Costa Mesa Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Costa Mesa Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

The last thing you want to think about is an elderly loved one in danger, especially by the long-term care facility you trusted to take care of them. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon situation in California and throughout the rest of the country. If you suspect that a loved one is a victim of abuse, a Costa Mesa nursing home abuse lawyer can represent your case.

Elderly populations are more vulnerable to abuse and neglect than other age groups. That is why our team at Hunter Law is dedicated to seeking justice for each elderly person who has experienced some form of mistreatment from a long-term care facility in Orange County.

How Is Nursing Home Abuse Defined in Costa Mesa?

Nursing home abuse refers to the neglect or intentional harm of a resident by a long-term care facility. Under California law, it includes the abandonment, abduction, isolation, neglect, or physical abuse of a nursing home resident. It can also involve any other action that could result in a resident’s physical or mental suffering.

Currently, there are over 75 long-term care facilities in Orange County that serve more than 35,000 residents annually. Nursing home abuse is an ongoing issue, namely because the victims are typically in a vulnerable state. This makes them easier targets for any type of emotional, financial, or physical abuse.

Most residents require limited assistance with bathing, dressing, eating, and using the bathroom. More than half require assistance with more than one of those activities, and approximately 57 percent of nursing home residents need help just to walk from one point to another.

California is home to over 4.2 million older adults aged 65 and older, which is the largest number of elders of any state. Elderly adults make up about 14.3 percent of Orange County’s population, and their numbers are projected to increase to 17.3 percent by 2045. Therefore, it’s important to make sure this demographic has reliable options for how they want to spend their later years.

Pressing an Elder Abuse Claim Against a Costa Mesa Nursing Home

Once you suspect that abuse is happening, it’s wise to begin documenting as much evidence as possible. Once you report the situation to Orange County Adult Protective Services (APS), the nursing home is notified and can potentially hide evidence to discredit your claims. Usually, APS responds to your report in 10 days or less, depending on the severity of the situation.

After that, they investigate the claim to determine if the abuse allegations are valid or not. If they are, you can file your official claim with the Superior Court of California—County of Orange. You must file this claim within two years of discovering the abuse or within four years for financial abuse. Financial exploitation cases frequently require tracing suspicious transactions and documenting unauthorized account access.

Many elder abuse cases settle out of court through negotiations. That said, you may have to go to trial if you can’t reach a settlement agreement. Regardless of which direction your case moves, it can be highly advantageous to work with a Costa Mesa nursing home abuse lawyer. The nursing home is likely to have solid legal representation already, so it’s wise for you to protect yourself with a skilled professional, too.

You can recover economic and non-economic damages from a nursing home elder abuse case. Your settlement amount and types of damages recovered depend on the nature of your case and the experience of your Costa Mesa nursing home abuse lawyer. Common damages include:

• Emotional distress
• Long-term care facility costs (including transfer costs)
• Loss of wages and future earning potential
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering

FAQs

Reach Out to a Costa Mesa Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer to Start Building Your Case

If you suspect an elderly loved one has suffered abuse from their nursing home, it’s important to act quickly. You can seek legal recourse to hold them accountable and recover damages and compensation for your family’s losses.

Navigating the process of filing a claim and pursuing legal action against a long-term care facility can be daunting. That’s why it’s advantageous to work with a Costa Mesa nursing home abuse lawyer. Contact our team at Hunter Law to set up an appointment and learn more about how we can help you through your case.