Greenville Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Ready to Protect Your Elderly Loved One's Health & Rights
If you suspect that your loved one has suffered mistreatment in a long-term care facility, it’s time to take legal action. At Smith Born Leventis Taylor & Vega, LLC, our experienced Greenville nursing home abuse lawyers are committed to protecting the rights and dignity of elderly residents in South Carolina. We hold negligent and abusive nursing homes accountable and fight for the compensation families deserve when their trust has been violated.
Contact us today at (803) 599-2207 to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a knowledgeable Greenville nursing home abuse lawyer.
What is Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse refers to any form of harm inflicted upon residents of elder care facilities, including physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse, as well as neglect. These incidents can happen due to understaffing, poor training, or the willful misconduct of caregivers. Often, victims are unable or afraid to speak up, which makes family members’ awareness and swift action critically important.
Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is a growing problem in South Carolina and nationwide. Residents may be physically frail, cognitively impaired, or fully dependent on others, making them easy targets for exploitation or mistreatment. A skilled Greenville nursing home abuse attorney can help uncover abuse, document evidence, and pursue legal remedies.
Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse
Understanding the forms that abuse can take helps families stay alert to possible signs of wrongdoing. The most common types include:
- Physical Abuse: This includes hitting, slapping, pushing, excessive restraint, or causing any physical injury to a resident. Signs may include bruises, unexplained fractures, or sudden changes in behavior.
- Emotional and Psychological Abuse: Verbal insults, humiliation, isolation, and threats can leave lasting emotional scars. Victims may show signs of withdrawal, anxiety, or depression.
- Sexual Abuse: This involves any non-consensual sexual contact with a resident. Due to the sensitive nature of this abuse, it is often underreported. Watch for torn clothing, bruises, or behavioral changes.
- Financial Exploitation: Some caregivers may steal money, misuse credit cards, or coerce residents into changing wills or signing over assets. Sudden financial changes or missing belongings may be a red flag.
- Neglect: When staff fail to meet basic needs—such as hygiene, nutrition, medical care, or protection—it is considered neglect. Bedsores, dehydration, and poor hygiene are typical signs.
Common Causes of Nursing Home Abuse
While every case is unique, certain systemic issues tend to lead to abuse or neglect in nursing homes:
- Understaffing: Overworked staff may become impatient or negligent, and facilities may hire underqualified workers to fill gaps, increasing the risk of harm.
- Poor Training: Employees who are not properly trained may not know how to care for residents with specific needs, especially those with dementia or mobility issues.
- Lack of Supervision: When management fails to supervise staff or enforce safety protocols, abusive behavior can go unnoticed or unpunished.
- Profit-Driven Decisions: Some for-profit nursing homes may cut corners to save money, sacrificing quality of care and resident safety.
- Inadequate Background Checks: Failing to screen new employees can result in hiring individuals with histories of violence, abuse, or neglect.
Who is Liable?
Determining liability in nursing home abuse cases involves a detailed review of who had a duty of care to the resident and who breached that duty. Potentially liable parties include:
- The nursing home facility for hiring, supervision, and overall care practices
- Individual staff members who committed the abuse
- Third-party contractors, such as visiting nurses or cleaning staff
- Medical professionals who failed to provide adequate care
- Management or ownership groups that created unsafe conditions through cost-cutting or negligence
FAQs About Nursing Home Abuse Claims in Greenville, SC
How do I know if my loved one is being abused in a Greenville nursing home?
Look for warning signs like unexplained injuries, sudden mood changes, poor hygiene, or complaints of mistreatment. Trust your instincts—if something feels wrong, it probably is.
What should I do if I suspect nursing home abuse?
Document everything—take photos of injuries, write down dates and conversations, and report the abuse to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Then contact a qualified Greenville nursing home abuse attorney to explore legal options.
Can I sue the nursing home?
Yes. If your loved one was harmed due to abuse or neglect, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit for compensation related to medical costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more.
What is the statute of limitations for filing a nursing home abuse claim in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, you generally have three years from the date of the incident—or the date you discovered it—to file a claim. However, certain factors may affect this deadline, so consult an attorney as soon as possible.
How much compensation can we recover?
Each case is different, but damages may include medical expenses, emotional distress, loss of quality of life, and in severe cases, punitive damages to punish the facility for especially egregious conduct.
Why Choose Smith Born Leventis Taylor & Vega, LLC?
At Smith Born Leventis Taylor & Vega, LLC, we combine compassionate legal representation with aggressive advocacy. We understand how devastating it is to discover that someone you love has been abused by those entrusted with their care. Our firm:
- Offers free consultations to review your case
- Has extensive experience handling elder abuse litigation
- Works on a contingency fee basis – no fee unless we win
- Investigates facilities thoroughly to uncover systemic issues
- Fights to hold abusers and negligent facilities fully accountable
Reach out today at (803) 599-2207 for a no-obligation consultation, and take the first step towards peace of mind.
Our Satisfied Clients
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“Being involved in a life-changing event is when you realize that we are really not in control of our lives and how we choose to handle it is where we find our character. Thank God for my legal team, Jacob and Erica, and everyone else involved.”- Former Client
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“George kept me informed and gave loving advice all the way through. I could call him when I needed. He recognized my personal, mental and physical struggles. You can trust in him. GOD knew EXACTLY what he was doing when he made him.”- Former Client
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“He was patient, listened, considerate, explained things to me that my previous attorney did not, and broke every part of my case down so I was sure to understand every aspect of my case before leaving his office.”- Cassandra J.
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“Promises were kept and interactions were both personal and professional. I would highly recommend Mr. George and his firm to anyone in need of legal help.”- Former Client
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“I had a workers compensation claim that my wonderful lawyer Lawton Harper was able to help me with. He was very attentive to detail and was able to get me the maximum claim I deserved!”- Former Client
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“When my case took a hit from the doctor’s final impairment rating, Danny didn’t give up – he went full force and earned me a fair settlement!”- Former Client
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“Lawton Harper has been amazing helping me with my works compensation case. He explained everything about what to expect throughout the case and was there for any questions or concerns I had.”- Kai P.
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“He was very attentive to detail and was able to get me the maximum claim I deserved!”- Former Client
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