Elder Neglect Lawyer in Charleston, WV

In heartbreaking situations of elder neglect, many West Virginia families struggle to know what to do next or how to navigate the legal system. If your loved one has suffered from neglect at the hands of their caregiver, you won’t have to pay any attorney fees unless we win for you. Our elder neglect attorneys work on a contingency-fee basis, which means we don’t get paid unless you do. You can call for a free case review and talk to one of our experienced elder neglect lawyers about pursuing your case today.

Neglect is when caregivers fail to meet the physical or emotional needs of an elderly person in their care. If the neglect is not intentional, this is considered passive neglect. For example, a nursing home employee may neglect your loved one because they haven’t been well-trained, which means they won’t have the knowledge or skills to provide adequate care. Passive neglect can also occur if a facility is understaffed and there aren’t enough employees to look after all patients as well as they’re supposed to. If your loved one experienced this kind of abuse, call our attorneys right away to discuss your legal options. While passive neglect is not intentional, that doesn’t change the real harm that was caused to your loved one. We can help you seek the justice and compensation your family deserves.

There are many forms of neglect that an elderly person can experience. Talking to one of our elder negligence lawyers can help you determine if your loved one’s situation qualifies for legal action. Two of the major forms of neglect are physical neglect and emotional neglect.

• Physical neglect: Any form of neglect that includes the physical wellbeing of a person, such as not looking after their medical, nutritional, or hygienic needs. This can also include not giving them their medications, not bathing them, not changing their bandages, or not providing them with nutritious food.
• Emotional neglect: Part of what caregivers provide for the elderly in their care is companionship. When they fail to fulfill this important task, the elder can experience emotional neglect. This can include ignoring the person in their care, speaking to them harshly, or leaving them alone for a long time. This form of neglect can lead elderly people to experience serious distress, anguish, and emotional pain.

Realizing that your loved one is being neglected is a devastating experience. If you suspect this is happening, the most important thing is to stop the mistreatment immediately by alerting the proper authorities. If the situation is dangerous enough to be considered an emergency, call 911 to get help.

Once your loved one is safe, take steps to report what happened to the West Virginia Adult Protective Services. This is a state agency with trained professionals that investigate claims of neglect and take them very seriously. If they find evidence of neglect, Adult Protective Services will take action against the facility. However, they do not handle justice and compensation. The team of elder neglect attorneys at Stewart Bell Injury Lawyers offer West Virginia clients the opportunity to hold negligent caregivers accountable for their harmful actions.