Williamsport Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Discovering abuse or neglect of an elderly family member is devastating. Many families feel overwhelmed by the process of documenting incidents, reporting to authorities, and pursuing legal action. At Munley Law, our legal team has spent decades working with families whose loved ones have suffered mistreatment in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Our attorneys regularly work with families throughout Williamsport and surrounding communities in Lycoming County. Our local knowledge, combined with our track record of successful nursing home abuse cases, allows us to build strong cases for our clients.

If you need a Williamsport nursing home abuse lawyer, contact Munley Law. Our elder abuse attorneys will meet with you for a free consultation to discuss the legal options available for your loved one.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse We Handle in Williamsport

Nursing home mistreatment takes many forms, including abuse and negligence. The World Health Organization reports as many as two thirds of nursing staff abuse their elderly residents.

Nursing home abuse is a serious concern that threatens the health, dignity, and rights of vulnerable residents. While many facilities provide excellent care, abuse and neglect remain widespread problems that families must vigilantly monitor. The following are common types of mistreatment that occur in nursing homes:

• Physical abuse often presents as unexplained injuries, bruises, broken bones, or marks on residents. This can be caused by rough handling during care, intentional harm, or inappropriate use of restraints.
• Emotional and psychological abuse can be harder to detect, but can be as damaging to patients. Verbal harassment, isolation, humiliation, or threatening behavior from staff members severely degrade a resident’s quality of life.
• Financial exploitation has become increasingly common in nursing facilities. Staff members might steal personal belongings, forge checks, or manipulate residents into changing their wills or power of attorney. Munley Law has helped families recover stolen funds and hold facilities accountable for failing to protect residents.
• Sexual abuse occurs in nursing homes more often than most people realize. Residents may experience emotional distress at the thought of exposing this mistreatment. Our attorneys handle these sensitive cases with discretion and determination, ensuring abusers face consequences and facilities implement better screening and supervision protocols.
• In many care facilities, elders are harmed from neglect. Residents may develop preventable bedsores, suffer falls, lose weight, or experience medical complications because of understaffing or lack of training.

Staffing issues can also result in medical malpractice. Overwhelmed or undertrained staff may make medication errors, delay treatments, or fail to transfer a resident to the hospital.

At Munley Law, we work with medical experts to document these lapses in care and prove how they harmed your loved one. Call today for your free case review.

Warning Signs of Williamsport Nursing Home Abuse

Recognizing signs of someone else’s negligence toward your loved one can prevent further suffering. When visiting, pay attention for any behavior changes, including withdrawal from activities they enjoy or anxiety around certain staff members. Your loved one might become unusually quiet during visits or show signs of depression. Some residents become agitated or exhibit new aggressive behaviors in response to mistreatment.

Watch for any physical signs as well, including weight loss, dehydration, poor hygiene, and injuries. Frequent falls or injuries might indicate inadequate supervision or assistance with mobility.

A sudden decrease in communication outside the nursing home may also be a warning sign. Elders are entitled to access to phones and other means of communication. If these are denied, there may be additional abuse or neglect.

If you suspect mistreatment, don’t wait. Report the abuse, then call Munley Law’s injury lawyers for a consultation. We will advocate for your loved one and look our for their best interests.

Immediate Steps if You Suspect Abuse

You should take prompt action if you suspect nursing home neglect or abuse in Williamsport. Your loved one’s immediate safety is your first priority. If you believe they face immediate danger, call 911.

Documentation is key. Photos of injuries, detailed notes about incidents and observations, and correspondence with the facility will be important evidence during an investigation. Keep copies of any reports you submit to the nursing home, as well as dates and names of people you speak with. Pennsylvania law requires facilities to investigate abuse allegations and take corrective action.

Pennsylvania’s Department of Aging’s protective services investigates mistreatment reports and can help ensure your loved one’s safety. The local Lycoming County Area Agency on Aging also provides resources and support for families dealing with nursing home neglect and mistreatment.

You should also meet with a Williamsport personal injury lawyer to review your case. Your loved one may be entitled to compensation for their mental anguish or additional medical bills. Call Munley Law so our lawyers can fight for the justice and respect your loved one deserves.

Your Legal Rights in Williamsport Nursing Home Abuse Cases

Pennsylvania provides specific protections for nursing home residents. The state’s Older Adults Protective Services Act guarantees residents the right to be free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Facilities must provide safe, adequate care that meets state and federal standards.

Residents have the right to access their medical records, receive visitors, and make decisions about their care. A facility may face additional liability for violations or retaliation for a report.

Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the date you discovered the abuse to file a lawsuit. A skilled Williamsport lawyer from Munley Law will meet all deadlines for seeking compensation for your loved one.

How Our Williamsport Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Fight for Your Loved One

We investigate all Williamsport nursing home abuse cases thoroughly. We determine liability using medical records, staffing reports, and facility inspection histories. Witness testimony from residents, visitors, and employees further document the negligence or mistreatment.

Our network of medical experts will establish how mistreatment injured the victim. They also demonstrate how proper care prevents injuries and the long-term impact of negligence and mistreatment.

We hold individual abusers and facility management responsible for creating harmful conditions.

Compensation for Your Medical Malpractice Case

Injured victims are entitled to several types of damages:

• Economic damages cover direct financial losses, including medical expenses, property damage, and medical devices and prescriptions.
• Victims are also entitled to noneconomic damages, including pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment.
• When neglect or mistreatment contributes to your loved one’s death, we can pursue a wrongful death claim to help with burial and funeral expenses.

Call Munley Law today to discuss how much your injury claim might be worth.

Filing Your Pennsylvania Injury Claim

Munley Law understands the personal injury process is overwhelming when you’re dealing with your loved one’s injury. We will shoulder the legal burden so that you can focus on healing and recovery.

Our Williamsport team will conduct an investigation to prove the neglect or mistreatment. Then we file a complaint outlining the abuse and resulting damages. The nursing home will respond, after which we enter the discovery phase. During discovery, both sides exchange information and evidence.

Most cases reach a settlement without needing a trial. Our lawyers negotiate aggressively to secure fair compensation. If the facility refuses to offer a fair settlement, we will present your case in court.

Munley Law is dedicated to holding the responsible party accountable for their actions. If they deny liability, we’ll fight to prove your claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Choose Munley Law For Your Personal Injury Case

Munley Law’s lawyers have decades of experience in elder abuse cases. Proving abuse in institutional settings can be tough, but our carefully selected network of medical experts and investigators are able to prove liability in Williamsport, PA, cases.

We recently secured a $2.1 million settlement for a victim who experienced severe bedsores and subsequent infections due to neglect. Another case resulted in a $1.8 million verdict after proving systematic understaffing led to resident injuries.

We provide personal attention to each client. Your case will be handled directly by one of our senior attorneys, not passed off to junior associates. We maintain regular communication, keeping you updated with the case progress and answering your questions promptly.

When you need a Williamsport, PA, lawyer, contact Munley Law. Our team will pursue compensation for you.

Contact Our Williamsport Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Call for your free consultation to discuss your situation and legal options. Our lawyers will listen to your story, concerns, and answer your questions to make a clear legal plan. Protecting your loved one is our top priority.

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t take any payment until we’ve made a recovery in your favor. This allows you to focus on your loved one’s care without worrying about legal fees.

Our Williamsport team can meet at your home or your loved one’s facility. Call us today or fill out the contact form to take the first step toward justice.