Farmington Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Did you know that an estimated five million older adults suffer abuse every year? The estimates are likely far lower than the actual numbers, with recent reports showing that roughly 64% of nursing home staff members admit to abusing residents.

Even worse is the fact that as much as 90% of elder abuse goes unreported, meaning that countless older adults never receive the help they need.

If you believe an older adult has been abused or neglected in a New Mexico nursing home, a Farmington nursing home abuse lawyer from Buckingham & Vega Law Firm is available to meet and discuss your case.

A free consultation with a member of our legal team is the first step to protecting the rights of your loved one. Contact our office today.

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$73.21 Million Verdict Birth Injury
The Buckingham & Vega legal team secured a $73.21 million verdict on behalf of a baby who was catastrophically injured due to the negligence of their doctor and medical team.
Record-Setting $72 Million Verdict Birth Injury
The Buckingham & Vega team obtained a $72 Million verdict in a birth injury case when an OB/ GYN failed to properly monitor the mom during pregnancy.
$16 Million Truck Accident
Buckingham & Vega obtained a $16 million settlement in a truck accident case. The truck driver was speeding and inattentive (texting) and crashed into the rear of a pickup truck stopped at a stoplight.
$14 Million Dram Shop Liability
Our team obtained a $14 million dram shop verdict on behalf of a client who was injured due to negligence.
13 Million Work Injury
Buckingham & Vega represented an oilfield worker who was killed when their company failed to properly train its employees on how to safely move waste bins. Our client was killed when he became trapped between two bins.
13 Million Truck Accident
Our team secured a 13 million settlement in a truck accident case. An eighteen-wheeler made an unsafe turn in front of a car driven by a grandmother and her family. The grandmother was killed and the family suffered severe injuries.

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Why Choose Buckingham & Vega Law Firm To Protect Your Elderly Loved One?

Learning that a beloved family member has been the victim of abuse or neglect is one of the hardest things a relative can experience. Whether your parent, grandparent, or other close elder in your life was victimized, you need to know that their future is in capable and caring hands.

Buckingham & Vega Law Firm’s Farmington nursing home abuse attorneys are confident in our abilities to protect those most vulnerable in our society. We continually develop our expertise to give your case the best possible outcome. We have:

Experience protecting the rights of those harmed by negligence since 1999
Highly proficient attorneys with numerous awards in personal injury law
A fully bilingual law firm capable of assisting you in Spanish or English
Knowledge of local court systems and New Mexico laws that apply to your case
Expert negotiation skills
Understanding of insurance company tactics and how to protect clients
Partnerships with top medical professionals who can provide testimony to support your claim

Hire a Farmington nursing home abuse lawyer with the connections and experience to win your case. We have local roots and national recognition. Justice for your loved one will be our priority in everything we do for you.

What Type of Nursing Home Abuse Is Common in New Mexico?

Nursing home abuse can fall under one of four main categories: physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, or financial abuse.

Physical Abuse

When a nursing home resident sustains bodily harm at the hands of an abuser, it is known as physical abuse. This may involve:

Kicking, hitting, pushing, slapping, or punching
Choking or suffocating
The use of physical restraints
Unnecessarily using medication to subdue a patient

Psychological or Verbal Abuse

Verbal, psychological, or emotional abuse doesn’t involve direct physical harm, but it can have an adverse effect on a patient’s overall health and wellbeing. Studies show that elder victims of verbal abuse are more depressed, suffer declining physical health, and often lose the will to live. This broad category of non-physical abuse includes:

Bullying
Yelling
Belittling and demeaning language
Withholding affection
Ignoring
Insulting
Gaslighting
Manipulating

Sexual Abuse

Any unwanted and non-consensual physical touching can be categorized as sexual abuse. Many victims of nursing home sexual abuse are unable to report the abuse because of cognitive disability, dementia, or because they are in a comatose state. Any signs of sexual abuse, such as bruised genitals or torn undergarments, should be reported immediately to authorities.

Financial Exploitation

Financial abuse or exploitation is the use of an elder’s funds or assets without their permission. Examples of financial exploitation are:

Forging a name on checks
Stealing valuable items
Using a credit card without the owner’s permission
Tricking a senior into changing a will or signing over deeds
Scams that deceive elders into giving over funds
Taking cash to purchase items that aren’t actually purchased

What Is the Difference Between Elder Abuse and Neglect?

Nursing home abuse and neglect are two different wrongful acts, although the terms are often used interchangeably.

Nursing Home Abuse

When a staff member acts with intent to harm, it is considered abuse. The common types of abuse listed above are examples of deliberate behaviors with known detrimental outcomes to the victim. The reasons for perpetrating abuse are varied—stress from being overworked, job dissatisfaction, anger management problems, a history of being abused, and greed are only a few. But there is never, under any circumstances, an excuse or justifiable reason for elder abuse.

Nursing Home Neglect

While abuse is a deliberate act with intent to harm, neglect is a failure to meet the needs of elderly residents. Neglect means depriving an individual of basic necessities such as:

Proper nutrition
Water
Comfortable living temperatures
Clean bed linens and clothing
Help with personal hygiene tasks
Needed medications
Physical exercise
Social activities
Kindness and compassion
Attention to any pressing health care needs
Assistance going to the restroom if needed
Mental stimulation
A right to privacy, freedom, and decision-making

If a staff member fails to administer medications on time, ignores a bed-bound resident until they develop bed sores, or ignores calls from the patient’s room, it is most likely a case of neglect.

The nursing home abuse attorneys at our legal practice handle both elder abuse and nursing home neglect cases. If you bring the details of your loved one’s mistreatment to your free consultation, we will be able to advise you of the most appropriate legal action.

What Are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?

The best way to help your loved one is to visit their nursing home or long-term care facility often. Try to show up at varying times and without prior notice. Learn the names of the staff members who interact with your family member on a regular basis. Let your loved one know they can come you to at any time with any problems they experience.

It’s also best to keep your eyes open to anything that seems “off” at the nursing home. The following is an incomplete list of some of the signs that abuse or neglect may be happening:

Unexplained or frequent injuries
Changes in mood or behavior
An unwillingness to talk about their life
Staff who won’t let you spend time alone with your loved one
Unhappy staff and residents
Lethargy and inattentiveness when you visit
Pressure ulcers (bed sores)
Noticeable weight loss
Dirty clothes, soiled bedsheets, and poor personal hygiene
Staff who don’t seem to know your loved one’s name or individual needs

What Acts of Negligence Can Lead To Nursing Home Abuse?

If a nursing home creates a set of conditions in which abuse and neglect are allowed to happen, the facility may be held liable for the injuries a resident suffers. As experienced nursing home abuse attorneys practicing in New Mexico, these are some of the main problems we see that cause nursing homes in our local area to be unsafe for residents.

Overworked staff
Failure to perform background checks on applicants
Inadequate staff training
Negligent equipment maintenance
Not having enough staff working on a shift
Turning a blind eye to staff misconduct
Poor facility upkeep, cleaning, and maintenance

A Farmington Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for Older Adults in New Mexico

In Farmington, San Juan County, and across New Mexico, older adults residing in nursing homes are being mistreated. Abuse and neglect are unacceptable, and we take strong legal action against anyone who allows it to happen.

We know how emotional and complex these types of cases can be. If we represent you, you will have a powerful legal advocate who is also sensitive to the trauma your family is experiencing.

Reach out to our office by calling or submitting a no-obligation online contact form. A free case evaluation is available to families searching for legal options.

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