Our law firm has handled thousands of New Mexico nursing home abuse claims and is ready to help your family. We offer free consultations.
Albuquerque Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
Compassionate Attorneys Representing Victims of Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect in New Mexico
Families rely on nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, and other long-term care options to protect the health and well-being of their spouses, parents, and grandparents. Sadly, abuse and neglect are frighteningly familiar in these settings. Despite numerous regulations at the state and federal levels, countless nursing homes have been cited for abusing or neglecting residents.
At the Harvey, Foote & Baker Law Firm, our team has extensive experience successfully handling Albuquerque nursing home abuse claims. Our attorneys aggressively advocate on behalf of nursing home abuse and neglect victims and their families throughout New Mexico. We always seek the maximum compensation available under the law to hold offenders responsible and show nursing homes and healthcare providers that elderly abuse will not be tolerated. Having handled thousands of cases and repeatedly taken on some of the worst offenders in the state, we are confident we have the skills, resources, and hometown advantage needed to get your family justice.
Call Harvey, Foote & Baker Law Firm today at (505) 295-2245 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with our nursing home abuse attorney in Albuquerque!
What Is Nursing Home Abuse & How Can I Prove It?
Nursing home abuse refers to any form of mistreatment or harm inflicted upon residents in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, and similar institutions. This abuse can occur through various means and can have serious physical, emotional, or financial consequences for the elderly or vulnerable individuals residing in these facilities.
To succeed in a nursing home abuse claim in New Mexico, you typically need to establish the following elements of your case:
- Duty of Care: You must demonstrate that the nursing home or care facility owed a duty of care to the resident who was allegedly abused. This duty of care typically arises from the facility's responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment and adequate care and treatment for residents.
- Breach of Duty: You need to show that the nursing home or its staff breached their duty of care. This can involve proving that they failed to meet the appropriate standard of care expected in the industry, including adhering to state and federal nursing home care regulations.
- Causation: You must establish a direct link between the breach of duty and the harm suffered by the resident. In other words, you need to demonstrate that the abuse or neglect directly led to the resident's injuries or suffering.
- Damages: To succeed in a nursing home abuse claim, you need to show that the resident suffered damages as a result of the abuse or neglect. These damages can include physical injuries, emotional distress, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses.
The Albuquerque nursing home abuse lawyers at Harvey, Foote & Baker Law Firm are extensively familiar with the various types of abuse that can occur in long-term care settings. Our team understands how to strategically navigate these matters and protect the interests of your loved one in and out of the courtroom.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse Cases We Handle
Our New Mexico lawyers at the Harvey, Foote & Baker Law Firm are prepared to assist you with cases involving:
- Abuse by Another Resident: Sometimes, residents can engage in aggressive or violent behavior towards their fellow residents, resulting in physical, emotional, or psychological harm. This can include physical altercations, bullying, or intimidation.
- Abuse by Staff: This form of abuse occurs when the staff members responsible for the care of residents engage in mistreatment. It can include physical abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, or other forms of harm.
- Assisted Living Facility Abuse: Assisted living facilities can also be settings for abuse. These facilities provide a level of care and support that falls between independent living and nursing homes, but abuse can still occur in this environment.
- Group Home Abuse: Group homes are designed to provide a more homelike environment for individuals with special needs. Abuse may occur here due to inadequate supervision or poor management.
- Physical Abuse: This includes any intentional use of force that results in bodily harm, such as hitting, pushing, slapping, or rough handling.
- Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse involves any behavior that causes psychological harm, such as humiliation, isolation, intimidation, or verbal threats.
- Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse entails non-consensual sexual acts, harassment, or any unwanted sexual advances toward residents who may not be capable of giving informed consent due to cognitive impairment or vulnerability.
- Financial Abuse: This form of abuse involves the mismanagement, theft, or exploitation of a resident's financial resources. It may include identity theft, fraud, or unauthorized use of funds or property.
- Medication Errors: Negligent administration of medication, including overmedication, under-medication, or the wrong medication, can have severe health consequences for residents.
- Failure to Perform CPR: In emergencies, if staff fails to provide necessary life-saving procedures like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), it can lead to severe harm or even death.
- Elopement and Wandering: Some residents may have cognitive impairments or dementia and may wander away from the facility, putting themselves at risk of injury or exposure to dangerous situations.
- Falls: Nursing home residents are often at a higher risk of falling, and inadequate fall prevention measures can lead to injuries such as fractures, head trauma, or other complications.
- Choking: Choking incidents can occur when residents are not adequately supervised during meal times or when staff fails to address choking risks.
- Dehydration: Failure to provide residents with sufficient water can lead to dehydration, which can be especially dangerous for older adults.
What Sets Us Apart
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You Deserve Maximum CompensationOur team is committed to standing up for the injured in New Mexico. When you or your loved one have been harmed because of someone else's negligence, you don't just deserve compensation, you deserve justice.
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You Deserve an Experienced Legal TeamOur attorneys have handled thousands of cases and are true legal innovators when it comes to pursuing cases. We have the tools, resources, and knowledge to properly obtain maximum compensation on your behalf.
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You Deserve New Mexico AdvocatesAt Harvey, Foote & Baker we are New Mexico-based attorneys who understand how scary and difficult this time can be. When you work with us, we can guarantee that you, your family, and your case are of the highest priority to us.
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You Deserve Dedicated RepresentationSince 2005 our team has been solely dedicated to protecting the rights of those injured and mistreated in nursing homes throughout the state. We know and understand how the system works and how to obtain the best possible outcome on your behalf.