Reading Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
Fighting for Those Who Have Suffered Neglect at a Nursing Home
Your spouse, your parent, or some other close relative needed quality nursing home care. Instead, he or she was mistreated, neglected, injured, or even died.
If you feel that you have such a case, contact Liever, Hyman & Potter as soon as possible. You’ll pay us absolutely nothing until we recover money for you, after which our contingent fee will be based on a percentage of the award or settlement. These details will be clearly defined in the initial agreement to represent you. Unlike most other law firms, our agreement says that you won’t have to repay any of the expenses that we may have advanced on your behalf unless we recover money for you.
Call our nursing home abuse attorneys in Reading at (610) 885-1991 to scheudle your free initial consultation.
Understanding Nursing Home Regulations & Resident Rights
Nursing home abuse attorneys operating in Reading, PA, need to know the law. Revisions have been proposed to federal regulations for participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs that emphasize person-centered care and resident rights. In addition, the new federal regulations increase requirements for care plans and ensure staff competency levels and training with the goal of ensuring quality of care for nursing home residents.
A nursing home is a facility for older adults who don’t need hospital care but can’t be cared for at home. Living at home is a significant challenge for older adults when they require assistance to complete seemingly simple daily activities. A nursing home becomes a real option when the level of care needed can’t be provided at home.
In a recent year, over 80,000 Pennsylvanians lived in nursing homes. Of these residents, 88 percent were over the age of 65, and 9.2 percent were over the age of 95. Most of the Pennsylvania nursing home population (68 percent) was female, and racial or ethnic minorities constituted 12.5 percent of the population.
Due to the elderly demographics of the majority population, residents in Pennsylvania nursing homes typically have a significant level of impairment and dependence. In 2014, 36 percent had severe cognitive impairment, 69 percent needed assistance with at least four activities of daily living, and 31 percent were incontinent.
Of all billed nursing home days in 2014, the majority were paid through Medicaid (66%) and Medicare (13%). The remainder were covered by self-pay (15%), private insurance (4%), Veterans Affairs (1%), and other sources (1%). 701 nursing home facilities were in operation in Pennsylvania, with one-third located in the commonwealth’s 48 rural counties and the remainder in the 19 urban counties.
Nursing homes provide 24-hour, long-term nursing care and short-term options for older adults following surgery or a hospital stay.
Know the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Moving a loved one into a nursing home is a big life change. Use these steps to help you choose a nursing home for yourself or a family member:
- Find nursing homes in your area that fit the needs of your loved one.
- Compare the quality of care in prospective nursing homes.
- Review survey results.
- Visit the nursing homes with your checklist.
- Choose the nursing home that best meets your needs.
To file a complaint regarding nursing home abuse and/or neglect:
- Call (610) 885-1991
- Use the online complaint form
- Email [email protected]
- Send mail to: Division of Nursing Care Facilities Director, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Nursing Care Facilities, 625 Forster St., Room 526, Health and Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0701. Fax: 717-772-2163
Call Us Now to Understand Your Rights
Liever, Hyman & Potter's nursing home abuse attorneys in Reading, PA, are always available at (610) 885-1991. We also provide professional legal services for those who have suffered a motor vehicle injury, medical malpractice injury, premises and product liability injury, or need a workers’ compensation lawyer. We’re here to help clients in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, throughout Berks County, and across the eastern and central Pennsylvania regions.
What Our Clients Say
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Working with Liever, Hyman & Potter Law Firm was an excellent experience from start to finish.Christie
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Andrew Fick and his team helped me with everything I needed in pursuing a personal injury case.Carlos A.
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I would highly recommend Liever, Hyman & Potter.Vanessa S.
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Andy Fick and his Liever, Hyman & Potter team fought hard for me.David D.
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He is a well-spoken and passionate attorney who actually cares about his clients.jeffrey r.
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He has always been responsive and professional, taking the time to review my issues.Howard J.
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Not only are the attorneys at this firm dedicated in obtaining successful results, more importantly, they also care about the personal well-being and health of their clients.Kevin B.
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Attorney John Badal represented me and did an outstanding job. The firm is very honest and upfront and does not blow smoke.Roxanne M.
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John went above and beyond to help me.Sean B.
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Between Stacey (paralegal) and Mike, they kept me up to date with emails, phone calls, and in-person meetings; making the entire process seamless.Blayne H.
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Andy gets the job done; he went above and beyond, exceeding my expectations.Nancy K.
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Everyone was thorough, professional, and supportive.Wendy B.
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My friend was impressed by the firm's compassion and genuine concern for his son's well-being.SARA P.
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The professionals of Liever, Hyman & Potter have a robust team of professionals who vigorously and diligently advocate.Adam N.
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Contacted me back very quickly, very professional.P N.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need?
The legal world is a complicated environment with countless nuances to take into account. As a result, there is a wide range of specialized attorneys dedicated to specific legal areas, such as criminal lawyers who handle criminal defense. With so many fields, it can be difficult to determine which kind of lawyer is best suited for your circumstances. If you call Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C. and offer an overview of your situation, then they can help narrow down what kind of personal injury lawyer is best suited to handle your case. Our law firm was founded in 1959 and is knowledgeable in numerous areas of personal injury law.
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Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
After sustaining a severe injury, you will need to pay medical bills for treatment, potentially miss time at work, and experience pain and suffering. With a qualified and skilled lawyer’s assistance, it is possible for you to receive fair and full compensation for these damages. A knowledgeable attorney will increase your chances of reaching an acceptable settlement agreement and receiving more compensation than you would on your own. Additionally, personal injury lawyers can help settle a liability dispute to determine who is responsible for an accident.
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How Will I Know I Have a Case?
No one has to make this important decision by themselves. Contact Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., and set up a free consultation to go over your situation in detail. Our attorneys will be able to identify who you can sue and what you can expect to gain based on the facts of the accident and the laws in Pennsylvania. In most scenarios, you’ll have a case if it can be proven that someone acted carelessly and caused injuries. Applying this standard is more complex than it may initially appear, which is why it is important to consult us.
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When to Call a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
If you’ve sustained severe injuries in a car accident, you should reach out to a lawyer shortly after the crash takes place. Not only will a professional car accident attorney help you gather vital evidence before it is lost to help your case, but they can also handle communications with your insurance company and deal with the careless driver’s insurance company.
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What Should I Do if an Attorney or Insurance Adjuster Calls Me?
You should never speak with insurance adjusters for someone else involved in the accident. While they may sound friendly and sympathetic to your case, they are almost certainly trying to get statements from you that would reduce or eliminate the liability of their insured. This is also true when an attorney for another person contacts you.
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How to File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
As previously mentioned, filing a medical malpractice lawsuit starts with contacting a lawyer. However, it is crucial that we have sufficient information before filing the claim because malpractice claims can be significantly more complicated than other lawsuits. Our dedicated attorneys will collect all of your medical records and thoroughly review them.
Your medical malpractice attorney must determine whether the case warrants a lawsuit before they file with the court. If we do go forward, we will rely on highly qualified doctors who will be able to explain why you or your loved one were wrongfully harmed by medical treatment.