How Long Do I Have to Sue a Nursing Home After Suspected Neglect?

Nursing home abuse in America is a rampant societal ill that is both underreported and rarely discussed. Studies have found that as many as one in six nursing home residents are abused or neglected, and that seniors who have been abused have a 300% greater chance of death in the three years following the abuse than their counterparts who do not experience abuse. To make matters worse, other reports have found that New Mexico has the worst nursing homes in the country, based on the number of serious deficiencies on a per nursing home basis.

If you suspect that your loved one has been victimized, you may be wondering, “How long do I have to sue a nursing home after suspected neglect?” and, “How do I choose the right lawyer?” Fortunately, our team at Carabin Shaw is here to answer these questions and more regarding New Mexico nursing home negligence.

According to our New Mexico elder abuse lawyers, nursing home negligence (or nursing home neglect) is a form of elder abuse. This type of abuse occurs whenever caregivers deliver substandard care that breaches their duty of care, by failing to adequately provide for the elderly person’s basic needs—such as food, water, and safety. Even if the neglect is unintentional—for instance, if it is the result of understaffing—it is still a form of negligence.

For nursing home abuse cases in New Mexico, the statute of limitations is three years from when the injury was discovered, or from when it reasonably should have been discovered (N.M. Stat. Ann. §37-1-8). This means it’s important to act quickly once you have uncovered evidence of abuse, and that you should contact a lawyer as soon as you are able to do so to begin the process of filing a New Mexico nursing home negligence claim.

Nursing home negligence claims are notoriously difficult, because evidence of abuse or neglect is not easy to obtain in many cases, and because there are many things that must be proven in a successful nursing home neglect claim. That’s why it’s crucial to choose a nursing home negligence lawyer in New Mexico who has the experience and the qualifications to properly handle your nursing home negligence claim and give you the best possible shot at success.

When choosing an attorney, you will want to look for a personal injury lawyer who has years of experience handling nursing home abuse claims, as well as someone with trial experience in case your lawsuit ends up in court. You’ll also want to choose an attorney who has plenty of satisfied client reviews and a stellar professional reputation.

Here at Carabin Shaw, we meet all of the above criteria and more. Our team has a combined 200 years of legal experience, and we’ve been handling nursing home negligence claims for more than twenty years. Recently, our law firm was named by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys as one of the top ten best Texas personal injury firms in 2018 based on client satisfaction. So far, we’ve recovered more than $500 million in compensation for our clients, and we want to help your loved one get the justice and compensation they deserve after suffering from abuse or neglect.

So call us today at 915-779-2301 to schedule your free consultation with one of our New Mexico elder abuse lawyers and to find out how we can help. Don’t wait—speak with a lawyer at Carabin Shaw and let us help you get your life back on track after New Mexico nursing home negligence.