Abuse is the last thing most families imagine when they leave their elderly loved ones in the care of a nursing home or long-term living facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Unfortunately, nursing homes can fail to properly care for their elderly residents. In some cases, residents can be subject to traumatic incidents of intentional abuse.
If you are dealing with a case of nursing home abuse or neglect in Doña Ana County, the Fine Law Firm is here to help. Our medical malpractice attorneys in Las Cruces are highly experienced and can go up against any nursing home in pursuit of justice and maximum compensation for clients. Contact us today to start with a free consultation.
Why Choose The Fine Law Firm?
- We are prepared to do what it takes to achieve justice for victims of nursing home abuse and neglect in the Las Cruces community, including taking cases to trial when needed.
- Our law firm has been trusted to achieve real case results when it matters most. We have collected millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
- Our nursing home abuse lawyers in Las Cruces operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will only have to pay attorney’s fees if we win your case.
What Can a Las Cruces Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Do for You?
The legal process involved in getting justice for your loved one’s nursing home abuse in Las Cruces can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. When you hire a lawyer, you gain an entire legal team that will take care of the legwork of your injury claim so that you can focus on what matters most.
An experienced attorney can investigate the nursing home, gather evidence of abuse or neglect, hire qualified experts, handle insurance negotiations, and represent you in court if settlement negotiations fail. A law firm will make sure you and your family have everything you need during a difficult time. In the meantime, they will fight for maximum compensation for your losses.
About Nursing Home Abuse in New Mexico
Nursing home abuse is the crime of a person knowingly and intentionally causing harm to a senior resident while living in a nursing home or long-term care facility. It often involves an abuse of power, where a nursing home staff member or caregiver takes advantage of their position to abuse or mistreat the vulnerable residents in their care.
Resident abuse can stem from institutional issues such as negligent hiring and training procedures, insufficient staff background checks, lack of supervision, and poor oversight. If an elderly resident is harmed due to nursing home abuse, the victim (or victim’s family) has the right to file a civil claim in New Mexico.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse
According to a survey conducted by the World Health Organization, an estimated 1 in 6 seniors over the age of 60 experienced some form of abuse in the past year. Abuse rates were highest in long-term living institutions such as nursing homes.
There are four main types of nursing home abuse:
- Physical abuse: hitting, kicking, slapping, pinching, burning or beating a nursing home resident. Improper use of restraints and withholding food or water can also be types of physical abuse.
- Emotional abuse: berating, yelling at, humiliating, demeaning, isolating, manipulating or verbally abusing a victim with the goal of causing mental or emotional harm.
- Sexual abuse: committing sex crimes against a nursing home resident, such as rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, inappropriate touching, and sodomy.
- Financial abuse: financially exploiting a nursing home resident, or the illegal and unauthorized use of the victim’s money, assets or property.
There is also nursing home neglect, where a nursing home resident receives a subpar level of care or is ignored or abandoned by caregivers. Elder abuse and neglect can have serious consequences for the defenseless victims.
What Are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse targets one of New Mexico’s most vulnerable populations. Many people who rely on nursing homes have physical and/or mental disabilities that prevent them from speaking up about nursing home abuse.
It is important for family members to pay attention to their loved ones in nursing homes and to look for signs of abuse and neglect. Red flags can include:
- Frequent or unexplained physical injuries
- Strange patterns of bruising or cuts
- Sudden weight loss
- Signs of malnourishment or dehydration
- Injuries to private parts
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Changes in mood or behavior
- Signs of medical neglect, such as untreated bedsores
- Poor physical hygiene
- Becoming withdrawn or noncommunicative
There can also be signs within the facility itself, such as dirty or poorly maintained premises, unclean living conditions, fatigued or missing staff members, and dangerous property hazards. Try to visit your loved one often in a Las Cruces nursing home to check in.
Seeking Justice for Nursing Home Abuse in Las Cruces
As soon as you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, remove your loved one from the premises and bring him or her to a hospital for prompt medical care. In an emergency, call 911. Report the abuse to management at the nursing home as well as outside parties, such as the New Mexico Department of Health or Health Care Authority.
Document the abuse in as much detail as you can. Take pictures of any visible injuries. Keep copies of the victim’s medical records and treatment-related bills. Then, bring your case to the attorneys at The Fine Law Firm for a free evaluation. We can help you take the next steps required to file your nursing home abuse injury claim in Las Cruces.
Types of Compensation Available
With our help, you and your family may be able to collect fair financial compensation for a variety of losses associated with the nursing home abuse. We will pursue maximum compensation for:
- Medical care
- Relocation
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Property losses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Wrongful death damages
Your family may also be eligible for extra compensation in the form of punitive damages, which aim to punish a defendant for intentional elder abuse or gross negligence. Our lawyers are prepared to go to trial on your behalf to achieve the case results you deserve.
Contact Us for a Cost-Free Nursing Home Abuse Case Review in Las Cruces
Nursing home abuse in Las Cruces is a betrayal to your family and a tragedy for your loved one. If someone close to you has been harmed while they were entrusted to the care of a local nursing home, take the proper steps to get medical help and report the abuse. Then, take legal action against the nursing home with help from the Fine Law Firm. Contact us now through our website or by calling (505) 889-FINE for a free initial consultation.