More Americans are living in nursing home facilities than ever before, and the number of Americans in nursing homes is increasing at a rapid rate. Sadly, nursing home negligence is also on the rise. One study estimated that as many as 5,000,000 elderly Americans are abused each year. However, this number could be even higher. Other studies estimate that one in fourteen incidents of abuse is formally reported, meaning that it is difficult to know how frequently elder abuse occurs. New Mexico is no exception to these statistics.
If you know or suspect that your loved one has suffered from nursing home abuse in New Mexico, you may be wondering what to do now. Fortunately, our New Mexico nursing home negligence attorneys at Carabin Shaw are here to answer some common questions about elder abuse. Read on to learn what our senior and elder nursing home abuse lawyers in New Mexico want you to know.
How Do New Mexico Nursing Homes Compare to the Rest of the Nation?A recent report concluded that New Mexico has the worst nursing homes in the nation, based on severe deficiencies on a per nursing home basis. Nearly half the nursing homes in the state violated regulations, and New Mexico nursing homes were fined a total of $2.42 million for these violations between April 2015 and April 2018.
What Should I Do If I Suspect Nursing Home Neglect?If you suspect elder abuse, it is crucial to act now—especially if your loved one is still at risk of enduring further harm. To report nursing home abuse, you can contact New Mexico’s long-term care ombudsman at 1-866-451-2901.
You should also make sure to document the signs and symptoms of abuse because this will serve as valuable evidence once you have hired an attorney. Document all of the following:
You may also want to pay close attention to the condition of the nursing home facilities. What is the staff turnover like? Does the facility answer phone calls, or let the phones ring? Keeping detailed notes about nursing home conditions may help your New Mexico nursing home negligence case.
Finally, consult a qualified attorney and decide your next steps.
How Do I Choose the Right Nursing Home Negligence Lawyers in New Mexico?When choosing among New Mexico elder abuse lawyers, there are specific criteria that you must look for to secure the best possible representation. You want to select a team of New Mexico attorneys who have extensive experience handling nursing home negligence cases, as well as a winning track record. You also want to look for a lawyer who has trial experience, if your case ends up going to court. Finally, you want a lawyer who is trustworthy, compassionate, and professional.
At Carabin Shaw, our team meets all of the above criteria and more. Our lawyers have a combined 200 years of legal experience, and our firm has been handling personal injury cases for more than two decades. We’ve recovered more than $500 million in compensation for our satisfied clients, and we know how to maximize the value of your claim. Finally, we believe in treating every client with the utmost compassion, care, and respect. We know that you and your family are suffering, and we want to make the legal process as easy as possible for you.
Our New Mexico elder abuse lawyers offer new clients a no-cost, confidential consultation, which means you have nothing to lose by giving us a call. Find out what our experienced lawyers serving New Mexico can do for your New Mexico nursing home negligence case. Call our office today for a free consultation with an attorney at 915-779-2301 or toll-free at 1-800-862-1260.