How Our Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help

WINNING IS WHAT WE DO. CARING IS WHO WE ARE.
Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers, with offices in Bowling Green and across Kentucky, are available to meet on weekends and often travel to our injured clients in Kentucky and Tennessee when they can’t come to us. We provide personal representation for our clients who have been injured in slip and fall, premises liability, wrongful death accidents, and other personal injury cases.

As a dedicated Kentucky personal injury lawyer, we never charge a fee unless we secure a settlement for our clients. For over forty-seven years, we have collected millions in injury claims, achieving the maximum recovery for our clients. You can call us 24/7, including weekends, for a free consultation without any charge or obligation. With conveniently located offices, we are just a call away.

What We Will Do For You in a Nursing Home Abuse Claim
After you or a loved one is injured in an accident, Flora Templeton Stuart and her team are ready to help.

• Get our team of investigators to preserve evidence and get witness statements
• Get you to excellent physicians
• If you cannot come to us we will travel to you
• Assist you in getting your car repaired or replaced
• Reserve your PIP insurance benefits to pay your medical bills and lost wages
• Negotiate with the insurance companies to get you a top settlement

Elders are the pillars of society, yet they are too often victims of nursing home neglect and abuse.

Nursing homes are regulated at both federal and state levels and these facilities are required to comply with strict guidelines in caring for patients as well as treat their residents with dignity and respect.

Kentucky Personal injury and nursing home abuse attorney Flora Templeton Stuart and her staff have decades of experience representing injured elders throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, and the nation.

In 2019, there were a reported 4,594 violations or deficiencies in Kentucky Nursing Homes. It is important for all nursing home residents and their loved ones to know how to protect their legal rights and how a Kentucky nursing home abuse lawyer can help them recover.

All too often, victims do not report nursing home abuse or neglect for fear of retaliation. Many times, a loved one must act on behalf of an elderly nursing home resident to demand change and accountability.

If your instincts tell you that your loved one may be the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, don’t dismiss them, and don’t accept the nursing home’s explanation that a condition was unavoidable. Contact Kentucky nursing home abuse attorney Flora Templeton Stuart for a free case evaluation.

Call us 24/7 at (888) 782-9090 for a free consultation.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Kentucky nursing home abuse may be physical, sexual, emotional, or financial. Here are some common signs of nursing home abuse and neglect. Be aware of any of the conditions listed below and document these conditions with photos:

Physical Abuse

• Bedsores or skin rash
• Infections
• Urine or feces odor
• Urinary tract infection
• Falls resulting from inadequate precautions or assistance
• Signs of being restrained, such as bruising on wrists or ankles
• Skin tears and bruises
• Contusions or lesions
• Medication errors
• Bone fractures
• Undocumented injuries or staff’s inability to explain changes in medical condition
• Significant weight loss
• Malnutrition/dehydration, including complaints of hunger
• Torn clothing or broken personal items
• Failure to provide appropriate physical or occupational therapy
• Medical negligence or malpractice by nursing home staff

Emotional and Psychological Abuse

• Lethargy, sudden and unexplained withdrawal from social activities
• Sudden and unexplained depression

Financial Abuse

• Unusual bank account activity
• Stolen cash or personal property
• Modifying wills without the resident’s consent

Nursing Home Falls

Falls are common in nursing facilities. According to the Agency For Healthcare Research and Quality, of the 1.6 million residents in U.S. nursing facilities, approximately half fall annually. About 1 in 3 of those who fall will fall two or more times in a year.

Falls often have serious consequences and can lead to serious injury. A fall can occur if a resident is not appropriately monitored of if the facility is understaffed.

Common Injuries Caused by Nursing Home Falls

• Broken bones
• Fractures
• Spinal cord injuries
• Nerve damage
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Internal Bleeding
• Permanent scaring
• Death

Nursing Home Abuse FAQ’s

What is Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect?

When a loved one is placed in a nursing home, you expect that person will receive excellent care.

Sometimes nursing home employees act in a careless, reckless or negligent way resulting in injury to your loved one.

Abuse and neglect could be intentional or accidental and could affect the resident physically, emotionally, or even financially.

What are Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect?

Many things could indicate nursing home abuse or neglect including bruising, scarring, broken bones, torn clothing, broken personal items, poor hygiene, malnutrition/dehydration, unexplained weight loss/inability to eat, infections, bed sores, medication errors, confinement or restraint, unusual bank account or credit card activity, stolen cash or personal property, etc.

What Should I do if I Suspect Nursing Home Abuse?

Take all abuse and neglect allegations seriously – even minor ones. The small things you notice – bruising, missing money, or unusual/sudden social withdrawal – could be indications of larger issues. Take photos of any injuries, write down names and phone numbers of witnesses and employees who saw the abuse, and contact an attorney who handles nursing home abuse claims.

Who do I Contact to Report Abuse?

You should report all suspected cases of nursing home abuse or neglect to the Department of Social Services in your community. You can also contact Kentucky’s Adult Protective Services or visit www.aoa.acl.gov for more information.

How Long do I Have to File a Claim?

The statute of limitations varies from state to state, but it is typically one year from the time of the injury. Remember that nursing home abuse cases can be very complex and require investigation before a claim can be filed. If a loved one shows signs of abuse or neglect, contact an attorney immediately for a case review to see if you have a claim.

What Rights do Nursing Home Residents Have?

There are state and federal laws relating to the treatment of nursing home residents. These facilities are required by law to uphold strict standards for treatment of each resident. Kentucky’s Nursing Home Residents’ Bill of Rights was passed to protect the liberties of nursing home residents in regards to communication, visitation, and compensation for negligent care. The Department of Health and Human Services has many tools available to aid in your search for a quality nursing facility.

How do I Pay for a Lawyer in a Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect Case?

The Law Firm of Flora Templeton Stuart handles Kentucky nursing home abuse and neglect cases on a contingency fee basis. That means we only get paid from your recovery. Call us for a free case consultation.

Nursing home abuse and neglect is tragic and should not occur. If you suspect that your loved one has suffered a personal injury due to negligent care at their Kentucky nursing home or by an in-home healthcare worker, call Kentucky nursing home abuse lawyer Flora Templeton Stuart. You should also report instances of nursing home abuse to your local Department of Social Services. Visit the National Center on Elder Abuse or the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services for information.

Contact a Kentucky Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today

Although you have one year from the date of the abuse to file your nursing home abuse or neglect claim, you should not wait that long. A timely investigation is critical to a successful claim because we must locate potential witnesses and preserve evidence. Attorney Flora Templeton Stuart is an experienced nursing home injury attorney and is not afraid to stand up to large nursing home corporations.

If your loved one has suffered nursing home neglect or abuse, call Kentucky attorney Flora Templeton Stuart at 888-782-9090, or contact us online. Remember, at our firm we pride ourselves on commitment to our clients, experience, and obtaining the results our clients deserve. Visit our FAQ or blog for more information on nursing home neglect and abuse.