Experienced Augusta GA Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Ready To Fight For You
Dedicated and compassionate nursing home abuse lawyer serving all of Georgia. If you have suffered a loss, our legal team will fight for your rights, call us for a free case evaluation:
Augusta, Georgia is, quite simply, an outstanding place to live. One of our favorite activities, when we have the time, is to stroll the Augusta Riverwalk that runs along the Savannah River. Although Augusta’s population is young, with a median age of only 33, we are not unaware of the aging of the population that will dramatically affect the entire state in the coming decades. Even now, over a dozen nursing homes can be found in Augusta and elsewhere in Richmond County.
Most of these facilities provide excellent care. However, nursing home abuse can occur anywhere, as there are acceptions and no system is foolproof. At T. Madden & Associates, P.C., the very thought of an offense as despicable as nursing home abuse turns our stomachs. But somebody has to fight back when something like this happens, and that is exactly what our Augusta GA nursing home abuse lawyer does when someone comes to us with a plausible nursing home abuse claim.
How Nursing Homes Are Regulated
Nursing homes are regulated by federal nursing home regulations and, in Georgia, by the Georgia nursing home regulations. They are also required to formulate their own policies and procedures, which are binding upon them. Proving a violation of a nursing home regulation, policy, or procedure that led to the abuse suffered by your loved one can go a long way toward winning a nursing home abuse claim.
Client Testimonial
No words can express the gratitude that I have for T. Madden & Associates. Thanks for making such an unfortunate experience not so much of a headache. No questions or concerns were left unanswered and everything was handled in a timely and professional manner. I also wanted to extend a special thank you to my legal assistant, Elexis Cummings, for going the extra mile to make sure nothing was left undone. Thanks so much for everything you all have done. I sincerely trust you guys.
— La Toya Denise
Some of Our Other Personal Injury Practice Areas
At T. Madden & Associates, P.C., we serve clients with all sorts of personal injury complaints, including:
- Auto Accidents
- DUI Accidents
- Dog Attacks
- Medical Negligence and Malpractice
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Negligent Security
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Trucking Accidents
- Wrongful Death
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is a contract with the nursing home necessary to enforce a nursing home abuse claim?
No, you don’t need a contract to recover damages against a nursing home for neglect or abuse. A nursing home claim can be litigated on the basis of negligence or intentional misconduct, neither of which requires a contract to be in place.
Once a complaint is lodged, what happens next?
Once you file a complaint with the Georgia state government, an investigation will commence. The investigator may interview the resident and family members as well as nursing home staff and management. The state will provide services to the victim to try to alleviate the problem and prevent them from happening again, and in extreme situations, the case may be referred to the prosecutor for criminal prosecution. None of this will prevent you from filing a lawsuit or opening settlement negotiations with the nursing home.
What is the difference between nursing home abuse and nursing home neglect?
In a nutshell, abuse is active and neglect is passive. Neglect occurs when the nursing home fails to provide services that are necessary for the health and safety of a resident, such as supervision or medical care. Neglect may or may not be intentional – in many cases, it is the result of understaffing in the nursing home. Either abuse or neglect, however, will entitle your loved one to compensation.
Do nursing homes keep written policies and procedures on file and available?
Yes, they do, unless they are breaking the law because the law requires them to keep these records and to make them available. Nursing home residents have the right to read these policies and procedures or to designate another person (a family member, for example) to read them.
My mother is suffering from dementia and cannot communicate effectively. Can I initiate a nursing home abuse lawsuit as her daughter?
There are two ways you can do this:
- If your mother signed a durable power of attorney in your favor before she became incompetent; or
- A court has appointed you the legal guardian of your mother (you can petition the court to be appointed to this role).
Can understaffing lead to nursing home abuse?
Yes, it can – in fact, it is one of the most common root causes of nursing home abuse. Understaffing is most common among for-profit nursing homes because reducing staff lowers labor costs and increases profits. A staff shortage most frequently leads to neglect, which is, itself, a form of passive nursing home abuse.
What is the difference between a nursing home and an assisted living facility?
Residents of an assisted living facility are usually only partially disabled and do not require daily medical care. An assisted living facility assists residents with basic life activities such as bathing and dressing to the extent that the resident requires such assistance. Nursing homes, by contrast, must provide medical care and keep nurses on staff.
It’s Time to Start Fighting Back
Nursing home abuse can be difficult to detect; your loved one may be unable to communicate it to you or even recognize their own mistreatment as abuse. We can help you identify nursing home abuse, get it stopped, and demand fair compensation.
If you suspect nursing home abuse in Augusta, contact an Augusta GA nursing home abuse attorney at T. Madden & Associates, P.C. today at 833-PAID-123. You can call us, email us at tmadden@tmaddenlaw.com, or contact us online so that our lawyers can schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case. We serve personal injury clients in Goodale Landing, National Hills, Windsor Forest, and elsewhere in Augusta, Georgia.