UPDATE: In light of COVID-19 and its devastating impact on the elderly living in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in our community, Berman & Simmons is ready to work with family members who believe their loved one died or contracted the virus due to a facility’s negligence. Determining if you have a viable lawsuit depends on the circumstances surrounding the victim’s contraction of the virus and requires specialized legal expertise. If you think you may have a claim, please contact our attorneys for a free case evaluation and consultation.
Many seniors need more medical care, treatment, and day-to-day assistance than their families can provide. When family members make the difficult decision to move an older relative into a nursing home or assisted living facility, they place their trust in the staff and management to care for their loved one with competence, compassion, and attentiveness. However, too often, that trust is betrayed.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of elderly residents are subjected to negligent care or even cruel treatment, leaving them with severe physical injuries and psychological scars. At the same time, their families struggle with guilt, anger, and a need to hold those responsible accountable for the harm they cause.
A 2017 congressional report outlined the troubling scope of nursing home abuse and neglect across the U.S., finding that there were 9,000 incidents of abuse at over 5,200 facilities during the two years they studied, and 1,601 of those incidents put the residents at immediate risk of serious injury or death. One study found that over 50 percent of nursing home staffs admitted to mistreating residents in their care over the prior year.
Maine’s vulnerable seniors deserve Maine’s best lawyers
At Berman and Simmons, Maine’s premier personal injury law firm, we don’t tolerate such misconduct and mistreatment. Our nursing home injury and elder care lawyers are fierce advocates for seniors and their families, obtaining the maximum amount of compensation available for residents throughout Maine who have suffered from abuse and neglect in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where seniors live or receive care.
Berman & Simmons is widely recognized as Maine’s best personal injury and medical malpractice law firm. But we work tirelessly every day to be not just the best trial firm in Maine, but one of the very best law firms in the country. With our exceptional legal talent, unmatched resources, and steadfast dedication, we have obtained some of the largest personal injury jury verdicts and settlements in the state’s history, recovering hundreds of millions for our clients.
We have extensive experience representing families in nursing home injury cases, and our elderly abuse and nursing home negligence attorneys are here to defend your loved one.
If you see signs of abuse and neglect, call us immediately
Nursing home abuse and neglect can take many forms, including:
- Medication mistakes
- Mistreatment leading to injuries
- Improper or medically unnecessary use of antipsychotic medications
- Bedsores
- Physical violence and assault
- Malnutrition
- Sexual abuse
- Avoidable drops and falls
- Dehydration
- Improper restraints
- Inadequate care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Illegal “dumping” or involuntarily discharge of residents
Some indicators of mistreatment are subtle and difficult to detect, including signs of psychological and emotional trauma caused by threats, isolation, humiliation, and verbal abuse. Making things even more difficult, nursing home staff and ownership may also take steps to protect themselves and conceal their misconduct, sometimes going so far as to place blame on the victim.
If you see signs of abuse or suspect that your loved one is suffering, please call us as soon as possible so we can begin taking steps to protect him or her from further harm. Our nursing home neglect attorneys are here for your family.
A century of obtaining full compensation for our clients
We aggressively pursue compensation and seek justice on behalf of Maine seniors who have suffered injury or indignity – or families who have lost a loved one – at the hands of nursing home or assisted living facility staff and ownership.
When you hire us as your lawyers, you’ll learn why people in Maine and throughout New England have entrusted us with their injury claims and lawsuits for over 100 years. While our long track record of success obtaining full compensation for our clients speaks for itself, you can expect us to be by your side throughout the entire process; attentive, responsive, and committed to easing your mind and reducing your stress. While you take care of yourself or your family member, we will take care of getting you the compensation that can help you heal and move forward.
Speak with a Maine nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer at Berman & Simmons today
Please contact Berman & Simmons today at (207)784-3576 to arrange for a free consultation to discuss your nursing home abuse and neglect questions and concerns. You pay nothing unless we obtain compensation for you by settlement or jury verdict. We welcome the opportunity to help you.
Take Back Control.
Get Peace of Mind
It never hurts to consult an attorney regardless of whether you decide to move forward.
Many states have strict deadlines for filing personal injury claims.
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The other insurance company is likely already building their client’s case against you.
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Witnesses may become unavailable and evidence may be lost or degraded with time.
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You’ll need help navigating your medical care and dealing with financial pressures.
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You need peace of mind to focus on your recovery.
$8.5 Million
Paralysis due to mismanagement of
degenerative spine
$2.5 Million
Catastrophic injuries in a head-on car accident
$800,000
Wrongful death case involving negligent
motorist
$715,000
Plaintiff Rear Ended by
Telephone Truck
$5 Million
Delay in diagnosis and treatment of cancer
$1.2 Million
Significant Head Injury Car Accident
Nursing Home Injury FAQs
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How prevalent is nursing home abuse?
A 2017 study found that there were 9,000 instances of abuse at 5,200 facilities in the U.S. over the span of two years. In addition, over 1,600 of these incidents resulted in serious injuries or death to the victim.
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What are ways that nursing home abuse can occur?
- Mistakes in administering medication
- Incorrect use of antipsychotic medication
- Physical assault
- Sexual abuse
- Dehydration
- Incorrect or negligent care of people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
- Mistreatment or negligence leading to injury
- Bedsores
- Malnutrition
- Drops and falls that were avoidable
- Improper use of restraints
- Illegal discharging of patients
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Why is nursing home abuse difficult to detect?
The nursing home staff that are committing the abuse will usually try to protect themselves, even going so far as to blame the victim for the abuse. In addition, many signs of abuse are difficult to detect due to the fact that they don’t show up on the outside of the body, such as with psychological and emotional abuse. Elderly people who have difficulties communicating are particularly at risk.