If a loved one was abused in a nursing home or assisted living facility, perpetrators and negligent facility administrators should be held accountable. Our Chicago nursing home sexual abuse lawyers can help you seek compensation during this difficult time.
At Shore Law, our Chicago nursing home abuse lawyers fight for victims and their families. Megan Shore is a recognized leader in nursing home abuse and neglect cases. We bring that knowledge and compassion to every case we take on.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
How Our Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Attorneys in Chicago Can Help
You’re likely focused on your loved one and making sure they are relocated somewhere safe while they heal. Having legal help while you do so means having an advocate to hold abusers accountable while you can focus on your family.
The legal team at Shore Law can:
- Investigate the abuse to determine all at-fault parties.
- Gather evidence to support your case.
- File all necessary paperwork.
- Handle all communications with the other parties involved.
- Negotiate on behalf of you and your loved one.
- Represent your case in court when necessary.
On our results page, you can see some of the settlements we’ve helped families obtain. We’ve recovered over $250 million. Our team works on contingency, which means we take our fees as a percentage of your final settlement. So, if we are unable to recover compensation, you won’t pay us anything.
Holding Abusers Financially Accountable in Chicago Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Cases
While there is no financial amount that can truly cover what has happened, you may be able to relieve the financial burden of the situation. You may be able to recover compensation that addresses both the financial toll and the emotional toll of the abuse.
Recoverable compensation can include:
- Medical expenses related to the abuse.
- Psychological counseling costs.
- In some cases, the cost of relocating your loved one to a new living facility.
- Pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress.
- Punitive damages.
Our Chicago nursing home sexual abuse attorneys will seek the maximum compensation that your case is eligible to recover.
Deadline for Recovering Compensation In Chicago Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Cases
In Illinois, you typically have two years to file a lawsuit in nursing home sexual abuse cases. This legal timeframe generally begins from the date of the abuse, or the date when it was discovered. Failing to file on time can bar you from recovering compensation.
Talk to your attorney about the expected timeline for your case. In addition to the statute of limitations, starting on your case as soon as possible can also help to preserve evidence.
Is a Nursing Home Liable After Sexual Abuse Occurs?
Yes, in some cases the nursing home may be liable in sexual abuse cases. This is true when the nursing home had negligent practices that allowed the abuse to occur. For example:
- The nursing home hiring team failed to do background checks on an employee who later abused residents.
- There was poor supervision, and vulnerable residents were not properly monitored.
- Staff and/or administration failed to act on warning signs or complaints about inappropriate behavior.
While abuse can happen even in the safest situations, it’s important to hold negligent facilities accountable so that abuse doesn’t occur again. Our legal team will investigate to see if the nursing home staff or administrators were at fault.
What Evidence Is Needed to Recover Compensation?
Your Chicago nursing home sexual abuse lawyer will need to gather evidence that proves abuse occurred and who was at fault. Helpful evidence to do so can include:
- Witness testimony, such as from staff, residents, or visitors.
- Video footage from security cameras.
- Medical records and testimony from doctors.
- The victim’s testimony.
- Photographic evidence.
- Digital communications from the nursing home.
- Staffing records.
- Incident reports.
We will use this evidence to build a strong claim for compensation.
What Are Signs of Sexual Abuse?
If your loved one is non-verbal or has cognitive issues like memory loss, then they may be unable to tell you when abuse has occurred. Some signs to look for include:
- Unexplained bruises or defensive wounds.
- Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss.
- Your loved one seeming fearful, anxious, or withdrawn.
If you notice any of these signs, it can be helpful to get an outside medical opinion.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Sexual Abuse at a Nursing Home?
The most important thing for you to do is to take action to ensure your loved one’s health and safety. What to do if you suspect nursing home abuse includes:
- Seek medical attention for your loved one.
- Report the incident to the nursing home administrators.
- Report the incident to the police.
- If needed, relocate your loved one to somewhere safe.
- Take photos of any visible signs of the abuse.
- Do not sign anything from the nursing home without first consulting a lawyer.
- Contact a nursing home abuse lawyer in Chicago.
- Seek counseling for your loved one.
Remember that abuse is the fault of the perpetrator and negligent facilities, not you. When a loved one has been abused, it can be emotionally draining on family members as well. Take care of yourself in addition to your loved one.
Contact a Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Lawyer in Chicago Today
Sexual abuse in nursing homes can happen to anyone. When it does, perpetrators and negligent nursing home facilities should be held accountable for the harm that has been done. Our legal team is here to do so.
We will seek compensation for the losses your family has endured. Reach out to Shore Law today, and we will get started on your case right away. Call to schedule a free consultation.
