Nursing home negligence comes in many forms like abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Some nursing home residents are not even aware they are being mistreated until things become worse to the point of harm, injury, or death. Being aware of the various types of nursing home negligence might be able to help you prevent serious nursing home accidents. If you already suffered harm, then consider discussing legal options with a New York nursing home negligence attorney.

Common Types of Nursing Home Negligence

The first thing people think of when they hear about nursing home negligence is elder abuse, but there are several other forms of negligence to consider. Other types of nursing home negligence include neglect, exploitation, and mismanagement. Nursing home abuse alone can take many forms like:

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Psychological abuse

Neglect is often difficult to identify, much more so than the abuse itself. Unlike physical and sexual abuse, there may not be any clear signs of neglect right away. The accumulation of neglect will reveal signs as the neglected person experiences increasing problems with:

• Poor hygiene
  
• Significant weight loss
• Bedsores
• Infections
• Mental health not accounted for by medical causes

Exploitation happens when a nursing home worker uses their authority over the nursing home resident to take advantage of them. This can mean taking advantage in terms of physical power, financial control, or psychological control. Staff members who manipulate or deceive nursing home residents may fit this form of negligence.

Mismanagement includes things like not placing wet floor signs properly, failing to clean a resident's room to the point of creating health hazards, and medical errors caused by miscommunications. Whether a resident can sue for this depends on whether harm was caused and what caused such harm. Contact a New York nursing home lawyer to find out.

How to Sue for Nursing Home Malpractice

Suing for nursing home negligence is something you can do as a nursing home resident or have your family member do. Consider calling and talking to a lawyer about what your options are and how this process works. A lawyer can help you figure out the type of lawsuit you will need to file, what compensation you could be eligible for, and how to sue.

Nearly every type of case involving negligence involves a similar process to proving a personal injury claim. The main personal injury claim steps involve proving:

• Your damages
• The negligent act that caused your injuries
• Direct causation by the nursing home staff

Your lawyer will guide you on what evidence you need to prove each of these steps in court and can help you defend your claim against the nursing home's legal team.

Queens Nursing Home Attorney

Figuring out how to sue your nursing home for neglect or abuse can be challenging. Consider contacting Sullivan and Brill Law Firm at (212) 566-1000 to speak with a Queens personal injury lawyer for a free consultation today. Our dedicated Bronx nursing home attorneys might be able to help you obtain compensation for your medical bills and emotional distress. You can find us throughout New York City, Long Island, Kings, Bronx, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Rockland Counties, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.