To suddenly discover that someone you love has been the victim of nursing home abuse is very emotional and stressful. You may find that filing a lawsuit is the best course of action to take. But you should not rush to hire the first attorney you run across as it’s important that you find the right lawyer for you. This type of case can be complex and it requires the knowledge and expertise of an attorney who knows this area of the law. It is best to work with a lawyer who has at least ten years worth of experience as this type of attorney will likely have handled cases similar to yours before. Here are a few things to take into consideration when hiring an attorney.
Your Goals
Determine what you hope to gain by filing a lawsuit. By coming up with some goals and a basic strategy, you and your attorney will be able to work together to meet those goals. Maybe you wish to simply protect your loved one or perhaps your aim is to have the nursing home shut down completely. Either way, when you are clear about what your wants and needs are, you attorney will be better able to help you achieve your goals.
Your Attorney’s Level of Experience
Instead of hiring a general lawyer, you should hire an attorney who specializes in nursing home abuse. Even if your personal attorney tells you that he or she can take on your case, it’s best to seek out an experienced attorney who handles nursing home abuse cases on a regular basis. This way, you stand a much better chance of getting to the bottom of what has happened and in winning your case. Remember that your loved one is counting on you to do what’s right so do make the effort to find the most experienced and caring nursing home abuse lawyer you can find in your area.
Length of Time Your Attorney Needs
If your loved one is being abused, it’s imperative that the attorney you hire gets to work on your case immediately. There is absolutely no time to waste when it comes to nursing home abuse. If an attorney tells you that he or she cannot work on your case right away, don’t hire that person. Instead, find a lawyer who promises to start working on your case immediately. And, don’t hire any lawyer who tells you that he or she will be passing your case onto a legal assistant. You need the services of a trained and experienced attorney and not that of a legal aide with little or no experience.
There are many reputable and experienced nursing home abuse attorneys in every state of the US to choose from. By doing some basic research and asking a few key questions, you should not have any problem finding an experienced, caring and compassionate attorney to represent you and your loved one. You can use the internet to locate a top lawyer or you could ask people you know for recommendations. When you find an attorney you would like to hire, set up an initial consultation so you can sit down with him or her in a face-to-face meeting to discuss your case.