Benefits of a Maryland Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Filing a complaint against a Maryland nursing home for poor care of residents can be complex and daunting, but there are a number of benefits to having an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer by your side throughout the process.

There are several ways to file a complaint against a Maryland nursing home accused of poor care and negligence, but having an experienced Maryland nursing home abuse and neglect attorney on the victim’s side can streamline the process and make sure the grievance is acted upon by the proper state agency.

Monetary Damages

A personal injury claim against the negligent nursing home can result in a damage award meant to compensate for monetary losses, such as reimbursing families for the costs of obtaining medical care and psychological services, medications, the cost of moving the resident to a different facility, or lost wages due to missed work.

Nonmonetary Damages

Plaintiffs in a personal injury claim for nursing home abuse and neglect may also be eligible for nonmonetary damages, compensating the victim for such losses suffered as pain and suffering, inconvenience, and the loss of enjoyment in life. These damages are still considered compensatory damages, even though they do not directly reflect a financial loss.

Maryland usually caps pain and suffering and other nonmonetary damages at $845,000, unless the resident died as a result of the misconduct, in which case the surviving family may be eligible for more compensation of noneconomic damages.

Punitive Damages

A Maryland nursing home abuse and neglect attorney can also work with residents and their family members to pursue punitive damages aimed at punishing the wrongdoing nursing home facility. Not all nursing home abuse and neglect cases are awarded punitive damages, since this type of damage award is reserved for cases in which the abuse or neglect was especially egregious.

Maryland does not cap punitive damages in nursing home abuse and neglect cases, though the amount of punitive damages awarded are typically a function, or certain multiple of, the amount of compensatory damages awarded.

An experienced Maryland nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer can investigate the circumstances of the victim’s claim and determine whether punitive damages might be appropriate.

Deterring Future Bad Conduct and Protecting Other Families

No monetary damage award can completely make up for the pain a nursing home abuse or neglect victim suffered. It can, however, give victims a measure of empowerment, knowing that their courage in seeking to hold the wrongdoing nursing home accountable can protect other residents from suffering the same fate in the future.

Obtaining Justice for the Victim by Holding the Bad Actors Accountable

Even if a nursing home abuse or neglect victim is unable to understand the extent of the injuries they suffered or appreciate the egregiousness of the misconduct, due to dementia or other incapacitation, it can bring comfort to victims’ families to seek justice on the victim’s behalf.

In other words, many families feel that holding the nursing home accountable for their negligence or misconduct is simply the right thing to do and doing so can help both victims and their loved ones move forward.

Speak with a Maryland Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today

No matter the severity of the injury a victim suffered at the hands of their nursing home, an experienced Maryland nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer can investigate what happened, and why, and determine who may be responsible.