If you or a loved one has been abused in a Corpus Christi, Texas, nursing home, now is the time to call the Law Office of William J. Tinning, P.C. for legal help. You may deserve significant compensation. Our experienced Corpus Christi nursing home abuse lawyer can help your family fight for every dollar. Call (361) 643-9200 for your free consultation today.
Attorney William J. Tinning brings more than 42 years of legal experience to every case and is ready to hold negligent nursing homes and other responsible parties accountable. Over the course of his career, he has helped recover more than $300 million for injured clients and their families.
Why Should I Call the Law Office of William J. Tinning, P.C. To Help My Family Fight for Compensation in a Nursing Home Abuse Case?
When nursing home abuse occurs, victims quickly learn that the facility and their defense teams are more concerned with protecting their reputations than compensating victims. That’s why it’s so important to hire an experienced and competent firm like the Law Office of William J. Tinning, P.C.
Clients in Corpus Christi, TX, choose the firm because:
- Our team is led by an attorney who has been board-certified in civil trial law since 1984
- Our firm recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients
- Attorney Tinning has been recognized by Super Lawyers, America’s Top 100 high-stakes litigators, and the Million Dollar Advocates’ Forum
Our Corpus Christi personal injury attorney has been fighting on behalf of clients like you for decades–and winning. To learn more about how we can put our expertise to work in your case, call us for a free consultation today.
Our Attorney Represents Clients in All Types of Nursing Home Abuse Cases in Corpus Christi
Nursing home abuse can occur in many different ways. Any type of misconduct that causes physical harm, mental trauma, or financial hardship qualifies as abuse. Five main categories of nursing home abuse exist–and our legal team is equipped to fight for you if you’ve experienced any type of abuse.
Physical Abuse
A caregiver physically abuses a resident anytime they cause them to suffer physical harm. Physical abuse might include slapping, hair pulling, kicking, hitting, or unnecessarily tight physical restraints.
Sexual Abuse
Caregivers sexually abuse residents when they force them to engage in or witness sexual activity. Sexual abuse can result in both physical and mental harm.
Psychological/Mental Abuse
Abuse doesn’t always result in direct physical harm. Emotional abuse can be incredibly damaging.
Mental abuse may include:
- Name-calling
- Belittling
- Intentionally isolating a resident from their peers
- Refusing to allow a resident to see family
- Coercion and threatening
- Gaslighting
Emotional abuse can cause a resident both mental trauma and physical harm, especially considering that many nursing home residents are vulnerable to begin with.
Financial Exploitation
Many nursing home residents are prime targets for financial abuse. Many suffer from cognitive impairments, memory problems, and other vulnerabilities that bad actors seek to exploit.
Financial abuse can include identity theft, theft of personal property, forged credit cards, etc. Abusive caretakers may also convince vulnerable residents to change a will or beneficiary designation.
Nursing Home Neglect
Abuse isn’t always direct and intentional. Vulnerable residents can be harmed even if no one speaks an unkind word or lays a hand on them. Unfortunately, neglect can be just as dangerous.
Neglect can be active or passive. It can include withholding food, water, medications, or medical care. Caregivers can also cause harm by failing to provide residents with necessary assistance and supervision.
What Is My Corpus Christi Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth?
It’s impossible to offer an accurate estimate without understanding your family’s unique circumstances. Nursing home abuse can cause a wide range of harm and damage.
Important considerations in calculating the value of your personal injury case include:
- The nature of the abuse
- How long the abuse continued to occur
- The type of physical harm and injuries your loved one has experienced
- Damage to your loved one’s mental health and quality of life
- Financial costs associated with medical care, therapy, rehabilitation, and counseling
- Anticipated future needs associated with the injuries and abuse
When a victim suffers long-term abuse that causes extensive harm, their settlement or verdict is likely to be higher compared to less severe situations.
Consulting an experienced attorney is the only real way to learn how much you deserve. The nursing home’s insurance company isn’t likely to offer a fair settlement without a fight. Our Corpus Christi personal injury lawyer is ready to handle that fight. Call today for a free consultation.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Nursing Home Abuse in Corpus Christi?
Victims of nursing home abuse have the opportunity to demand compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages.
Examples might include economic damages such as:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Specialized therapies
- Costs associated with relocating to a safe nursing facility
- A family member’s lost income due to assumed caregiving duties
- Property damage and restitution in cases involving financial abuse
A claimant also might be entitled to non-economic damages for more personal losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Humiliation and shame
- Depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Reduced life expectancy
- Damage to relationships
Punitive damages are also possible, but are rare in Texas. They’re reserved for cases where punishment is warranted–including situations where the defendant has intentionally harmed the victim.
Who Can Be Liable for My Damages in a Nursing Home Abuse Case?
Texas nursing home abuse cases can be complex, in part, because multiple parties might share blame.
Depending on the facts, responsible parties may include:
- The nursing home
- A corporation that owns a chain of nursing homes
- Government agencies responsible for oversight and licensing
- Medical professionals and certified nursing assistants
- Caregivers who were responsible for the abuse
Both the abusive parties and those who had a legal obligation to detect and prevent abuse can be responsible.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer To Handle a Nursing Home Abuse Case in Texas?
There’s no upfront cost to pursue a nursing home abuse case in Texas. Like most personal injury law firms, we operate on a contingency fee basis. With this fee arrangement, we deduct our fees from your compensation award instead of charging you upfront.
Nursing Home Abuse Can Leave Victims To Cope With Serious Long-Term Consequences
Nursing home abuse can cause a range of long-term consequences–all of which should be accounted for in your settlement or verdict.
Examples include:
- Worsened underlying medical conditions
- Broken bones
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Infections
- Bed sores
- Genital injuries and STDs where sexual abuse has occurred
- Depression and other mental health issues
- Personality and behavioral changes
- Internal injuries
- Medication-related errors
- Reduced life expectancy
- Financial instability
If you suspect your loved one is being abused, it’s important to act quickly. You can report the abuse to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. You can also call 911 if your loved one is in immediate danger.
Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Occur in Corpus Christi?
Nursing home abuse happens for a number of reasons. There’s never any real excuse. Some reasons why nursing home abuse might occur include:
- Lack of effective policies and procedures designed to prevent abuse
- Lack of oversight and supervision
- Negligent hiring practices, including failure to conduct background checks
- Understaffing and cutting corners (prioritizing profits over patient safety)
- Medical negligence
You deserve to understand why this has happened. Our team at the Law Office of William J. Tinning, P.C., has the resources to conduct a thorough investigation and identify all responsible parties.
How Common Is Nursing Home Abuse?
Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is more common than you’d like to believe. According to one study published by the World Health Organization, two out of three caregivers admitted to committing some type of abuse in a one-year period.
Thousands of assisted living facilities are licensed in Texas. Unfortunately, that likely means that thousands of residents have experienced some type of abuse.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in Texas?
The deadline in Texas personal injury cases gives you two years to file a lawsuit. The two-year period typically begins on the date the harm occurred.
Cases involving abuse can be more complex. Nursing home abuse may occur over time. There may not be one bright-line date on which the abuse occurred. Instead, the clock may begin running on the date you discover the abuse.
Because deadlines do apply, it’s always important to consult an attorney when you learn about the abuse. Our team can take steps to ensure your legal rights are protected.
Contact Our Leading Corpus Christi Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Do you have questions about your legal rights and options after you or a loved one experienced nursing home abuse in Corpus Christi, TX? Call the Law Office of William J. Tinning, P.C. for a free consultation today.
You deserve justice–and our experienced Corpus Christi nursing home abuse attorney can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.