St. Louis Nursing Home Lawyers

Fighting Negligence and Abuse in Nursing Homes

Trusting the nursing home or long-term care facility that cares for a loved one should never be a question. Your loved one was abused by the nursing home that your family trusted to care for their health, and they need to be held accountable for their horrible actions. You need a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in St. Louis that has experience defending nursing home negligence lawsuits. Burger Law fights to protect the rights of nursing home and assisted living center residents, and our attorneys fully and aggressively pursue all businesses or individuals who harm those who cannot care for themselves.

Why is Burger Law your best option for your nursing home abuse case?

• We have more than 80 years of combined litigation experience in St. Louis
• We’ve recovered over $200 Million for our clients winning complex personal injury cases, including nursing home abuse in St. Louis, MO.
• Our legal team will review your case at NO CHARGE
• NO FREE unless we’ve achieved success for you
• Our team has earned many distinctions and peer-reviewed awards for our work in civil litigation and trial work in Missouri and Illinois. A few of the honors we have earned include the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Top 100 Trial Lawyer Award.
• Once you hire Burger Law, we take care of everything – obtaining medical records, contacting doctors, tracking down evidence, negotiating with the insurance company, everything. We focus on your case, while you focus on your recovery.
• Our firm is one of the most- and best-reviewed law firms in St. Louis, with a 4.9 Positive rating on Google and over 600 (and counting) five-star reviews, in addition to over 100 video reviews on our website and YouTube channel. We measure our success by the satisfaction of our clients.

Here are some nursing home abuse cases we’ve won for our clients in St. Louis:

Large Settlement for Family of an Elderly Woman who Suffered Nursing Home Abuse

Our St. Louis nursing home abuse attorneys at Burger Law have the experience that your family needs to fight nursing home abuse lawsuits, and we can make sure that nursing homes or assisted living facilities are held fully liable for the harm that they caused your family.

Contact our nursing home abuse lawyers in St. Louis at (314) 500-HURT to schedule a free case review.

Our attorneys have the experience that your family needs to fight this nursing home abuse lawsuit, and can make sure that the nursing home or assisted living facility is held fully liable for the harm that they caused your family. Call (314) 500-HURT  or contact our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in St. Louis now to schedule a free case review.

Accomplished Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

St. Louis Nursing Home Abuse Law Firm Burger Law protects those that have been abused or neglected while in the custody of a long-term care facility. Our attorneys are committed to helping recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages for your loved one’s nursing home abuse case. Over the years, our nursing home lawyers have fought for and won compensation for nursing home abuse and neglect victims in Missouri.

What Does “Nursing Home Abuse” Mean?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), elder abuse is the abuse and neglect of a person age 60+ by a caregiver or other trusted personnel. Missouri law recognizes three types of mistreatment of the elderly:

• Abuse – physical, sexual, or emotional injury or harm to an elderly person
• Neglect – failure to provide a reasonable standard of care to elderly, including nutrition, medication assistance, hygiene, and other services
• Financial exploitation – deceiving or forcing an elder to provide access to personal property and assets with the intent of revoking their rightful access to, or use of, their benefits, resources, belongings, and assets

Can I Sue for Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect?

Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are required to provide a certain level of care to residents. If this standard of care is not provided, and a resident is harmed, you could have grounds for a nursing home abuse lawsuit.

Warning signs of nursing home abuse and neglect can include the following:

• Bed sores
• Bruises, lacerations, or broken bones
• Poor hygiene
• Sudden financial burdens
• Unexplained weight loss
• Changes in Behavior

The effects of nursing home abuse can vary from case to case. However, if you or another family member notices any of these signs in your loved one, you may be able to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit against the negligent facility.

Why Hire a St. Louis Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?

When it comes to selecting a nursing home abuse lawyer, you don’t want to settle for just any lawyer without doing the necessary homework. You need an attorney who will fight for your rights and ensure you are rightly compensated.

The choice of an attorney can affect the settlement sum you are able to recover in your case. But when you choose a St. Louis nursing home abuse attorney from our firm, you get many advantages.

Extensive Legal Experience

First and foremost, our team boasts 50 years of combined legal experience. Through this extensive history our team has demonstrated a clear and detailed understanding of the legal process and strategies for dealing with difficult nursing homes and insurance companies.

When you hire Burger Law, you’re tapping into decades of knowledge and strategy that can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. This allows us to provide top-notch representation and the fact that we understand what it takes to win a nursing home abuse case.

No Upfront Costs

Are you worrying about how much it will cost you to hire us to handle your case? We know how stressful financial concerns, let alone the cost of hiring an attorney, can be for families dealing with nursing home abuse in St. Louis. Not to worry. Burger Law operates on a contingency fee basis. This means we agree to take on your case without charging you any fees upfront. Instead, our attorneys will agree to take a percentage of the settlement awarded if they win the case. This arrangement means that there is essentially no financial risk to you as the client — we finance your entire case upfront — and you can pursue your case without unnecessary financial strain.

Impressive Past Results

You need to check out a lawyer’s past results before hiring them. While each case is different and no past result guarantees the outcome of yours, working with St. Louis nursing home attorneys who know how to win is only an advantage to you.

Our lawyers have a history of securing impressive settlements for our clients for many types of claims. Our huge settlements in the past have earned us a rare spot in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Therefore, you can believe that our strategies are proven to get great recoveries for families of St Louis nursing home abuse victims.

Focused Attention

Another hallmark of our firm is our commitment to providing focused attention to each case. We intentionally keep our caseload manageable to ensure that every client receives individualized attention. This approach allows us to dedicate quality time and resources to each case, unlike some St. Louis firms that operate by signing cases in bulk and resigning their clients to easy, lowball settlements.

When you trust us with your case, we will thoroughly investigate every detail to build the strongest possible arguments. With St. Louis nursing home abuse claims, every detail matters, and having a lawyer who can give your case the attention it deserves can greatly enhance the chances of a positive outcome.

Individual Focus

We believe in the importance of direct communication with your lawyer. This means that throughout the case, you’ll always have direct access to a lawyer rather than only through support staff, which means that your case gets the individual focus it deserves. This direct line of communication ensures that you’re always in the loop and that your voice is heard throughout the legal process.

Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect in St. Louis, Missouri

In St. Louis, Missouri, just like elsewhere, nursing home abuse can take different forms. Here are some common types of abuse:

Physical Abuse

This type of abuse is very common in nursing homes. Reports show that over 9% of nursing home staff admitted to having physically abused residents in 2020 alone. This involves any intentional use of force that causes bodily harm or injury to a nursing home resident.

Examples of physical abuse in St. Louis nursing homes include:

• Hitting
• Pushing
• Kicking
• Restraining
• Punching

Emotional or Psychological Abuse

Emotional abuse refers to behavior that inflicts mental anguish, distress, or fear on a resident. This can occur as a result of:

• Controlling the resident against their will
• Insults based on the resident’s actions, beliefs or intelligence
• Isolation from family, friends and other residents

Financial Exploitation

Financial exploitation happens when someone gains unauthorized access or improperly uses a resident’s funds through manipulation.

The common examples of final fraud in nursing homes include:

• Changing the resident’s will details often by those with the power of attorney
• Barring the resident from accessing their bank accounts
• Stealing a resident’s valuables, credit cards or cash
• Stealing their financial records
• Manipulation to gain control over the resident’s finances

Financial abuse in nursing homes may not leave visible bruises or physical harm like any other type of abuse, but it can be quite harmful. It may bring lots of stress and worry as it means residents might lose the money they need to pay for their care in the long run.

Neglect of a Resident’s Basic Needs

Neglect occurs when a nursing home staff intentionally withholds basic care and attention such as food, water, shelter, hygiene and medical care. This can result in malnutrition, dehydration, injuries like bed sores and unsanitary living conditions.

Sexual Abuse

It is not uncommon to hear cases of sexual exploitation of residents in nursing homes. Sexual abuse is often committed against those who are unable to give consent. This may involve unwanted sexual contact, coercion or exploitation of a nursing home resident.

The common forms of sexual abuse in nursing homes include:

• Inappropriate touching
• Sexual assault
• Coercion to engage in sexual acts
• Rape

Abandonment

If a nursing home resident is deserted alone in their room or left without adequate care or supervision, this is termed as abandonment. When it happens, the resident is deprived of essential services and support. This may involve the following:

• Being left alone for extended periods
• Not treating medical conditions on time
• Lack of access to necessary assistance for the recommended time

Healthcare Fraud and Abuse

This involves deceptive or fraudulent practices by healthcare providers or facilities, such as overbilling, kickbacks, unnecessary medical procedure, or falsifying records. Healthcare fraud and abuse can harm residents by compromising the quality of care they receive and exploiting vulnerable individuals for financial gain.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect in St. Louis Facilities

Family members and caregivers are key to safeguarding the rights and protecting the well-being of nursing home residents. When they recognize signs of abuse, they can advocate for the resident’s needs, seek appropriate medical attention, and pursue legal action.

Here are the common signs to watch out for:

• Unexplained bruises, cuts or injuries
• Broken bones or fractures
• Bruising in unusual or sensitive areas, such as the inner arms or thighs
• Restraining marks on wrists or ankles
• Sudden changes in behavior or mood
• Withdrawal from social activities or interactions
• Unexplained changes in personality, such as increased fear or anxiety
• Agitation towards caregivers
• Fear of being alone with certain staff members
• Unexplained withdrawals or transactions from the resident’s bank account
• Missing personal belongings or valuables
• Changes to wills or power of attorney without the resident’s consent
• Unpaid bills or overdue expenses despite having sufficient funds
• Poor personal hygiene, including unwashed clothes or hair, dirty living environment or unclean bedding
• Malnutrition or dehydration
• Significant change in sleep patterns
• Untreated medical conditions or infections
• Lack of assistance with mobility or activities of daily living
• Bedsores or pressure ulcers from prolonged immobility
• Bruises, scratches, or other injuries around the genital area
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or genital infections
• Difficulty walking or sitting
• Sudden changes in behavior or mood, especially regarding sexual topics
• Fear or discomfort around certain staff members or residents
• Unexplained absence of caregivers or staff members responsible for the resident’s care
• Fear of being touched
• Illness or injury that goes unreported to family
• Billing for services not provided or unnecessary medical treatments
• Lack of proper documentation or medical records
• Unexplained or frequent hospitalizations or emergency room visits
• Facility decline issues such as unfamiliarity with residents, odor issues, etc.

These signs should be taken seriously and investigated further if observed. When investigating cases of suspected abuse, healthcare professionals, law enforcement and your legal representative will use such signs as evidence to establish a connection between the injury and the abuse.

For example, if a resident has unexplained bruises after interactions with a particular staff member, it may suggest a link between the injuries and abusive behavior. If you notice such signs, a nursing home abuse attorney can help investigate and establish the possibility of abuse. Call our St. Louis lawyers right away at (314) 500-HURT.

Can I Sue for Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect in St. Louis?

Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are required to provide a certain level of care to residents. If this standard of care is not provided, and a resident is harmed, you could have grounds for a nursing home abuse lawsuit.

Warning signs of nursing home abuse and neglect can include the following:

• Bed sores
• Bruises, lacerations or broken bones
• Poor hygiene
• Sudden financial burdens
• Unexplained weight loss
• Changes in Behavior

The effects of nursing home abuse can vary from case to case. However, if you or another family member notices any of these signs in your loved one, you may be able to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit against the negligent facility.

When Can You Sue a Nursing Home in St. Louis?

There are two different possible types of lawsuits that can be brought against a nursing home: tort and breach of contract. The former is much more common than the latter. A tort lawsuit alleges mistreatment of the nursing home resident. You can sue a nursing home in Missouri in the following cases:

1. Abuse – intentional harm done to the victim. This can be physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological
2. Neglect – failure to adequately care for the resident, either intentionally or due to carelessness. Failing to regularly bathe or feed the individual, dressing them in weather-appropriate clothing, keeping their living area clean (changing bedpans, laundering bedding, removing trash, etc.), and leaving a heavily dependent individual unattended are examples.
3. Financial exploitation – taking advantage of the resident’s financial resources through deceit or force. Receiving unjustified payment or receiving or benefiting from the victim’s assets, resources, or belongings are types of financial exploitation.

In other cases, a different type of lawsuit such as a medical malpractice or wrongful death suit may be more fitting. It is possible to file different lawsuits against multiple defendants. A lawyer will help you determine if you have a case and, if so, what kind of lawsuit(s) to file.

Nursing homes are obligated to provide a certain standard of care. They are also considered responsible for any negligent behavior of their employees. To make the case that your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, you need proof. Gather proof of injuries sustained as well as proof that the nursing home was negligent. Results of abuse or neglect could be physical injuries (i.e., bedsores, infections, bruises, cuts, broken bones), physical characteristics (emaciation, dirty or unkempt appearance, presence of bugs or excessive trash in living area), behavior (i.e., wandering, confusion, appearing withdrawn or unresponsive, agitation), or financial changes (i.e., unexplained missing money or belongings, suspicious account withdrawals or transfers). Photos, video, and medical or financial documents can adequately prove the abuse took place. To prove that the facility and/or employees of the facility is responsible for the abuse, collect witness statements, security footage, and the facility’s internal reports.

To summarize, one can sue a nursing home for abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an elder in a nursing home’s care. The harm can come from the actions of an employee of the facility or the negligence of the facility itself. To make a case of nursing home abuse, one must prove that the individual was harmed in some way, and that the harm was due to the actions of the nursing home or its employee.

What to Expect When Filing a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in St Louis

Nursing homes and senior living facilities are responsible for ensuring the well-being of residents entrusted in their care, but unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. Some elderly care facilities are negligent and don’t maintain premises, vet the employees they hire, or don’t follow proper protocol for dispensing medication or daily care to residents.

Nursing home abuse lawsuits often involve negligent caregivers. Under Vicarious Liability, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are liable for an employee’s negligent actions, and can be sued for nursing home abuse.

In most states, nursing home abuse lawsuits are valid if the victim or their family members can provide proof of injury (physical, financial, or emotionally), evidence of the nursing home’s negligence (witness reports, photos, video), and proof that the facility didn’t provide a certain level of care, resulting in the resident’s harm and losses.

What Rights Do St. Louis, Missouri Nursing Home Residents Have?

In 1987, Congress passed the Nursing Home Reform Act after the Institute of Medicine found that nursing home residents were being abused and/or neglected. The act sets out required services and care, as well as a bill of rights that all nursing homes in Missouri and throughout the U.S. must follow. The act stipulates the all nursing home residents have a right to:

• Freedom from abuse, mistreatment, and neglect
• Freedom from physical restraints
• Privacy
• Accommodation of medical, physical, psychological, and social needs
• Participate in resident and family groups
• Be treated with dignity
• Exercise self-determination
• Communicate freely
• Participate in the review of one’s care plan, and to be fully informed in advance about any changes in care, treatment, or change of status in the facility
• Voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal

If a loved one is being denied their rights and are being mistreated in a St. Louis or Missouri nursing home, call the nursing home neglect and abuse lawyers of Burger Law now at (314) 500-HURT.

What Are Common Types of Nursing Home Negligence in St. Louis, MO?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define nursing home negligence as the “failure to meet an older adult’s basic needs. These needs include food, water, shelter, clothing, hygiene and essential medical care.” The accomplished Missouri nursing home negligence lawyers at Burger Law have seen every type of nursing home negligence case, and have the skill and experience to maximize your recovery and help put your mind at ease.

Bed Sores

Bedsores can also be called pressure sores, decubitus ulcers, or pressure ulcers. In a 2004 study, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 11 percent of nursing home residents suffered from bedsores. Bedsores occur in four stages, classified by the depth of soft tissue damage.

• Stage 1: A persistent redness of the skin.
• Stage 2: A loss of partial thickness of skin appearing as an abrasion, blister or shallow crater.
• Stage 3: A loss of full thickness of skin, presented as a deep crater.
• Stage 4: A loss of full thickness of skin exposing muscle or bone. This stage can often lead to infection.

The most common stage is stage 2, and the most common place where nursing home residents experience bedsores is on their lower back, which are called sacral ulcers. Recovery can take months or even years, depending on which stage the ulcer is in. If you discover that a loved one living in a nursing home is suffering from bed sores, speak to a nursing home negligence attorney immediately at (314) 500-HURT.

Bedsores occur when blood flow is cut off to the area for more than two or three hours, and are especially common in people in wheelchairs or who are confined to beds. Missouri nursing homes should check their patients’ skin daily, keep their skin clean and dry and change any bandages daily. Not doing so constitutes nursing home negligence. Any red marks need to receive medical attention immediately. Any nursing home resident who is immobile or confined to a wheelchair or bed should have their position changed every two hours. If your loved one has experienced any stage of bedsore because of nursing home negligence, you need the knowledgeable nursing home negligence attorneys at Burger Law to fight by your side to make sure you get the full compensation you and your family deserve.

Social or Emotional Neglect

Nursing homes are responsible for the entirety of their residents’ well-being, and that includes their social and emotional health. Like all humans, the elderly need positive social interaction to thrive. Nursing homes can be a wonderful way for residents to make new friends in their golden years. However, administrators or employees preventing residents from interacting with others is a form of nursing home negligence. This can happen if they accidentally isolate vulnerable residents, fail to provide canes, wheelchairs or walkers to residents who need assistance moving around or forget to move residents with severe mobility or mental limitations. If your loved one has been denied the social interaction that every human needs and is entitled to, call Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT and our committed and compassionate nursing home negligence attorneys will demand that you and your family receive a complete financial recovery. As your Missouri nursing home negligence lawyer, we will use our knowledge and experience to investigate, build and prove your case of social or emotional neglect.

Failure to Provide Basic Living Needs

This can include failing to keep the nursing home at an appropriate temperature, not cleaning the rooms or common areas frequently or not providing adequate, healthy or safe food and water. If a resident requires medication it must be provided at the appropriate time, every time, and in the right dosage. Failure to properly administer medication is a form of nursing home negligence. If a nursing home or its staff does not give your loved one the medication and care they need, you need the expertise and experience of Burger Law’s Missouri and St. Louis nursing home negligence lawyers to hold the nursing home responsible. Discuss your case with us now at (314) 500-HURT or fill out this form.

Missouri Nursing Home Abuse Statistics

Did you know that about 1 in 10 people aged 60 and older in the U.S. have faced some type of abuse in the past year? That is what the National Center on Elder Abuse has recently reported.

The scope of this horror is likely much worse because, for every one case of abuse that gets reported, experts believe there could be as many as 23 cases that don’t get reported. In Missouri alone, in 2022, the Department of Health and Senior Services looked into 42,319 reports of abuse involving older adults and those with disabilities. That’s about 116 reports of abuse every single day.

Also, out of all the nursing homes in Missouri, one out of four hasn’t had a regular inspection in two years or more. That means about 126 nursing homes out of the 510 in Missouri haven’t had a visit from the inspectors in years. Moreover, the latest information from ProPublica indicates that there were around 2,930 deficiencies as of November 2023.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services,reports of nursing home abuse have increased by 36% in the past four years.

And this is not likely to slow down anytime soon. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that by the year 2050, the global population of those 60 years old or older could reach around 2 billion people. With so many lives at stake, we must work together to curb nursing home abuse by holding facilities accountable.

Types of Cases Our St. Louis Firm Handles

Below are the various types of nursing home abuse cases our firm is equipped to handle. We believe that everyone is entitled to justice, and that is why we offer legal representation for nursing home abuse cases, such as:

• Wrongful death: Cases where a resident dies due to neglect, abuse, or inadequate care while residing in a nursing home facility.
• Bed sores. Instances where residents develop painful and potentially life-threatening bed sores due to prolonged pressure on their skin.
• Slips and falls. These cases involve incidents where residents suffer injuries from slipping, tripping or falling in the nursing home, often due to hazards such as wet floors, inadequate lighting or improper supervision.

• Financial exploitation. We also handle cases where residents are exploited or defrauded by nursing home staff members, caregivers, or others, resulting in the misuse or theft of their money, assets, or property.

• Injuries and infections. Where residents sustain injuries or develop infections due to negligence, abuse or inadequate medical care, we can help them access justice.

• Malnutrition and dehydration. Cases where residents suffer from malnutrition or dehydration due to inadequate food, fluids or proper nutrition provided by the nursing home staff.

• Overmedication. Sometimes, we handle cases where residents are administered excessive or unnecessary medication, leading to adverse effects and health complications.

• • Sexual assault. We also deal with cases involving unwanted sexual contact, harassment or exploitation perpetrated against nursing home residents.
• Physical assault. If your loved one suffered intentional abuse, we will hold the facility responsible and ensure you receive justice.

If you or a loved one has experienced any form of abuse or neglect in a nursing home, don’t hesitate to contact the St. Louis nursing home attorneys of Burger Law for legal assistance at (314) 500-HURT.

“I’ve dedicated my entire life to helping our clients receive full compensation for their injuries.”

Schedule a free case evaluation here.

Gary Burger

Litigation attorney

How Much is My Nursing Home Abuse Claim Worth?

When determining the amount of compensation for a nursing home abuse claim, there is no “average” amount, since every case is so different. Instead, several factors come into play regarding the value of a claim.

The severity of the abuse, the extent of the injuries, and the impact on the victim’s quality of life all play a significant role in calculating the value of the claim. Additionally, the experience of your nursing home abuse attorney can also influence the outcome.

Severity of Abuse and Injuries

One crucial factor that determines the compensation amount is the extent and severity of the nursing home abuse and resulting injuries. In cases of physical abuse, such as assault or neglect, the severity of the injuries suffered by the victim will directly impact the claim’s value. The more serious the injuries, the higher the potential compensation. This includes both physical injuries and any emotional or psychological trauma caused by the abuse.

How the Abuse Affects the Victim

Another important consideration is the impact of the abuse on the victim’s quality of life. If the abuse resulted in long-term or permanent disabilities, the compensation will likely be higher to account for the ongoing medical care and the loss of the victim’s ability to enjoy life as they once did. This can include costs for rehabilitation, therapy, medical equipment, and any necessary modifications to the living environment.

Your Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

The experience of your lawyer also plays a critical role in determining the compensation amount. An experienced attorney will thoroughly investigate the case, gather evidence, and build a strong argument on behalf of you or your loved one. They will take into account all aspects of the case, such as medical records, witness statements, and expert opinions, to determine the full extent of the damages suffered by the victim.

This comprehensive approach allows the attorney to negotiate for the highest possible compensation on behalf of their client.

Below is one of our nursing home abuse settlements:

Large Settlement for Family of an Elderly Woman who Suffered Nursing Home Abuse

What Are Common Signs and Symptoms of Nursing Home Negligence in St. Louis, Missouri?

There are certain warning signs of nursing home negligence and abuse that you can be on the lookout for to make sure your loved one in is not going through nursing home neglect or nursing home abuse. Signs of abuse and neglect you can look out for are:

• Bedsores or pressure ulcers
• Bruises, burns, welts, cuts, lacerations or fractures
• Dehydration or malnourishment
• Fatigue, insomnia or other sleep disorders
• Poor hygiene and poor dental hygiene
• Illness
• Gangrene
• Worsening existing conditions
• New or untreated medical conditions
• Significant personality changes such as irritability or suicidal thoughts or actions
• Complaining about the staff
• Unpaid bills when you know there should be adequate money in their account

If you suspect your loved one is being neglected or abused, it is important to take immediate action. You can make a report with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services here, or call their hotline at 1-800-392-0210. After that, reach out to an experienced and dedicated nursing home abuse lawyer in St. Louis right away. You and your family deserve justice and to be made whole again after your loved one was subjected to someone else’s terrible behavior.

Recover Compensation With the Help of a St. Louis Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

If you or a loved one are a victim of nursing home abuse in St. Louis or anywhere in Missouri or Illinois, you may endure physical, emotional and financial suffering. You deserve justice and compensation for the harm you and your loved ones have experienced. However, although the law provides a way to seek justice for the victims of nursing home abuse, you will likely need a qualified attorney to help you get full compensation.

A St. Louis nursing home abuse lawyer is key in helping victims recover compensation. Our legal team will invest the resources necessary to investigate what happened and protect your rights. This includes the following:

• Gathering evidence to prove negligence on the part of the nursing home
• Establishing the nursing home’s failure to provide adequate care or supervision
• Calculating the total compensation to demand

Our lawyers will represent you in all legal processes and advocate for your rights and interests. We can negotiate with insurance companies to ensure that you receive fair compensation. You might recover the following compensation to address different aspects of your suffering and losses.

Economic Damages

Economic damages involve compensation for monetary losses, which you can prove with bills, receipts and other documentation. Recoverable economic damages from nursing home abuse in St. Louis could include:

• Medical costs related to hospitalization, surgery, medication, rehabilitation and other medical treatments necessitated by the abuse
• Anticipated future medical costs resulting from the abuse, such as ongoing therapy or long-term care needs
• Cost for assistive devices as a result of the injury sustained from the abuse/negligence.
• Expenses incurred for moving to a safe facility
• Lost income of the intervening family members as they are unable to work during the pursuit of justice for their loved one
• Property damage if personal belongings were damaged or stolen as a result of the abuse

Non-Economic Damages

Your lawyer will also help you pursue non-economic damages, or those damages that are harder to quantify in monetary terms. These could include:

• Pain and suffering you or your loved one experienced following nursing home abuse
• Loss of capacity to participate in activities you  or your loved one once enjoyed due to injuries
• The impact of the abuse on the victim’s relationships with family members, including loss of companionship, love and support
• Compensation for the psychological impact of the abuse, such as anxiety, depression and PTSD
• Loss of bodily functions
• Humiliation suffered as a result of the abuse`

Proving non-economic damages can be difficult, but this is often a substantial part of a nursing home abuse settlement or award. Often, this abuse causes severe mental and emotional trauma to victims, so pursuing full non-economic damages for pain and suffering is critical. Our St. Louis nursing home abuse attorneys at Burger Law fight for every dollar you or your loved one deserves.

Punitive Damages

Sometimes, the law requires wrongdoers to pay punitive damages to deter future egregious misconduct. In nursing home abuse cases where the conduct is particularly reckless or intentional, punitive damages may be awarded in addition to compensatory damages. Your attorney will help you prove that the nursing home deliberately inflicted the injury on you or your loved one.

Wrongful Death

In cases where nursing home abuse results in fatality, surviving family members may be entitled to compensation through a wrongful death claim. This may include:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of the victim’s companionship, guidance and support
• Medical expenses of the deceased
• The deceased lost income

Note that recoverable compensation may vary depending on the circumstances of each nursing home abuse case. These cases rarely settle fairly without litigation, so it is almost always in your best interest to hire a St. Louis nursing home abuse attorney to help you understand your rights and help you pursue fair compensation for your losses.

Contact Our St. Louis Nursing Home Attorneys Today

Burger Law investigates the circumstances of all nursing home abuse claims and develops outlooks of the type of damages that a case can potentially recover. Our nursing home abuse attorneys have extensive experience in nursing home abuse lawsuits and are passionate about making negligent nursing home facilities take responsibility for the damages that they caused.

If you or someone you love has been the victim of nursing home abuse, and you need an aggressive St. Louis nursing home abuse attorney to fight for your case, call or contact Burger Law now at (314) 500-HURT to schedule a free case review.