Lake Charles Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyer

Experienced Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Attorney in Lake Charles

Louisiana’s nursing home abuse and neglect laws exist to protect injured parties from negligent or harmful healthcare workers. A Lake Charles nursing home abuse & neglect lawyer can support you throughout your case.

By filing a claim, you can hold the right people responsible for their actions and secure fair compensation for your losses. Navigating these types of cases can be difficult, especially when it comes to finding clear proof to establish your claims.

Since we opened our doors over half a century ago, Cox Law Firm has been dedicated to making our clients whole again after they’ve suffered serious losses. Filing against well-protected parties like nursing home employees can be daunting.

It’s beneficial to work with a legal professional who’s been through these types of claims before. As a local nursing home abuse & neglect law firm, we’re comfortable advocating for our clients in and out of the courtroom.

Opening a Nursing Home Neglect Case or Abuse Case in Lake Charles, LA

There are around 1.4 million licensed beds in long-term care facilities across the United States. When a loved one goes to a long-term care facility, you want to trust that they will be taken care of.

Healthcare professionals, including nursing home employees, are responsible for the health and safety of anyone under their care. Unfortunately, some facilities and their employees can fall short. This is especially true in Louisiana, which recently ranked as the worst state in the country for quality of nursing homes.

If you or a loved one are experiencing neglect or abuse in a nursing home, it’s important that you know your rights and options for holding the right parties accountable for their actions and recovering fair compensation for the losses you suffered under their care.

Opening a nursing home neglect case or abuse case typically starts with documenting conditions, gathering evidence, and reporting the incident to the appropriate authorities. You can report your suspicions to a number of different places if you’re in Lake Charles or the surrounding areas:

• Louisiana Department of Health (LDH)
• Adult Protective Services (APS)
• Elderly Protective Services (EPS)

You can also contact the Lake Charles Police Department, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff, or the state police to report your concerns if you fear your loved one is in immediate danger.

What happens next can depend on the details of the claim. Namely, it matters whether or not the claim constitutes medical malpractice.

Under Louisiana law, medical malpractice claims must go through a medical review panel before the claimant can officially pursue legal action. The board must determine whether or not they have grounds to file a claim.

It’s helpful to hire a nursing home abuse & neglect lawyer with administrative and legal experience under their belt. You can typically expect to communicate with the insurance company that covers the nursing home when you file a claim.

Negotiating with insurers can be difficult, especially when you’re going up against a well-established facility with comprehensive coverage. It’s highly recommended that you also secure legal representation.

Recovering Damages in a Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Case

Nursing home abuse and neglect victims are typically vulnerable parties that have a difficult time advocating for themselves. Those suffering from nursing home abuse can suffer severe, sometimes even fatal, losses.

You can recover economic and non-economic damages through an injury claim based on the scope of these losses. Recoverable damages in these cases can include:

• Costs related to future care
• Current medical bills
• Financial restitution
• Loss of dignity
• Pain and suffering
• Relocation costs

In the event the victim succumbs to their injuries, eligible family members can open a wrongful death case and recover damages on behalf of their losses. Louisiana follows a strict order of priority for who can file a wrongful death claim, starting with the decedent’s spouse and children.

These cases also typically involve filing a survival action, which allows you to secure compensation for the losses suffered by the victim. Recoverable damages in wrongful death cases through these two legal actions can include:

• Funeral and burial costs
• Grief
• Loss of love and companionship
• Loss of parent or guardian
• Lost wages and benefits
• Victim’s pain and suffering

Damages typically are not capped in standard personal injury claims, but there are limits on non-economic damages for medical malpractice claims.

A Lake Charles nursing home abuse & neglect lawyer can help you understand how to go about securing full compensation. They can handle administrative hearings, communicate with insurers, and represent your interests to help you recover from this incident in all the ways that count.

Why Hire a Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyer to Help With Your Case in Lake Charles?

Reporting nursing home abuse is a fairly straightforward process, but that doesn’t mean pursuing legal action and recovering fair compensation is going to be easy. Securing fair compensation requires establishing clear fault and demonstrating the scope of losses experienced by the victim.

Instead of trying to keep track of Louisiana’s many personal injury and medical malpractice laws on your own, let a legal professional from Cox Law Firm help you navigate the claims process. Founded by brothers James and William Cox, our firm has been representing individuals and families throughout southwest Louisiana in their times of need since 1969.

Over the years, we’ve built a stellar reputation, becoming a national leader in class actions and earning recognition as one of the most successful personal injury firms in the state of Louisiana. Our team has secured millions for our clients over the years through settlements and recoveries.*

Whether it’s navigating administrative hearings for medical malpractice claims or settling cases through the 14th Judicial District Court in Calcasieu Parish, we’ve got you covered through every stage of your case.

FAQs

Is Nursing Home Neglect Grounds for a Medical Malpractice Case in Lake Charles?

Nursing home neglect can be grounds for a medical malpractice case in Lake Charles. However, certain cases involving general negligence unrelated to the victim’s medical care may be filed as a standard personal injury claim instead.

Cases involving a nursing home employee’s harmful acts or negligence related to medical judgment or treatment of a patient can be considered medical malpractice. Cases involving injury during non-medical transfers or due to premises liability issues can be considered personal injury.

What Are Grounds for Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Cases in Lake Charles?

The grounds for nursing home abuse and neglect cases in Lake Charles can encompass incidents involving general negligence, intentional misconduct, and medical malpractice. Common issues and types of mistreatment that can lead to a nursing home abuse/neglect claim include:

• Emotional and verbal abuse
• Financial exploitation
• Medical neglect
• Physical abuse
• Premises liability issues
• Understaffing

It’s important to recognize the signs of potential abuse or neglect in order to protect vulnerable parties in these situations.

How Long Do I Have to File a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Lake Charles?

How long you have to file a nursing home abuse claim in Lake Charles ultimately depends on the nature of the abuse. Under Louisiana law, you typically have two years to file a personal injury claim.

That said, certain nursing home neglect cases fall under state medical malpractice laws instead. The statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is typically one year from the date of the incident. There is also an additional administrative process to consider.

Who Can Report Suspected Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect in Lake Charles?

Anyone can report suspected nursing home abuse or neglect in Lake Charles. Healthcare workers, including nursing home employees, are typically mandated reporters who are required by law to say something if they suspect something’s off.

Family members related to the alleged victim and strangers have the same rights when it comes to reporting claims of abuse or neglect. It’s recommended that you report your suspicions sooner rather than later in these situations.

Discuss Your Legal Options With a Lake Charles Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyer

Elder abuse and neglect are serious issues that can leave vulnerable parties in unimaginable living conditions for extended periods of time. Louisiana’s nursing home abuse laws exist to protect residents in these long-term care facilities, especially when they can no longer clearly advocate for themselves.

Navigating a nursing home neglect case can be daunting. It’s recommended that you hire a Lake Charles personal injury lawyer to represent you.

With over 55 years of experience navigating Louisiana’s personal injury and medical malpractice laws, our team at Cox Law Firm knows what to expect in a nursing home neglect case. Our local attorneys are committed to protecting you and your loved ones in these challenging times. You can count on us to help make you whole again after you’ve suffered serious losses.

If you’re ready to discuss your case in more detail, we’re here to listen. Our team is located right here in Lake Charles. You can find us in the historic Wachsen-Williams House on Broad Street. Call to schedule an initial meeting with a member of our team to start forming your strategy for your claim.

*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.