Pittsburgh Nursing Home Injuries Lawyer

If your loved one has suffered neglect or abuse in a Pittsburgh nursing home, you need the help of an experienced Pittsburgh nursing home injuries lawyer. Discovering that your elderly family member has been mistreated by the very people entrusted with their care is a heartbreaking betrayal. You may be facing expensive medical bills to treat their injuries, a move to a new facility, and the anguish of knowing they endured needless suffering.

It’s a devastating situation that no family should have to face alone. With the help of our skilled Pittsburgh nursing home injury attorneys at Pribanic & Pribanic, you can hold the negligent facility accountable and fight for the justice and compensation your loved one deserves. Contact us today to learn how we can help you protect your family member’s rights and well-being.

Why Choose Our Pittsburgh Nursing Home Injury Lawyers?

When your loved one has suffered an injury due to nursing home negligence or abuse, you need a law firm to take on the facility and its insurance company. Our Pittsburgh nursing home injury lawyers at Pribanic & Pribanic can help you.

Our attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience handling nursing home injury cases in Pittsburgh and throughout Pennsylvania. We know the state and federal regulations that govern long-term care facilities, and we understand the unique challenges of proving neglect and abuse.

Our office is conveniently located at 513 Court Pl, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, just steps away from the Allegheny County Courthouse in the heart of downtown.

If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, don’t wait to take action. Contact the Pittsburgh nursing home injury lawyers at Pribanic & Pribanic today for a free, no-obligation case review. With our contingency fee arrangement, your family won’t pay any legal fees unless we recover a settlement or verdict for you.

How Much Is My Loved One’s Pittsburgh Nursing Home Injury Case Worth?

When families learn that their loved one has been abused or neglected in a nursing home, one of their first questions is how they’ll pay for the expensive medical care, alternative living arrangements, and other costs caused by the mistreatment.

The value of every nursing home injury case is different. It depends on factors such as:

The Severity and Duration of the Abuse or Neglect

Generally speaking, the more severe and long-lasting the abuse or neglect, the higher the potential compensation. For example, if your loved one suffered a serious injury like a broken hip from a fall or developed severe bedsores from lack of turning and repositioning, their damages will likely be greater than if they experienced a relatively minor medication error that was quickly corrected.

Similarly, if the nursing home neglect went on for months or years before it was discovered, your loved one’s physical and emotional injuries and losses are probably more extensive than if the mistreatment occurred during a brief period. Our attorneys will gather medical records, witness statements, and other evidence to show the full extent and impact of the harm your family member suffered.

The Physical Pain and Emotional Suffering Endured

The physical pain and emotional trauma caused by nursing home abuse and neglect can be immense. Your loved one may have experienced excruciating pain from untreated pressure ulcers, fractures, or infections. They may have lived in constant fear of physical or sexual assault or retaliation for reporting mistreatment. The psychological scars can linger long after the physical wounds have healed.

Pennsylvania law allows nursing home injury victims to seek compensation for their pain, suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic damages. Our Pittsburgh nursing home injury lawyers at Pribanic & Pribanic will use your loved one’s medical records, journal entries, witness statements, and testimony from medical and mental health experts to paint a picture of the ordeal they experienced and the ongoing impact on their quality of life.

The Reckless or Intentional Nature of the Misconduct

If the nursing home’s conduct was particularly egregious or the abuse was intentional, your loved one may be entitled to punitive damages on top of their compensatory damages. Punitive damages are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct. They are reserved for cases involving reckless, willful, or wanton actions.

Whether Your Loved One Requires Ongoing Medical Care

Some nursing home injuries, like traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries, can require lifelong medical treatment and personal care. Even less severe injuries may necessitate a stay in a hospital or rehabilitation facility, home health services, physical therapy, or mental health counseling. These expenses should be included in your loved one’s nursing home injury claim.

Our Pittsburgh nursing home injury attorneys will work with your family and a team of medical experts to calculate your loved one’s past and future injury-related medical needs.

The Impact on Your Loved One’s Life Expectancy and Independence

Sadly, nursing home abuse and neglect can have dire consequences for an elderly person’s health and longevity. Malnutrition, dehydration, and untreated medical conditions can worsen pre-existing illnesses and lead to premature death. Falls, assaults, and medication errors can also be fatal. In the most tragic cases, families may have a wrongful death claim against the nursing home.

Even if the injuries are not life-threatening, they can still rob nursing home residents of their mobility and independence. A serious fracture or head injury can leave a once active senior citizen bedbound and reliant on a wheelchair. Victims of sexual assault or other abuse may isolate themselves out of shame and fear. If the nursing home injuries diminished your loved one’s life expectancy or ability to function independently, our lawyers will demand compensation for that profound loss.

Where Do Nursing Home Injuries Occur in Pittsburgh?

Tragically, nursing home abuse and neglect can occur at any care facility. Neglect and abuse can happen at even the most highly rated nursing homes. Some of the most common locations for injuries include:

• Residents’ rooms and bathrooms, where falls, sexual assaults and physical abuse often occur behind closed doors
• Dining areas, where choking, food poisoning, and dehydration can happen due to lack of supervision and assistance
• Common areas, where residents may wander unsupervised or be exposed to trip and fall hazards
• Outside the facility, if residents are permitted to leave unescorted or the grounds are not properly secured

No matter where your loved one’s injuries occurred, our knowledgeable Pittsburgh nursing home injury lawyers can help you understand your legal rights and options. We’ll investigate the circumstances of the abuse or neglect and gather evidence to hold the facility accountable. Contact us today for a free case review.

Common Nursing Home Injury Cases We Handle

Nursing home abuse and neglect can take many forms, all of which can lead to serious physical and emotional injuries. At Pribanic & Pribanic, our Pittsburgh nursing home injury attorneys handle cases involving:

Falls and Fractures

Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and death among nursing home residents. Seniors may fall due to muscle weakness, medication side effects, trip hazards, or lack of assistance with mobility. Nursing homes must assess each resident’s fall risk and implement prevention measures. When they fail to do so, residents can suffer hip fractures, head injuries, and other debilitating injuries.

Pressure Ulcers

Also known as bedsores, pressure ulcers develop when nursing home residents are not properly turned, repositioned, and kept clean and dry. These painful wounds can become infected, leading to sepsis, organ failure, and death. Advanced-stage pressure ulcers are a red flag for nursing home neglect.

Malnutrition and Dehydration

Many nursing home residents require assistance with eating and drinking. When staff fail to provide adequate nutrition and hydration or to monitor for signs of malnutrition and dehydration, seniors can become dangerously weak and susceptible to infections, falls, and organ damage.

Medical Errors

Medication mistakes are all too common in understaffed and poorly managed nursing homes. Residents may be given the wrong medication, the wrong dose, or may not receive their medication at all. Nursing homes may also fail to provide proper wound care, physical therapy, or emergency treatment. These medical errors can lead to serious complications and even wrongful death.

Physical or Sexual Assault

Tragically, some nursing home residents become victims of physical or sexual abuse at the hands of staff, other residents, visitors, or even intruders. Warning signs can include unexplained bruises, fractures, agitation, genital injuries, and sexually transmitted diseases. Nursing homes can be liable for abuse due to negligent hiring, understaffing, lack of supervision, and security lapses.

If you suspect your loved one has been the victim of any type of nursing home neglect or abuse, don’t hesitate to get legal help. Our experienced Pittsburgh nursing home injury attorneys are here to protect your loved one’s rights and fight for justice.

Fighting the Nursing Home After a Pittsburgh Nursing Home Injury

Holding a nursing home accountable for neglect or abuse can be an uphill battle. These facilities are often owned by large corporations with teams of defense lawyers on their side. Their goal is to deny wrongdoing and pay out as little as possible to injured residents and their families.

If you try to pursue a nursing home injury claim on your own, you may face some serious challenges. The nursing home may deny that the abuse occurred, dispute the severity of the injuries, or even try to blame your loved one. They may withhold or change medical records and pressure staff not to cooperate with your investigation.

Don’t let a powerful nursing home bully you into dropping a valid injury claim. The sooner you get an experienced Pittsburgh nursing home injury lawyer on your side, the better. At Pribanic & Pribanic, we know how to stand up to nursing homes and their insurance companies. We’ll handle all communication with the nursing home and work to uncover the truth about what happened to your loved one. We’ll be ready to take them to court if they don’t make a fair settlement offer.

What to Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect

If you think your loved one is being abused or neglected in a Pittsburgh nursing home, act quickly to protect their safety and legal rights. Here are some steps to take:

• Document your concerns: Keep a journal of any signs of abuse or neglect you observe, such as unexplained bruises, sudden weight loss, or changes in behavior. Take photos of any visible injuries and save copies of relevant medical records and bills.
• Report suspected abuse: If you believe your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911. You can also report suspected abuse or neglect to the nursing home administrator, your loved one’s doctor, or the Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s abuse hotline at 1-800-490-8505.
• Seek medical attention: Make sure your loved one gets appropriate medical treatment for their injuries. This will ensure their safety and create important documentation of the harm they’ve suffered.
• Contact a Pittsburgh nursing home injury lawyer: The sooner you consult with an experienced attorney, the better. At Pribanic & Pribanic, we offer free initial consultations so you can get advice about your loved one’s rights and options at no cost.

The road ahead may seem difficult, but you don’t have to go down it alone. The compassionate Pittsburgh nursing home injury lawyers at Pribanic & Pribanic are here to guide you and fight for your loved one’s dignity and well-being.

Get Help From Our Pittsburgh Nursing Home Injury Lawyers Now

The pain of nursing home abuse and neglect cuts deep. When you placed your loved one in a long-term care facility, you trusted that they would be treated with kindness and respect. Discovering that they suffered harm instead is a bitter betrayal. Though you may feel powerless, you can take action to protect your family members and hold the wrongdoers accountable.

With Pribanic & Pribanic’s Pittsburgh personal injury attorneys on your side, your family can seek justice and the financial security your loved one needs to heal. Contact our office today to schedule your free case review. You’ll sit down one-on-one with a caring, knowledgeable lawyer who will listen to your story and explain your legal options. If we take your case, you won’t owe us a dime in legal fees unless we win a settlement or judgment for you.

Don’t wait another day to get your loved one the help they deserve. Call Pribanic & Pribanic at 412-281-8844 or contact us online now. We’re ready to put our skills, experience, and determination to work for your family.