How To Prove A Nursing Home Injury Claim
In any form of personal injury claim or a lawsuit, the biggest obstacle to getting compensation is proving liability and injuries. You won't be compensated if you can't prove that the defendant caused your injuries or that you were actually injured as you were claiming. In the case of nursing home injuries, here are some of the things you can use to prove your claim.
Witnesses
Witnesses will always play a role in personal injury cases, and a nursing home abuse claim isn't any different. Your witnesses can be other staff members of the nursing home, your loved one's doctor, other nursing home residents, and even third parties such as cleaners who keep the nursing home clean. For example, if your loved one got hurt after slipping and falling on ice or snow, other residents of the nursing home can testify as to how long the ice or snow accumulation had been sitting on the ground.
Diaries
Many people keep journals or diaries where they record their private thoughts and observations. Diaries and journals are often deemed as reliable sources of evidence because their writers have no reason to lie in them; after all, they aren't writing for others to read. Therefore, if your loved one kept a diary about the going-ons in the nursing home, they can use that as evidence to pursue injury claims. You can even use diaries of other people who have had previous contacts with the nursing home or your loved one. For example, diaries of other residents or other close family members may help prove your claims.
Photographs
The old saying of pictures speaking louder than words is definitely true when it comes to proving nursing home accidents. What is more, in this day and age where everyone seems to be taking selfies all the time, picture evidence isn't that hard to come by. Some of the pictures that you can use as evidence include:
- Pictures showing your loved one's injuries
- Pictures showing unhealthy meals provided in the nursing home
- Pictures showing dangerous conditions in the nursing home
Medical Records
Lastly, you can also use your loved one's medical records to show that the injuries you are claiming actually happened, and to the extent you are claiming. The medical records will show the type of injuries your loved one suffered, the day of treatment, and the doctor's diagnosis and treatment.
Hopefully, you will be able to prove your nursing home claim and your loved one will get the compensation they deserve. Don't forget to use a nursing home injury lawyer to help strengthen your case and increase your chances of success. Reach out to a firm like Gartner Law Firm for more information.