Was your loved one abused or neglected in a nursing home in Chicago, Illinois? Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC can help you pursue justice and compensation from the nursing home, staff members, and other responsible parties. Contact us today at 312-346-8620 for a free consultation with a Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer to discuss your legal options.
Nursing home abuse can cause serious physical injuries, emotional trauma, and lasting harm to vulnerable residents. Families may also face difficult questions about how the abuse occurred and what steps they can take to protect their loved one. Our law firm can help.
Why Choose Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC to Handle My Family’s Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Claim?
Uncovering nursing home abuse can leave your entire family reeling. Stopping the abuse should be your top priority. Then it’s time to start fighting for accountability.
Nursing home abuse and neglect cases can be complex. The facility may deny wrongdoing. Insurance companies may offer lowball deals or deny responsibility. Our team at Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC can help you overcome these and any other obstacles you face.
Our Chicago personal injury lawyers offer:
- Proven results: We have represented injured clients since 1970 and have recovered more than $400 million.
- Knowledge of Illinois law: We understand the laws and regulations governing nursing homes and can use that knowledge to pursue accountability.
- Legal recognition: Our attorneys have received recognition from Martindale-Hubbell, the American Association of Personal Injury Attorneys, and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
With our Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys handling your case, you can focus on your loved one and your family. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.
What Are the Different Types of Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse isn’t always as obvious as you might think. Some physical abuse cases leave clear marks and injuries. Other victims suffer sexual, emotional, and even financial abuse. Neglect can be just as harmful as outright abuse.
Our Chicago personal injury attorneys handle all types of cases, including:
- Physical abuse, where a victim suffers from hitting, kicking, pinching, hair-pulling, rough handling and/or improper use of restraints
- Sexual abuse, including sexual touching, contact, assault or any activities of a sexual nature
- Emotional abuse, where a victim suffers because of humiliation, name-calling, belittling, threats, coercion, forced isolation and other mentally-damaging behaviors
- Financial abuse or exploitations, often involving theft, identity theft, improper use of a victim’s credit card or financial accounts, coercion or changes to wills or benefits
- Nursing home neglect or negligence, where caregivers fail to provide adequate food or water, necessary medication or medical treatments or the assistance residents need to live safely
Each type of abuse can require a different approach, from a legal perspective. Our attorneys always tailor our approach to match the victim’s circumstances and experiences.
What Is My Family’s Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth?
It’s impossible to provide an exact estimate without digging into the details. Your family’s compensation award should fully reflect the ways your loved one has suffered.
As we calculate your case value, we’ll look at:
- The nature and severity of any physical injuries and mental trauma
- The cost of medical care, rehabilitation, and therapies
- Long-term consequences, including lost mobility, independence, or financial security
- Decline in your loved one’s quality of life
- The nature of the abusive party’s actions
- The nature of the nursing home’s acts, omissions, and response
Our attorneys will work with experts in medicine, psychology, long-term care, and other specialties to build a compensation demand that fully reflects the impact of the abuse.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Nursing Home Abuse Victims in Chicago?
Nursing home abuse victims can suffer a range of damages. You can pursue compensation for any economic and non-economic damages stemming from the abuse and neglect.
Examples of compensatory damages in Illinois personal injury cases include:
- Hospital bills, doctor bills, and other medical expenses
- Costs associated with transferring to a safe facility
- Rehabilitation, therapy, and ongoing medical needs
- Property damage and restitution
- Pain and suffering
- Mental health treatment for anxiety, depression, PTSD, fear, and other mental health issues
- Diminished quality of life
- Lost enjoyment of daily activities
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Reduced life expectancy
- Punitive damages to punish for intentional abuse or reckless disregard
When you hire our attorneys, we’ll take the time to understand your family’s unique situations. We’re committed to demanding compensation to account for every impact associated with the abuse.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer for a Nursing Home Abuse Case in Chicago?
Many families worry that they can’t afford a lawyer–and we understand that worry. Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis.
With this no-risk structure:
- No initial payments: you don’t have to pay anything when we take your case
- No hourly bills: we don’t charge by the hour or send bills while your case is ongoing
- Outcome-based fees: your attorneys receive a pre-set percentage of your compensation
If we don’t recover compensation, you will owe us nothing. We’ll explain exactly how this structure works during your free consultation.
Our Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in Chicago Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Loved One’s Injuries
Victims of nursing home abuse can suffer any number of physical and mental harm, including:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Concussions
- Dislocations
- Bedsores and pressure ulcers
- Worsened medical conditions
- Soft tissue injuries
- Infections
- Nerve damage
- Genital injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage and catastrophic injuries
- Severe depression and mental suffering
We also recognize the financial impact of these and other consequences of abuse. Financial exploitation can be incredibly damaging to your loved one’s future.
What Causes Most Cases of Nursing Home Abuse in Chicago?
Abuse doesn’t just happen for no reason. It’s unfortunately often allowed to occur because of systemic failures within the nursing home itself.
Some possible underlying causes of nursing home abuse and neglect include:
- Skipping background checks, which can allow the hiring of dangerous individuals as caregivers
- Understaffing, leading to situations where residents are neglected
- Lack of oversight and accountability–abuse is much more likely when a facility lacks procedures and policies to prevent its occurrence
- Failure to adequately train and supervise staff members, so that abuse can be prevented, recognized, and stopped immediately
Ultimately, the profits-first mentality of the assisted living facility can allow abuse to occur and continue. When you hire our attorneys, we’ll work hard to identify the root cause of the abuse. With that information, we’ll have the tools to hold the right people responsible.
Who Can Be Financially Responsible for Nursing Home Abuse in Chicago?
Multiple people and legal entities may be financially responsible when you file a personal injury claim.
They might include:
- The abusive caretaker or staff member
- The nursing home
- Parent corporations that own nursing home groups or chains
- Medical professionals in cases involving negligent medical care
- Outside contractors hired to provide services
- Nursing home administrators
- Government agencies tasked with oversight and licensing
Our lawyers will carefully investigate to determine where the system failed your loved one. That will include reviewing policies, employment records, inspection reports and any available evidence.
How Do I Prove Liability for Nursing Home Abuse in Illinois?
Different legal theories can be relevant depending on the defendant’s identity and the nature of their actions.
Abusive parties can be held responsible for the intentional tort of abuse. It’s a “more likely than not” standard that applies in civil personal injury cases. In legal terms, a preponderance of the evidence standard applies. Note that the abusive party may also be criminally responsible.
Many families wonder–how could a nursing home caregiver afford to pay my family’s damages? After all, insurance doesn’t cover intentional misconduct. This is why it’s important to identify additional parties who are responsible from a legal perspective.
Most of the time, it’s the nursing home that will pay a victim’s damages. Under vicarious liability laws, employers can be financially responsible for their employees’ wrongdoing.
Nursing homes can also be responsible for their own negligence. In other words, they can be responsible for violating their duty to provide residents with a safe, secure living environment free from abuse.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit for Nursing Home Abuse in Illinois?
The statute of limitations in Illinois gives victims two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Typically, the two-year period starts on the date of any injury.
Exceptions can exist–particularly in cases involving fraud or criminal acts. The two-year period may also be subject to discovery, or the date you discovered the abuse was occurring.
Contact an Experienced Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation
It’s difficult enough to trust a nursing home with your loved one’s care. When you find that trust was violated, it’s nothing short of heartbreaking. Our team at Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC is prepared to help you fight for justice.
Call us today to schedule a free case review with a Chicago nursing home abuse attorney who can help your family get the money you deserve.