Atlanta Assisted Living Abuse Lawyer

Under the law, neglect and abuse are two distinct categories. Neglect involves the failure to provide essential services, whereas abuse is the intentional infliction of harm or grossly negligent failure to provide reasonable care. The main difference between the two is the level of recklessness or disregard for the resident’s safety. Neglect tends to be unintentional or a result of carelessness, but abuse is intended to inflict harm on the victim.

Types of Abuse That Can Occur in Assisted Living Facilities

In an assisted living facility, abuse can come in many forms, such as:

• Physical violence and rough care
• Sexual violence (many in assisted living facilities cannot consent to sexual activities due to their mental capacities being reduced)
• Emotional and mental abuse
• Financial exploitation
• Elopement abuse

Most Common Assisted Living Injuries

Assisted living injuries range in severity from minor to fatal. Some of the most common injuries that result from assisted living neglect and abuse include:

• Falls that result in broken bones or fractures
• Injuries from incorrect prescription drug administration
• Weight loss from dehydration and malnutrition
• UTIs or diseases from sexual abuse and rape
• Pressure sores from not being able to move and a lack of care
• Newly acquired infections and medical conditions

You can prove abuse in an assisted living facility by first getting a full physical medical checkup with a new doctor. Get a diagnosis report that highlights any injuries or conditions that developed as a result of the assisted living facility’s abuse. From there, look for additional evidence that could prove further proof like surveillance footage of the incident, eyewitness testimony from other residents, and other signs of proof.

Legal Options for Families Affected by Assisted Living Abuse

Families who have felt the impact of assisted living abuse have legal recourse. If the facility was abusive, then families have the right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for the losses associated with the incident.

What Compensation Can You Recover in an Assisted Living Facility?

In a living assisted facility lawsuit, you can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages describe the financial losses you incurred as a result of the injury, like medical expenses and lost wages. Non-economic damages describe the losses you experienced that are harder to value, like emotional distress or pain and suffering.

Do you suspect assisted living facility abuse, or do you have proof that an abusive incident occurred at a facility in Georgia? If so, then it’s a good idea to file a complaint by contacting the Healthcare Facility Regulation Division at (800) 878-6442. If there are other adults you believe are in danger or at risk, then you should consider contacting Adult Protective Services at (866) 552-4464.

Let Our Assisted Living Abuse Attorneys in Atlanta Help You Get Justice

While the law might be on your side in an assisted living abuse case, it’s still going to require a lot of effort and knowledge on your part to collect the right documentation, file the right paperwork, and negotiate with the other party over your claim’s worth.

To ensure that you get a fair shot at justice, it’s recommended that you work with an assisted living abuse lawyer.