Have you or someone you love been abused or neglected at a nursing home in Scranton, PA? Nursing homes are trusted with our aging and disabled family members, and it’s inexcusable when they take advantage of those in their care. Our Scranton nursing home abuse lawyers are dedicated to fighting for justice for victims like you. Call McDonald & MacGregor, LLC at (570) 209-7062 for a free consultation.
At our law firm, we bring more than 93 years of tried-and-true litigation experience to the negotiating table and the courtroom. As award-winning Pennsylvania trial attorneys, we’ve successfully recovered $50 million (and counting) in settlements and court awards. You can trust us to guide your family through the emotional and difficult process of a nursing home abuse case.
Why Should I Choose McDonald & MacGregor to Handle My Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in Scranton, PA?
Victims of nursing home abuse and their families trust McDonald & MacGregor because of our client-centered approach to litigation and fearless legal strategies. We appreciate that every client’s case is unique, so we tailor our strategies to suit the best needs of each client we represent. Our attorneys have decades of experience and have recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation.
Word-of-mouth about our top-tier representation and unrivaled ability to achieve life-changing case results is why our Scranton nursing home abuse attorneys have been recognized by:
- Best Lawyers in America
- Super Lawyers
- The National Board of Trial Advocacy
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
The nursing facility may not have your loved one’s best interests, but you can count on our Scranton personal injury lawyers to fight for you every second of the day. Call our law office in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to discuss your nursing home abuse case today. Members of our team are available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How Do I Know if I Have a Nursing Home Abuse Case in Pennsylvania?
Nursing home abuse is far more common than you might think, so if you suspect that you or a loved one has been a victim, it’s possible that you could have the right to take legal action. In fact, two-thirds of nursing home abuse staff surveyed admitted to abusing or neglecting a resident in their care.
You have to know what constitutes nursing home abuse to know if you might have a case. At its core, nursing home abuse occurs when a caretaker intentionally or negligently causes a resident harm in some way.
There are five primary categories of nursing home abuse: physical, psychological/emotional, sexual, neglect, and financial.
Physical Abuse
Physical nursing home abuse involves the intentional or malicious infliction of bodily harm.
Examples of physical nursing home abuse include:
- Hitting, striking, or pushing a resident
- Using unnecessarily tight restraints that cause bruising or other injuries
- Grabbing a resident or using excessive force
- Exposing a resident to hot or scalding liquids
It’s common for victims of physical abuse in a nursing home to suffer from bruises, contusions, soft tissue injuries, broken bones, burns, and other bodily injuries. Being the victim of physical abuse can cause psychological harm, as well, manifesting as anger, fearfulness, depression, anxiety, and other changes in mood or behavior.
Psychological Abuse
Psychological abuse involves a pattern of malicious, manipulative, or otherwise harmful conduct that adversely affects a resident’s emotional well-being.
Common examples of emotional abuse include:
- Calling a resident names
- Intentionally preventing a resident from participating in peer activities or having visitors
- Gaslighting
- Taunting or making fun of a resident, especially in front of others
- Threatening a resident
Psychological abuse can take a toll on a resident, causing debilitating and long-lasting trauma.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse of elders is problematic, especially in some nursing home settings. Sexual abuse occurs when a caretaker forces a resident to participate in or observe explicit sexual conduct without their consent.
Neglect
Neglect involves depriving a resident of their needs, either intentionally or due to negligence.
Common examples of nursing home neglect include:
- Failing to provide food, water, or medication
- Failing to seek medical care when a resident exhibits signs and symptoms of injury or illness
- Failing to check on a resident or move them regularly to prevent bed sores
- Abandoning a resident in their room or in a location where they’ll be unable to get help
Victims of nursing home neglect may experience dehydration, malnutrition, medical complications, psychological trauma, or death.
Financial Exploitation
Caretakers sometimes take advantage of their residents by stealing their identities, selling their assets, using their credit cards, or reallocating funds from their private bank accounts.
Signs of financial exploitation in a nursing home setting can include unusual spending, sudden changes in wealth and assets, and missing property.
Nursing home abuse doesn’t have to be limited to one type of abuse. Many times, victims experience several different types of abuse while they’re in a nursing home. It’s important to be on the lookout for any signs and symptoms of abuse. If you or your loved one has been mistreated, you can speak with a nursing home abuse attorney in Scranton to evaluate your next steps.
How Much Is My Pennsylvania Nursing Home Abuse Claim Worth?
Since every instance of nursing home abuse is different, so are the settlements awarded in different nursing home abuse cases.
The value of your case will hinge on factors that are specific to your situation:
- Types of physical injuries suffered
- Severity of physical harm
- The extent to which a victim’s quality of life changes
- Losses related to financial abuse
- Age and life expectancy
- The need to move to a different nursing home or assisted living facility
The more a victim of nursing home abuse suffered physically, financially, and psychologically, the more a related personal injury case might be worth.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Nursing Home Abuse Victims?
Nursing home abuse can cause significant physical injuries, financial hardships, and emotional trauma. By filing a nursing home abuse claim in Scranton, you can fight to have the nursing facility pay for all of the harm it’s caused.
Damages can be categorized into two types: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages cover monetary costs associated with nursing home abuse and related injuries, including:
- Medical expenses
- Costs of relocating to a different nursing facility
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Restitution for theft and other losses related to financial abuse
- Funeral expenses if nursing home abuse is fatal
Non-economic damages acknowledge the more personal trauma a victim of abuse experiences, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Chronic physical pain
- Embarrassment
- Reduced quality of life
Working with an experienced Pennsylvania nursing home abuse attorney in Scranton can help you determine the value of your legal claim and set the stage for a meaningful financial recovery.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney?
You don’t have to pay anything upfront to hire one of our lawyers. Our Scranton nursing home abuse attorneys represent clients on a contingency fee basis. We’ll only be paid for our hard work if we’ve won compensation for your nursing home abuse case.
Our fees, which typically range between 33 and 40 percent of your recovery, are deducted from the settlement award or jury verdict we win, so there’s no added stress to ask for the help you need.
Who Can Be Liable For Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse lawsuits can be filed against:
- Certified nursing assistants
- Nurses
- Doctors
- Nursing home staff
- Nursing home administrators
- Nursing facilities
In Pennsylvania, anyone who contributes to an act of abuse or neglect in a nursing home can be liable for a resident’s injury or wrongful death.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit for Nursing Home Abuse in Pennsylvania?
Nursing home abuse cases are typically subject to a two-year statute of limitations in the state of Pennsylvania. The two-year filing deadline applies to cases involving wrongful death, too.
You must submit your claim to the local court clerk in Lackawanna County before the statute of limitations runs out. If you miss the filing deadline, you will lose the right to hold the nursing home accountable for its unspeakable conduct.
Our legal team will take care of your lawsuit and ensure that you meet all applicable filing deadlines.
Schedule a Free Consultation with an Experienced Scranton Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Don’t settle for less than what your nursing home abuse case is worth or let the nursing facility off the hook. Call McDonald & MacGregor, and trust us to fight for justice on your behalf.
Winning your nursing home abuse case can put well-deserved compensation in your hands and potentially protect other residents from suffering a similar fate. Our Scranton nursing home abuse attorneys are ready to do everything we can to make things right. Backed by 93+ years of experience, we’ve won tens of millions for clients just like you. Let us take care of your claim while you focus on caring for your loved one.
Call our law office to schedule a free consultation.
