At Speaks Law Firm, we help people seek justice when they suspect their loved one has suffered nursing home negligence or abuse.
Did Your Loved One Suffer Nursing Home Negligence or Abuse in North Carolina?
When you placed your family member in a nursing home, you assumed they would be treated with appropriate care and concern. However, you soon began to notice red flags. Maybe your loved one complained of neglect or abuse, or perhaps they suffered an inexplicable accident. You may have grown suspicious when their condition deteriorated in a way that it shouldn’t have with proper medical care. Any of these can be signs of nursing home negligence or abuse.
If you suspect your loved one fell victim to nursing home negligence, you are not alone. Our law firm speaks for the rights of nursing home residents and their families in and around Wilmington, NC. Our experienced nursing home negligence legal team is prepared to evaluate your case at no cost to you, and we will determine whether you may have grounds for a lawsuit against the offending facility.
Signs of Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse
Unfortunately, many elderly residents suffer nursing home abuse or neglect, especially if they have a condition like dementia that takes away their verbal or mental abilities. When you visit your family member, pay attention for:
- Bruises, welts, and other signs of physical abuse
- Poor personal hygiene
- Unusual behavioral changes
- Suspicious behavior on the part of the caregivers, such as concealing information about a recent accident your family member suffered in the facility
If you have noticed any of these signs of nursing home negligence, contact us today to schedule a free case review.
The Speaks Law Firm proudly serves people throughout eastern North Carolina, including Wilmington, Fayetteville, Jacksonville, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Bolivia, Burgaw, Whiteville, Lumberton, Leland, Shallote, New Hanover County, Pender County, Brunswick County, Columbus County, and Robeson County.
We Make it Easy
Suffering an injury is incredibly difficult but getting the help you need shouldn’t be. All you have to do is call our office and we’ll start reviewing your claim right away.
You Deserve Compensation
If you’ve been hurt in an accident, you need a fighter in your corner. Our attorneys will fight for the maximum amount of compensation you deserve for your injuries and other damages.
No Hidden Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis. This means you never have to worry about hidden fees or upfront costs. In fact, we don’t get paid at all unless we win for you!
(910) 341-7570
Why Choose Speaks Law Firm?
Accidents can happen at any time. You can be as careful as you can be, but you can never predict the action of others out on the road. When this happens, you need someone to speak on your behalf to fight for your rights. Speaks Law Firm is here for you.
- Our People. Our team is our main differentiator. We hired each one for their solid background and experience in the field. This all-star cast of talented, dedicated, and accomplished legal professionals cares about your case. With over 20 years of experience, we will do our best to fight for your rights.
- Our Process. We have built collaboration into our process. Our legal professionals were selected to work at the firm due to their experience. They work together to build your case and help you reach your goals.
- Our Commitment. You need someone committed to fighting for your rights after an accident that places you in a vulnerable position. At Speaks Law Firm, our team works hard to provide our clients in Wilmington, NC, and the surrounding areas with sound legal service. We speak for you.
- Free Consultation. Our lines of communication are open. You can set up a free consultation if you need to discuss your personal injury case and find the right legal option for your situation.
Proving Fault in a Nursing Home Negligence Lawsuit in North Carolina
The liable parties in a nursing home negligence case may include many people, from your family member’s direct caregivers to the owners of the facility where the neglect or abuse occurred.
In nursing home negligence cases, as in other personal injury lawsuits, the plaintiff (the party filing the lawsuit) must prove that the defendant (the allegedly guilty party) has committed neglect or abuse. Specifically, the plaintiff and their lawyer need to show that:
- The defendant had a responsibility to provide care for the victim
- The defendant violated their caregiving duties
- The defendant’s breach of duty led to the victim’s injury
- The defendant should have foreseen that their actions could cause harm
- The victim was injured as a direct result
The facility may deny that its staff acted in a neglectful or abusive way, or they may try to disprove the connection between their negligence and the victim’s injuries. An experienced personal injury lawyer at Speaks Law Firm can help you prove fault in a nursing home neglect or abuse case.
What Types of Damages Can You Recover in a North Carolina Nursing Home Negligence Case
Depending on the case, our law firm can help you recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including both up-to-date and prospective treatment costs
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Property loss (in cases of financial abuse)
- The victim’s loss of capacity to do the things that used to bring them joy
- Wrongful death
In some cases of malicious behavior or egregious neglect, a court may also order the guilty party to pay punitive damages to the victim.
How Our Team at Speaks Law Firm Can Help in Your Nursing Home Negligence Case
Seeking action against a negligent or dishonest nursing home facility can seem overwhelming. Our trusted legal team will help you and your loved one by:
- Sourcing proof of abuse such as medical and financial records, eyewitness statements, and other corroborating evidence
- Handling negotiations with the facility and their insurance provider
- Representing you at court if the facility refuses to assume responsibility or offers a settlement that doesn’t reflect the extent of the damage your loved one suffered
Schedule a Free Case Review for Your Nursing Home Negligence Case
Do you believe that a nursing home or another long-term care facility violated their caregiving duties towards your loved one? You may have grounds for a negligence lawsuit.
Our nursing home negligence lawyers will help you build a powerful case to strengthen your chance of collecting compensation for your loved one’s suffering. By seeking legal action against the offending facility, you protect both your loved one and other residents against further neglect and abuse.
At no cost to you, contact Speaks Law Firm today for a free case review with our legal team in Wilmington, NC. Action speaks louder than words, and you’ll pay no fee unless you win.
For more information about how we can help you avoid costly mistakes after an Auto Accident Injury in North Carolina contact us by filling out the “How can we help you?” form at the top of this page.
I was hurt in a car accident in Wilmington, North Carolina. My medical bills are outrageously high. The driver who caused the accident has the minimum insurance limits ($30,000.00) that are required by law. The adjuster has offered to pay the policy limits ($30,000.00). Should I get an attorney? What should I do?
State law requires each vehicle owner to carry at least $30,000.00 of liability insurance coverage. You can purchase more. Many people carry at least $100,000 in liability coverage per person and $300,000 per occurrence.
The liability insurance policy for the vehicle of the responsible driver is required to pay for the medical and other expenses of those who were not at fault. The policy will pay up to the limits of the policy. In other words, where there is $30,000.00 (or $60,000.00) of liability coverage, the insurance company could be required to pay that entire amount, but no more.
Where the damages are greater than the limits of the insurance policy, the injured person must look for other sources of recovery. These are some of the questions your lawyer will ask in order to comprehensively address this complex issue:
- Does the responsible driver have a different liability policy that you could access?
- Was the responsible driver working for his employer at the time of the accident?
- Does the responsible driver have an umbrella insurance policy?
- Does the injured person have underinsured motorist coverage?
- Does the responsible driver have assets that could be seized and sold in order to pay some or all of the judgment beyond the limits of the insurance policy?*
* This particular analysis can be complicated. Before you reject the insurance companies offer to settle the case for the policy limits and proceed with a lawsuit, you must think clearly and carefully. If you were seriously injured by the negligence of another person, you are probably angry. Who could blame you? I would be. Of course, you want the person responsible for the accident to pay for the damage they caused. In fact, the law requires it.
However, ifthe negilgent driver does not have the assets to pay for damages beyond the limits of the insurance policy, you will be wasting valuable time and money. You may want to perform an asset search in order to determine whether this is a viable option. The process of securing and enforcing a judgment can be expensive. If the responsible person does not have sufficient assets, then you will have wasted time and money for no reason.
Where damages exceed insurance coverage you need an experienced personal injury lawyer more than ever. A good lawyer may be able to find additional sources or recovery. He or she may be able to perform an informal asset search. From that he will be able to determine whether you should you accept the policy limits or fight for more.
Even if there is not enough money to pay all of the medical expenses from the available insurance policy, an experienced personal injury attorney can help. He may be able to negotiate down the amount of the outstanding medical bills. He may be able to use financial leverage and statutory laws to get your bills paid and still put a substantial amount of money in your pocket. Call or contact us now to find out how we can help you maximize your recovery in your auto accident and injury case.