Nursing homes in Rockford, Illinois, are designed to care for elders in the community. Unfortunately, these facilities do not always provide the best medical care to elderly nursing home residents. Nursing home neglect and abuse are common enough to be a major concern for aging adults and their family members.
If you or an elderly loved one has suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home, you can pursue a lawsuit against the facility, its staff, or other residents.
Our team of nursing home abuse lawyers can help you file a claim and get the compensation you deserve to cover damages from abuse, neglect, or even wrongful death in a Rockford, IL, nursing home.
When to Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Rockford, IL
Hiring nursing home abuse lawyers can give you the best chance of success with your claim. To ensure you file within the statute of limitations in the state of Illinois, it is crucial to hire a lawyer as soon as you notice the signs of nursing home abuse or neglect.
The Most Common Signs of Abuse in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities
Some of the most common signs of nursing home abuse or neglect include:
- Pressure ulcers
- Unexplained injuries like bruises/cuts
- Soiled sheets/clothing
- Sudden increase or decrease in body weight
- Broken bones
- Poor hygiene
- Hesitancy to speak around staff members
- Torn items of clothing
- Not enjoying hobbies as normal
- Broken personal items
- Changes to estate planning documents
- Missing credit cards/cash
Determining if elder abuse or neglect is occurring can be tricky, but if you recognize the common warning signs, you should immediately report them and contact a Rockford nursing home lawyer.
How Long Do You Have to File a Rockford Nursing Home Abuse Case?
Finding experienced nursing home neglect and abuse lawyers quickly is critical, especially due to the statute of limitations in Rockford.
In the state of Illinois, you typically have two years to file a personal injury claim for general nursing home abuse, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. The limits can vary based on several factors.
For example, the two-year period to file a Rockford wrongful death claim starts on the date of death. For abuse or injuries resulting from the incident, the two-year period begins when you know about the injury or reasonably should have known.
What Types of Cases Do Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Handle?
Our nursing home abuse lawyers handle many types of elder abuse and neglect cases, including:
- Physical abuse – Falls, slapping, kicking, dragging, excessive physical restraints, overuse of restraining drugs.
- Sexual abuse – Unwanted touching, torn undergarments, contraction of a sexually transmitted disease. Contact our experienced Rockford sexual abuse lawyers to learn more.
- Emotional abuse – Yelling, threatening, verbal abuse, withholding proper care.
- Financial abuse – Changing estate planning documents, stealing money/credit cards, accessing personal bank information.
- Nursing home neglect – Poor nutrition, lack of cleanliness, not providing proper medication, ignoring physical symptoms, unreported incidents, bed sores, untreated infections.
- Wrongful death – Deaths caused by infections, injuries, illnesses, or other medical issues. Contact our experienced Rockford wrongful death lawyers to learn more.
- Medical malpractice cases – Medication errors, undiagnosed medical conditions. Learn more about our medical malpractice law services in Rockford.
How Can Rockford Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Help Elderly Nursing Home Residents?
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, our goal is to seek justice and compensation for victims of nursing home negligence, abuse, or deaths and their families. Our nursing home abuse lawyers will:
- Provide a free consultation to discuss the merits of your case at no charge
- Work on a contingency fee basis so you only pay if we win
- Gather all relevant evidence to support your nursing home negligence claim against the defendant
- Negotiate for what you deserve based on the damages suffered
- Represent your interests in court through the entire process should the case go to trial
- Walk you through the legal process to ensure your rights are being protected under state and federal laws
What Is the Average Settlement in a Rockford Nursing Home Neglect/Abuse Case?
Settlement amounts will vary for victims of nursing home abuse and neglect in Rockford, or their families, depending on the specifics of the case. In the United States, the average settlement is just over $400,000, but our experienced lawyers have won much more for clients who have suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home or assisted living facility.
- $1.1 million for a patient who was dropped by staff who failed to use a two-person assist system. The victim suffered a broken hip and femur.
- $1.5 million for the family of an Alzheimer’s patient. The facility failed to lock up dangerous chemicals according to its own policies, resulting in the victim ingesting cleaning chemicals.
- $2.1 million for the family of a woman who developed stage 4 bedsores when her doctor’s orders for physical therapy and medication were neglected for two months by the nursing home.
What Kinds of Damages Can Be Recovered in a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit?
Here are the types of compensation that a Rockford nursing home abuse lawyer from our firm can help you recover:
- Medical expenses – Bills paid for proper medical care for the injuries/illness.
- Funeral costs – Expenses from the burial after a wrongful death.
- Emotional trauma – Mental anguish, loss of companionship/consortium, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life after physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or death.
- Physical suffering – Ongoing pain from the incident.
- Lost income or future earning potential – The inability to make money as a result of the injury, illness, or death of an elderly loved one.
How Long Does It Take to Settle a Rockford Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit?
Timeframes for a nursing home neglect or abuse claim are hard to predict simply because there are many variables at play; for example, how quickly the facility responds, if they are willing to settle quickly, or whether the case goes to trial.
The typical nursing home abuse case can last 1-2 years, but a drawn-out trial can result in an even longer resolution. A quick settlement, on the other hand, could result in a case that is resolved in less than a year if the facility accepts responsibility.
How Much Does a Rockford Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Cost?
A victim or family member should not have to worry about affording a nursing home attorney for their case. This is why we at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC work on a contingency fee basis.
What does that mean? We only get paid if we win your case. There are no upfront costs and the fee your Rockford personal injury attorneys receive is paid out of the settlement amount based on the agreement.
Working in your best interest is another reason why we offer a free consultation for all clients so we can evaluate their claim prospects.
The Statistics of Rockford Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Rockford, IL, is home to 23 nursing home facilities [1]. Although it is difficult to track the numbers on nursing home neglect or abuse in the city, it is estimated that nationally, 24.3% of residents have reported physical abuse while staying in a home.
In one notable case of nursing home abuse and neglect, staff in a Rockford facility struggled to place a catheter in the patient repeatedly for five months, resulting in urethral perforation and sepsis that led to the death of the patient. An employee in Rockton was found to have kicked a resident, dragged them across the floor, and pinned them against the wall [2].
Who Is Liable in a Nursing Home Abuse Case in Rockford?
Several parties could be liable in a nursing home abuse or neglect case:
- Nursing home care staff for not following safety protocols, misuse of equipment, and neglecting to administer correct medications.
- Nursing home administrators for failing to properly train staff, failing to discipline errors, failing to monitor staff, and failing to provide security/necessities.
- Custodial staff for failing to clean the premises and maintain hygienic practices for the safety of residents.
- Other residents for physically harming other residents or emotionally/sexually abusing them.
Which Standards Do Rockford Nursing Homes Have to Meet?
Nursing homes and residential facilities in Rockford, IL, have to meet numerous conditions to stay certified.
- As of January 1, 2013, each facility must have enough staff to provide each resident with 3.4 hours of nursing care, with 51 minutes coming from a licensed nurse [3].
- All facilities must adhere to the Nursing Home Act, the state’s most comprehensive bill regarding nursing home regulations.
- There are also administrative codes regarding all long-term care facilities in the state that nursing homes must follow.
- The Illinois Department on Aging outlines resident rights in long-term care facilities that every nursing home must follow.
Which Agencies Regulate Nursing Homes in Rockford?
Several agencies regulate nursing homes in Rockford, IL, at both state and federal levels [4].
- The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is responsible for regular nursing home inspections and code enforcement.
- The US Department of Health and Human Services branch, known as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), ensures all facilities nationally provide the correct Medicare and Medicaid programs.
- The Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is a national entity that also oversees some nursing homes in Illinois.
How Often Are Nursing Homes in Rockford Inspected?
As mandated statewide, all nursing homes in Rockford are inspected at least once every six to fifteen months. On average, this amounts to about once a year.
These surveys, which can be in response to a complaint or following the standard schedule, are done with no warning to the facilities. If deficiencies are discovered, the surveyor will include them in a report and exit interview with nursing home administrators. Typically, facilities with a poor record of passing inspections will be surveyed more frequently than average.
How to Report Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in Rockford, IL
The primary reporting mechanism for nursing home neglect or abuse in Rockford is through the Adult Protective Services agency in Illinois. It is a branch of the Illinois Department of Aging. The APS investigates all reports of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation in adults ages 60 and over in the state.
You can call the 24-hour hotline for the APS at 1-866-800-1409. Another option is the IDPH nursing home complaint hotline, which is 1-800-252-4343.
Contact a Rockford Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today!
Nursing home negligence and abuse should never go unpunished for victims and families in Rockford, IL. You have the right to pursue compensation through a Rockford personal injury claim or a wrongful death suit.
The team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC will work on a contingency fee basis to ensure you only pay if we win. Additionally, the free case evaluation will ensure you have all the information you need about your case before signing an agreement.
Our record of past settlements for nursing home neglect and elder abuse victims speaks for itself, and we will work tirelessly to ensure you receive the financial compensation you deserve for your suffering.
Everything shared with our legal team remains private as part of our attorney-client relationship principles, so your confidential or sensitive information will be kept safe.
Call us now at our toll-free phone number (888)-424-5757 to get started with your claim in Rockford, IL.
Resources: [1] Illinois Department of Public Health, [2] 23 WIFR, [3] Illinois Citizens for Better Care, [4] Illinois Department of Public Health
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