When you trust your loved one’s health and safety to a nursing home, you believe the staff will provide the proper care and companionship that your family member needs. While the staff at many nursing homes do work hard to meet residents’ physical and emotional needs, many nursing homes are understaffed, unsupervised, and poorly managed. The result? Numerous patients suffer some form of abuse or neglect at their nursing home every year, often leading to severe injuries and even death in some cases.
At Evans Moore, LLC, we understand the suffering endured by elderly patients and their families as a result of the abuse that was committed. When you hire us, we will protect your loved one’s rights and fight for the justice they deserve.
Our Georgetown nursing home abuse lawyers can take on every legal aspect of your case, from investigating the abuse and gathering evidence to proving liability and pursuing compensation. You and your family shouldn’t have to suffer more than you already have. The legal team from Evans Moore, LLC will dedicate themselves to holding the responsible parties accountable for their actions or inaction so your loved one can move forward with their life.
Call us at (843) 995-5000 for your free initial consultation to find out more about the legal services we provide and how we can help you with your case.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse can take various forms and occurs too often at assisted living or long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. Elderly residents are at risk of different types of abuse from their caregiver, nurse, an administrative staff member, or another patient. Below are the different types of nursing home abuse and warning signs to watch for to determine if your loved one has become a victim.
Physical Abuse
Intentionally causing bodily injury by using physical force against an elderly resident. Physical force could include things like slapping, kicking, grabbing, or punching. Warning signs that could indicate physical abuse may include:
- Broken or lost teeth
- Sprains and dislocations
- Fear of a specific person
- Unexplained broken bones and other injuries
- Changes in mood or behavior
Neglect
The failure of a staff member to fulfill their responsibilities towards their patient. Refusing to help a resident bathe or withholding food are forms of neglect that could put them at risk of harm. Common warning signs of this type of abuse include:
- Bedsores
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Unsanitary living conditions
- Signs of depression
Emotional Abuse
Using verbal or nonverbal acts to inflict emotional anguish, distress, or pain. Harassment, humiliation, and insults are just a few examples of this abusive behavior. Signs that your loved one is experiencing emotional abuse include:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Low self-esteem
- Anxiety or depression
- Isolation from friends and family
- Avoiding eye contact
Financial Exploitation
Financial abuse is a form of nursing home abuse that many people have never heard of before. Although not as common as the other types, it could happen. It involves a caregiver or another trusted nursing home employee improperly or illegally using a resident’s assets, money, or property. Warning signs might include:
- Missing cash or personal items
- Unusual credit card charges
- Sudden changes to a will, power of attorney, or another legal document
- Large bank account withdrawals or transfers
- A staff member showing interest in a patient’s finances
Sexual Abuse
Forced and unwanted sexual contact with an elderly resident, such as groping, rape, and sodomy. Women are typically more at risk of sexual abuse. Patients with physical or mental impairments are also more likely to become victims because they’re unable to defend themselves.
The most common signs of sexual abuse include:
- Emotional withdrawal
- Bruising in the pelvic area
- Vaginal or anal bleeding
- Diagnosis of a new sexually transmitted disease (STD)
- Blood or stained underwear
- Trouble sitting down or walking
Abandonment
The desertion of a dependent adult by the person who is supposed to care for them. For example, a nurse leaves their patient who cannot walk on their own in a wheelchair for hours. Some signs of abandonment might include:
- Untreated injuries
- Poor hygiene
- Dehydration
- Dirty or unclean appearance
- Seeming lost or confused
Self-Neglect
Self-neglect is behavior that puts one’s own safety and health at risk. A patient could become malnourished if they refuse to eat. Or, they might engage in certain activities that could cause injuries. This is behavior that the nursing home staff should watch for and address. Warning signs that your loved one might be exhibiting acts of self-neglect include:
- Wearing inappropriate clothing
- Poor personal hygiene
- Weight loss
- Confusion
- Unable to complete basic tasks, such as going to the bathroom
You should contact Evans Moore, LLC immediately if you notice any of these warnings signs and believe your loved one has become the victim of abuse. The sooner you seek legal action, the sooner you can ensure their safety and receive the financial compensation necessary to help them recover from their injuries.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Nursing home abuse takes many forms, and victims may experience multiple types of harm simultaneously:
- Physical Abuse – Hitting, pushing, or rough handling of residents. This can result in bruises, fractures, and internal injuries.
- Sexual Abuse and Misconduct – Forced or unwanted sexual contact. If your loved one experienced sexual misconduct in a nursing home, you have legal options. Warning signs include emotional withdrawal, bruising, bleeding, new STD diagnoses, and difficulty with mobility.
- Neglect – Failure to provide adequate food, water, hygiene, medical care, or supervision. Neglect can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, infections, and pressure ulcers.
- Medication Errors – Administering wrong medications, incorrect dosages, or failing to administer prescribed medications. These errors can cause serious harm or death.
- Emotional Abuse – Verbal harassment, intimidation, or isolation of residents.
Why Nursing Home Negligence Happens in South Carolina
Many families assume abuse happens because of one “bad” employee. In reality, nursing home negligence is often systemic.
Across South Carolina, long-term care facilities face:
- Chronic understaffing
- High caregiver turnover
- Inadequate medical training
- Poor supervision and weak management
- Corporate cost-cutting measures that reduce care quality
When facilities operate with too few nurses or aides, basic care tasks—like repositioning residents to prevent pressure ulcers or administering medication on time—are missed. Over time, these small failures can become life-threatening. Similar issues occur in hospital negligence cases, where inadequate staffing and supervision lead to preventable injuries.
Under the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act, facilities receiving Medicare or Medicaid funding must provide sufficient staffing and care to maintain residents’ highest practicable well-being. South Carolina facilities are also regulated by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), which conducts inspections and investigates violations.
When policies prioritize profits over safety, residents suffer. And when that happens, legal accountability may follow. Our attorneys have recovered millions for families harmed by nursing home negligence.
What to Do When You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
If you think your family member is suffering from some form of abuse in a nursing facility, you should follow the steps below. They might not be able to speak for themselves, so you need to be their voice and advocate for their rights. Hire one of the Georgetown nursing home abuse lawyers of Evans Moore, LLC and begin the process of holding the abuser liable.
- Have your loved one transferred to a hospital for treatment of their injuries.
- Request copies of all medical records and documentation associated with the abuse, injuries, and treatment.
- Speak with the facility supervisor and tell them what you have seen and what you learned from your loved one. If necessary, you could file a report with the local police department.
- Maintain all evidence of the abuse, including photos of your family member’s deplorable living conditions, pictures of any physical injuries, damage to personal property, and statements from other residents who experienced or saw the abuse.
- Speak with an experienced North Carolina nursing home attorney. We’ll request a copy of the nursing facility’s liability insurance policy and file a claim. It might be possible to negotiate for a settlement with their insurance company to cover your loved one’s financial losses. However, it is your right to file a lawsuit if that path makes sense for your case.
At Evans Moore, LLC, we know the steps we need to take to hold the nursing home or specific employee liable for the harm they caused. Your loved one shouldn’t have to suffer any longer. They’ve been through enough and deserve to seek compensation for the injustices they were forced to face.
Compensation Available for Nursing Home Abuse Victims
The goal of any legal case is to hold the negligent party responsible for their actions and secure a monetary award that covers the victim’s past and future losses. The injuries suffered from abuse can result in financial, physical, and emotional losses that require compensation to recover. You may be able to seek compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Loss of consortium
- Personal property damage
- Inconvenience
- Pain and suffering
- Out of pocket expenses
- Mental anguish
- Physical impairment or disfigurement
All residents in nursing homes have various rights under South Carolina laws. If the facility or any staff members violate these rights, they could become financially responsible for the resident’s injuries and resulting expenses. You could file an insurance claim or lawsuit to compensate your loved one for the suffering they experienced and all costs associated with the abuse.
South Carolina Nursing Home Laws and Resident Rights
Residents in South Carolina nursing homes have specific legal protections under both federal and state law.
These rights include:
- The right to be free from abuse and neglect
- The right to adequate medical care
- The right to dignity and respect
- The right to participate in medical decisions
- The right to voice grievances without retaliation
Facilities must follow both federal standards and South Carolina regulations. Violations can include:
- Failure to prevent avoidable bedsores
- Improper medication administration
- Failure to implement infection control protocols
- Ignoring documented care plans
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) establishes minimum standards for nursing home care quality and safety. If your loved one died as a result of neglect, you may also have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim. Our experienced nursing home negligence lawyers understand the unique challenges of institutional negligence cases.
Filing a Lawsuit for Nursing Home Abuse in South Carolina
Lawsuits come with strict deadlines, complicated procedures, and various state laws and statutes. You must follow the legal process exactly, or you could lose your right to recover the compensation necessary for your loved one to move forward with their life. There is a specific timeframe for filing a lawsuit known as a statute of limitations.
The statute of limitations in South Carolina is three years. This three-year deadline means that you have three years from the date your family member sustained injuries to sue the at-fault party. After three years pass, the court will likely not accept your case if you try to file due to the past statute.
Two main exceptions could delay the statute of limitations, allowing additional time to file your lawsuit:
- The abuser left the state before you could file suit. Their absence would not count towards the three-year timeframe.
- Your loved one was of unsound mind at the time of the abuse. The statute wouldn’t begin again until they become mentally competent.
Evans Moore, LLC has experience handling the complex nature of lawsuits like this. It can be shocking when you discover that someone you thought you could trust took advantage of your loved one. Our legal team will take over the entire case so you can focus on getting your loved one to safety and help them heal.
How Our Georgetown Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Build Strong Cases
Nursing home abuse cases require detailed investigation and expert support. Our team, led by attorneys like James B. Moore III and Scott C. Evans, works to:
- Obtain full medical and medication administration records
- Review staffing logs and shift assignments
- Analyze care plans and identify deviations
- Investigate prior DHEC violations and inspection reports
- Consult with qualified medical experts
- Examine whether corporate ownership contributed to unsafe policies
Many facilities attempt to blame injuries on age, frailty, or preexisting conditions. We carefully separate natural health decline from preventable neglect. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, institutional neglect remains a significant concern affecting vulnerable populations.
If a nursing home’s misconduct caused death, our nursing home negligence lawyers can evaluate whether a claim under South Carolina’s wrongful death laws is appropriate. See our case results to understand how we’ve helped families recover compensation.
Compensation Available for Nursing Home Abuse Victims
Victims of nursing home abuse and their families may recover compensation for:
- Medical bills and ongoing care costs
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Physical impairment and disability
- Loss of consortium (in wrongful death cases)
- Punitive damages (in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct)
The amount of compensation depends on the severity of the injury, the victim’s age and health status, and the strength of the evidence. Our attorneys work with medical experts and economists to calculate fair compensation.
Speak to a Dedicated Georgetown Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Evans Moore, LLC will dedicate our time, attention, and resources towards your case to get your loved one the justice they rightfully deserve. In the aftermath of abuse, the victim could experience psychological trauma, physical pain, and other problems associated with their injuries. You and your family will not be alone as we provide the services, support, and guidance you need during this difficult time in your lives. Use Google Maps to locate our office and read about past client experiences.
If your loved one suffered from nursing home abuse, call us at (843) 995-5000 for a free consultation to discuss your case and determine the available legal options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Home Abuse in Georgetown
How long do I have to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit in South Carolina?
In most cases, you have three years from the date the injury was discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered). Missing this deadline can permanently bar your claim. South Carolina’s statute of limitations is governed by state law and enforced by the South Carolina Court System.
Can I sue if my loved one signed an arbitration agreement?
Possibly. Some arbitration agreements may be challenged depending on how they were signed and whether proper authority existed. Our nursing home negligence lawyers can review your specific situation.
What if my loved one has dementia and cannot explain what happened?
Medical records, staffing documentation, expert testimony, and facility reports can still establish negligence—even when a resident cannot clearly describe the abuse. We have experience handling cases involving residents with cognitive impairment.
What if the abuse involved sexual misconduct?
Sexual misconduct in nursing homes is a serious crime and civil violation. We represent victims and pursue both criminal referrals and civil compensation.
How much does it cost to hire Evans Moore, LLC?
We work on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront attorney’s fees. We are paid only if we recover compensation for you.
Why Choose Evans Moore, LLC for Your Nursing Home Abuse Case?
Our firm has recovered over $200 million in verdicts and settlements for injured victims. We have obtained top jury verdicts in South Carolina for nursing home negligence, medical malpractice, and hospital negligence cases.
Our attorneys include George W. Bryan III, who specializes in nursing home negligence and institutional abuse cases. We are committed to holding negligent facilities accountable and securing justice for victims and their families.
Contact Our Georgetown Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Today
If you believe your loved one has been abused or neglected in a nursing home, contact Evans Moore, LLC today for a free consultation. Call us at (843) 995-5000 or visit our contact page to schedule an appointment.
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