can about the process.