Seasons recent article entitled “Finding an elder care lawyer” provides some sample questions to ask yourself as you consider an elder care lawyer, including:
- Is my senior capable of speaking out for themselves, or do they need an advocate to represent their voice?
- Is my senior the type of person to accept abuse without complaining?
- Have there been any other instances of abuse at my senior’s nursing home?
- Is my senior more vulnerable to scams and frauds?
- What services do elder care lawyers provide?
If your senior has suffered legitimate abuse at the hands of their caregivers, you have the right to file a lawsuit against the guilty party. Your elder law lawyer can help to assess whether a lawsuit is possible during a consultation. That is an initial meeting with a lawyer. During this meeting, you can discuss your unique situation and your concerns. Based on this information, your lawyer can recommend various paths of action. If a lawsuit is possible, they will guide you forward and help you initiate this legal process.
A lawsuit may be filed against a nursing home, a long-term-care facility, or any other organization responsible for caring for your senior. Once you’ve initiated the action, you’ll have the chance to negotiate with the at-fault party for a settlement. However, if a settlement can’t be reached, your elder law attorney will likely represent your senior in court and fight for their rights in front of a judge and jury. The court will then decide on the penalties and financial awards.
It’s a good idea to ask a few questions during your initial consultation. These questions can help you get a better idea of your lawyer’s personality, their overall philosophy toward elder law and whether they can develop a working relationship with you.
Here are some examples:
- How much experience do you have with elder law?
- How long has your practice been in operation?
- Where did you attend law school?
- Have you taken any additional courses from the bar association or NAELA specific to elder law?
- What is your philosophy toward elder law?
- Have you won any settlements for elder victims in the past?
- How much do you charge?
To learn more about estate planning in the East Valley, Gilbert, Mesa and Queen Creek, schedule your free consultation with Attorney Jake Carlson by using one of the links above.
Reference: Seasons (Aug. 30, 2022) “Finding an elder care lawyer”
