Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Warning signs include: unexplained bruises, cuts, or fractures; sudden weight loss or dehydration; bedsores (pressure ulcers); poor hygiene and unsanitary living conditions; unexplained changes in mood, behavior, or withdrawal; fearfulness around certain staff members; medication errors or overmedication; unexplained financial transactions; and staff reluctance to allow unsupervised visits. If you notice any of these signs, document them with photos and contact an attorney immediately.

In Georgia, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including nursing home abuse, is 2 years from the date of injury or death (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). In South Carolina, you have 3 years (S.C. Code § 15-3-530). However, abuse and neglect may be ongoing and the discovery of injuries may be delayed. An attorney can help determine when the statute of limitations began to run in your specific case.

The injured resident can file the lawsuit directly. If the resident is incapacitated, a legal guardian, power of attorney holder, or court-appointed representative can file on their behalf. In wrongful death cases, Georgia law allows the surviving spouse, children, or estate representative to file (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2). In South Carolina, the personal representative of the estate files the wrongful death action (S.C. Code § 15-51-20).

Yes. Bedsores (pressure ulcers) that progress beyond Stage I are almost always evidence of neglect. Federal regulations (42 CFR § 483.25) require nursing homes to ensure that residents who enter without pressure ulcers do not develop them unless clinically unavoidable, and that residents with existing ulcers receive necessary treatment. If your loved one developed serious bedsores or their condition worsened, the facility likely failed to meet the standard of care.

You can review a facility's inspection history and deficiency citations on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Nursing Home Compare website. In Georgia, the Healthcare Facility Regulation Division maintains inspection records. In South Carolina, DHEC publishes survey results. Our attorneys obtain and analyze these records to establish a pattern of regulatory violations that supports your claim.

Victims and their families may recover compensation for: medical expenses for treating injuries caused by abuse or neglect, pain and suffering endured by the resident, emotional distress, costs of relocating to a safe facility, loss of enjoyment of life, and in wrongful death cases, funeral expenses and the full value of the deceased's life. Punitive damages may be awarded when the facility's conduct was willful, reckless, or grossly negligent.

Yes — report suspected abuse or neglect immediately. In Georgia, call the Georgia Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-888-454-5826 or Adult Protective Services. In South Carolina, contact the Long Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-868-9095 or the DHEC complaint hotline. Filing a report creates an official record and triggers an investigation. You should also contact an attorney simultaneously, as the legal process and regulatory process operate independently.

Federal regulations (42 CFR § 483.70(o)) prohibit nursing homes from requiring residents to sign pre-dispute arbitration agreements as a condition of admission. Even if an arbitration clause was signed, it may be unenforceable if it was not voluntary, was not clearly explained, or was signed by someone without legal authority. Our attorneys challenge arbitration agreements that attempt to prevent families from holding facilities accountable in court.

Understaffing is the single most common root cause of nursing home neglect. When facilities cut costs by reducing the number of nurses and aides, residents do not receive timely assistance with mobility, hygiene, feeding, and medication. This directly leads to falls, bedsores, malnutrition, infections, and medication errors. Staffing records are critical evidence in abuse and neglect cases, and our attorneys subpoena these records to demonstrate the connection between understaffing and resident harm.

At Roden Law, we handle nursing home abuse cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing upfront and owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your family. These cases require extensive investigation, including obtaining medical records, facility inspection reports, and staffing data. We fund all case expenses in advance and provide free, confidential consultations to evaluate your case.