Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer You Can Trust
For over 20 years, we’ve represented Chicago families in nursing home abuse cases. We know the facilities in Cook County. We understand Illinois elder care laws. And we’ve seen what happens when facilities put profits before people.
Our nursing home abuse lawyer team has recovered millions for families in neighborhoods from Rogers Park to Beverly. We don’t take these cases lightly. When someone hurts your parent or grandparent, we fight back.
Most families tell us they just want answers. Why did this happen? Could it have been prevented? Who’s responsible? We get those answers.
We Have Helped Nursing Home Abuse Victims In Illinois For Over 39 Years. Get Free Legal Advice Today.
Signs Your Loved One Needs Help
You might notice changes during visits. Your dad seems more withdrawn. Your grandmother has lost weight. There are new bruises, bedsores, or injuries the staff can’t explain.
Sometimes the signs are harder to spot. Missing medications. Dirty clothes or bedding. Your loved one seems afraid of certain staff members. These red flags matter.
Chicago families often tell us they felt something was off, but didn’t know what to do. Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it probably is.
Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Services
Neglect looks different than abuse, but it’s just as serious. When facilities fail to provide basic care, residents suffer.
We handle cases where nursing homes ignored basic needs. Families come to us after their loved ones developed preventable bedsores. Stage 3 and Stage 4 pressure ulcers don’t happen overnight. They develop when staff fail to reposition residents or check on them regularly.
Dehydration and malnutrition cases are more common than you’d think. When facilities are understaffed, residents miss meals. They don’t get enough water. Weight loss that staff can’t explain is a major warning sign.
Falls happen when call buttons go unanswered. When bed rails aren’t used properly. When residents try to get up alone because no one responds to their needs. A broken hip at 85 years old can be life-changing.
Our nursing home neglect attorney team investigates what happened and why. We review medical records, staffing schedules, and facility inspection reports. We find the proof.
Physical Abuse in Nursing Homes
Physical abuse in Chicago nursing homes happens more than people realize. It’s not always obvious violence. Sometimes it’s rough handling during transfers. Improper use of restraints. Staff who get frustrated and grab residents too hard.
We’ve seen bruises that don’t match the explanation given. Broken bones from “falls” that don’t add up. Burns from water that’s too hot. Cuts and scrapes the facility can’t explain.
When families bring us photos and medical records, we know what to look for. We work with medical experts who can tell the difference between an accident and abuse. We get subpoenas for surveillance footage before it disappears.
Physical abuse cases in Cook County facilities have led to staff terminations, facility fines, and compensation for families. We make sure abusers face consequences.
Sexual Abuse Cases
Sexual abuse of nursing home residents is the hardest thing families face. It’s difficult to talk about. Staff often try to hide it. Residents with dementia may struggle to report what happened.
We handle these cases with care and privacy. Our team includes investigators who specialize in elder sexual abuse. We know how to gather evidence. We work with medical professionals who can document injuries and provide testimony.
These cases require immediate action. Evidence disappears quickly. Facilities sometimes transfer or fire staff without proper investigation, making it harder to hold them accountable later.
If you suspect sexual abuse, call us right away. Every hour matters.
We Have Helped Nursing Home Abuse Victims In Illinois For Over 39 Years. Get Free Legal Advice Today.
Emotional and Psychological Abuse
Yelling at residents. Threatening them. Isolating them as punishment. Humiliating them in front of others. This is emotional abuse, and it leaves invisible scars.
Families notice changes in behavior. Your loved one becomes anxious or depressed. They don’t want you to leave after visits. They seem afraid. These are signs that something is wrong.
Staff who work in understaffed facilities sometimes take their frustration out on residents. Verbal abuse might seem less serious than physical harm, but it damages mental health and quality of life.
We investigate complaints, interview witnesses, and review facility records to build these cases. Emotional abuse is harder to prove, but it’s not impossible.
Financial Exploitation Attorney
Financial abuse targets vulnerable seniors. Staff steal money, jewelry, or personal items. Someone convinces your parent to change their will. Credit cards get used without permission. Checks go missing.
In Chicago facilities, we’ve seen staff members befriend residents and then ask for money. They offer to “help” with banking and then drain accounts. They take social security checks or withdraw cash.
Our financial exploitation attorney services include working with forensic accountants who trace missing money. We review bank statements, credit reports, and financial records to find the truth.
Sometimes, family members commit financial abuse, not staff. We handle those cases, too. Protecting your loved one’s assets is part of protecting their dignity and future.
Medication Errors and Medical Malpractice
When nursing homes give the wrong medication, skip doses, or ignore symptoms, residents pay the price. Medication errors can cause serious harm or death.
We’ve represented families after wrong medications caused strokes, heart attacks, and organ damage. After facilities ignored infection symptoms until sepsis set in. After bedsores became infected because no one noticed.
Medical malpractice in nursing homes often involves understaffing. When one nurse covers 40 residents, mistakes happen. Medications get mixed up. Symptoms get missed. Care plans aren’t followed.
Our team reviews medical records with expert nurses and doctors. We compare what should have happened with what actually happened. We identify where the facility failed.
Wrongful Death Claims
Losing a parent or grandparent to nursing home abuse or neglect is devastating. When their death was preventable, families deserve answers and accountability.
Wrongful death claims in Illinois allow families to seek compensation for their loss. We’ve handled cases where residents died from untreated infections, falls that should have been prevented, or choking incidents during meals without proper supervision.
These cases require thorough investigation. We obtain autopsy reports, medical records, and facility incident reports. We interview staff and other residents. We work with medical experts who can determine if proper care would have prevented the death.
Time limits apply to wrongful death claims in Illinois. Contact us as soon as possible to protect your rights.
What Chicago Families Should Know
Illinois has strict regulations for nursing homes. Facilities must maintain certain staffing levels. They must report abuse to the Illinois Department of Public Health. They must have procedures to prevent harm.
When facilities violate these regulations, they can be held liable. But families need proof. That’s where we come in.
We know which documents to request. We know how to interpret facility inspection reports. We understand Cook County court procedures and Illinois elder law.
Many families worry about retaliation. What if the facility kicks out their loved one? Illinois law protects residents and families who report abuse. We can help you understand your rights.
Our Investigation Process
Every case starts with listening. We want to know what you’ve seen, what staff have told you, and what worries you most.
Then we investigate. We visit facilities. We interview witnesses. We review medical records, staffing schedules, and facility policies. We look at security footage if it’s available.
We work with medical experts who can evaluate injuries and determine causes. We bring in nursing home administration experts who can identify systemic problems.
Our goal is to build a strong case. Whether we negotiate a settlement or go to trial, we prepare thoroughly.
Compensation for Families
Nursing home abuse cases can result in compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. In wrongful death cases, families may recover funeral expenses and loss of companionship.
Every case is different. Compensation depends on the severity of abuse, the impact on the resident, and whether the facility’s actions were willful or negligent.
We work on contingency fees. You don’t pay unless we recover compensation for your family. This removes financial barriers for families seeking justice.
We Have Helped Nursing Home Abuse Victims In Illinois For Over 39 Years. Get Free Legal Advice Today.
Taking Action in Chicago Nursing Homes
If you suspect abuse or neglect, document everything. Take photos of injuries. Write down what the staff tells you. Keep copies of medical records.
Report your concerns to the facility administrator. If nothing changes, contact the Illinois Department of Public Health. File a complaint. Get it on record.
Then call us. We can guide you through the next steps while protecting your loved one.
Some families worry that hiring a lawyer will make things worse. In our experience, facilities take concerns more seriously once attorneys are involved. Staff become more careful. Documentation improves.
Facilities We’ve Handled Cases Against
We’ve represented families with loved ones in facilities throughout Chicago and the surrounding areas, from large corporate chains to smaller independent homes in neighborhoods like Hyde Park, Lakeview, and Austin.
Some facilities have repeated violations. We track inspection reports and complaint histories. We know which facilities have patterns of problems.
Our reputation in Cook County means facilities know we’re serious. We don’t accept lowball settlements. We push for real accountability.
Why Families Choose Shuman Legal
Experience matters in nursing home abuse cases. At Shuman Legal, we’ve been protecting Chicago seniors for over two decades. We know the law, the facilities, and the tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying fair compensation.
We treat every family with respect. Your loved one deserves dignity, and so do you. We return phone calls. We explain things clearly. We keep you informed.
Our track record speaks for itself. Millions recovered for families. Facilities held accountable. Changes were made to protect other residents.
Your Loved One Deserves Better
No one expects their parent or grandparent to be hurt in a place that’s supposed to provide care. When it happens, families feel guilt, anger, and helplessness.
You did your research. You chose what seemed like a good facility. You visit regularly. This isn’t your fault.
What matters now is getting help. Protecting your loved one. Making sure no other family goes through this.
We’re here to help Chicago families through the worst moments. Call us today for a free consultation. Let’s talk about what happened and what we can do.
Your loved one trusted you to keep them safe. We’ll help you keep that promise.
