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If you or a loved one have experienced malpractice or negligence in an emergency room, you might be wondering if you can sue the hospital or any of the medical workers that were there. Emergency rooms are often chaotic, and malpractice can happen at any moment. 

If you experienced harm in an emergency room, there are some steps you can take and options you have to potentially get compensation. There are certain things you must prove for a judge and jury to determine there was malpractice. An injury lawyer can help you figure out if you have the evidence needed for a case.

Medical Malpractice Cases 

Suing an emergency room or certain people working in the emergency room will involve a large amount of paperwork. Since it is a type of medical malpractice case, you will need to prove a number of elements. 

The first step is to establish what kind of doctor-patient relationship existed. This will involve you gathering info on the doctors who treated you or your loved one. This is easy to prove as their name and signature will typically be on your discharge papers or other medical paperwork that you received from the hospital. Make sure to keep all paperwork that was given to you. 

The next step is to prove negligence on behalf of the doctor, nurses, or hospital as a whole. This will involve you showing the quality of care that you received. This is often more difficult to prove because the standard of care in emergency rooms is often less than the care that is received in other medical environments. 

Emergency rooms can often be very busy and short-staffed. Even if the doctor is trying the best they can, it might not be enough. The expectations will always need to be adjusted to account for the situation. But in a true case of malpractice, you’ve experienced more than a simple mistake or oversight—there was negligence involved in their actions.  

To prove negligence, you will need expert testimony. The expert will state the quality of care that was expected in this situation and see if it matches the care that you received. 

Proving Harm 

The most important step when it comes to suing an emergency room is proving harm. Harm shows the doctor’s actions made the problem worse. This is especially the case when it comes to misdiagnosis. As another example, you might have needed surgery that you did not receive. 

Harm can also come in the form of lost wages due to being in the hospital for longer than necessary or for pain and suffering, along with other damages. 

Get Ahold of a Personal Injury Lawyer After a Medical Malpractice

Now you have an answer to your question: Can I sue an emergency room? You don’t always have to go to court after a medical malpractice incident, but it’s certainly an option. It might be the best option if you experienced extreme bodily harm or are facing long-term injuries. 

Find out what option may be best for you by talking with a medical malpractice lawyer at Lane Brown, LLC. Call 312-332-1400 or fill out the contact form below to reach our firm.

It’s unfortunate, but the elderly are often victims of financial abuse. 

For example, elderly people in homes can experience financial abuse by caretakers or other people working in the home. 

Elders can also be abused in domestic settings and by relatives who come to their home and take their money or convince them to give them power of attorney to get money from them. 

Part of suing someone for elder financial abuse is filing a lawsuit and partnering with a personal injury lawyer in Chicago. In some cases, the elderly person might not be aware that they are being financially abused and they may need you to help them with the legal process. 

Elder Financial Abuse Factors

The first step for suing is to determine what kind of financial abuse took place and how it happened. If your loved one is elderly, watch out for these signs from caregivers, nursing homes, or other people they might spend a majority of their time with:

• Growing interest in the person’s wealth or assets 
• Suddenly having a new friend that they do everything with
• A new power of attorney 
• Amendments to their will or trust funds 

If you help them with their finances or they are not mentally capable of handling their finances on their own, you can look for the following signs of financial abuse:

• Unusual bank account activity 
• Transactions that they have difficulty explaining or don’t recognize 
• Diminished health or mental capacity 

What to Do if You Suspect Elder Financial Abuse 

If you know someone who is experiencing elder abuse, you can contact the Adult Protective Services. They have support resources for each state that go through the guidelines for helping elders who are experiencing financial abuse. 

Contact an attorney on behalf of your loved one to discuss filing a lawsuit against the person who is conducting the financial abuse. An attorney will be able to gather evidence and form a list of witnesses to help determine how the abuse took place and establish a timeline for how long it has been happening. 

Some people don’t take financial abuse as seriously as emotional or physical abuse, but it can be just as devastating and detrimental to the health of your loved one. If you notice anything suspicious going on, it’s better to take the proper steps and file a lawsuit as soon as you see an issue. 

You can also try to avoid elder financial abuse by making sure your loved one doesn’t sign over their estate or money to someone you don’t know or don’t know well. 

Get Ahold of a Lawyer to Suing Elder Financial Abuse 

If you are concerned about someone you know experiencing financial abuse in their golden years, it’s important to learn how to sue for elder financial abuse. Contacting an elder abuse lawyer is something to consider because they can help you with the court orders and paperwork. 

Find out what option may be best for you by talking with a lawyer at Lane Brown, LLC. Call 312-332-1400 to reach our firm, or fill out the contact form below.

If you are a survivor of sexual abuse, you may be anxious to take back control of your life. But you might be unsure of where to start or even what help you might be needing both now and in the future. 

Below, we have provided several resources to local organizations and programs that provide help and support to sexual abuse survivors in Chicago. You can also contact our office if you are interested in exploring your potential legal options with a compassionate sexual abuse lawyer.

Rape Crisis Centers

The following rape crisis centers can provide additional support and resources to survivors of rape and sexual abuse in Chicago. 

Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline
1 N LaSalle St STE 1150, Chicago, IL 60602
888-293-2080

Mujeres Latinas en Accion
2124 West 21st Place, Chicago, IL 60608
773-890-7676

Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault
415 West Golf Road, Suite 47, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
847-806-6526

Sexual Abuse Support Groups in Chicago

Many survivors often find they are able to get through this unimaginable time in their lives by listening and sharing in support groups. 

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
1 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1700, Chicago, IL, 60602
1-866-525-YWCA

Resilience Central Office
180 N Michigan Ave. Suite 600 Chicago, IL 60601
312-443-9603

Northwestern University Center for Awareness, Response & Education
633 Emerson Street Evanston, IL 60208
847-491-2054

Medical Resources for Survivors of Sexual Abuse 

You may find yourself in need of medical care after being sexually abused. We have included some listings for hospitals and emergency rooms in Chicago below. 

You may also find some comfort in seeking help from a trained counselor or therapist who can help you cope emotionally. You can find several counseling services included below as well. 

Hospitals and Emergency Rooms

Kindred Hospital Chicago North
2544 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
773-267-2622

Mercy Hospital & Medical Center
2525 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
312-567-2000

University of Illinois Hospital
4636 S Bishop St, Chicago, IL 60609
773-523-2615

Mental Health Counseling

Community Counseling Centers of Chicago
2542 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
773-365-7277

Accepting Therapy
107 W Van Buren St Ste 205, Chicago, IL 60605
312-373-0782

Lincoln Park Therapy Group
2755 N Pine Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
312-259-2665

Housing and Shelter Resources

If your home is not a safe environment for you or your children, you can contact the following resources for housing and shelter assistance. 

Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC)
1116 N. Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60651
773-489-9081

WINGS Program, INC
P.O. Box 29309, Chicago, IL 60629
847-221-5680 (24-Hour Emergency Line)

Family Rescue, Inc.
Administration Office
8811 S. Stony Island Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60617
773-375-1918

Contact a Sexual Abuse Lawyer in Chicago for Legal Help

These resources may give you an idea of where to turn when you need help to cope with what you’ve been through. Our compassionate Chicago sexual abuse lawyers at Lane Brown, LLC are here to help you seek maximum restitution from your abuser and anyone else who may share fault for the suffering you endured. 

Schedule a no-cost, risk-free claim review when you call our office at 312-332-1400. Or complete our quick contact form and we will reach out to discuss your situation.

For any personal injury claim to be successful, your lawyer will need to be able to prove that the other party’s negligence was the cause of your accident or subsequent injuries. 

But medical malpractice claims can be much more complicated and challenging than other injury claims because many healthcare providers hide their negligence behind so-called known risks, side effects, and complications. 

Below, we go into further detail about what medical malpractice is under Illinois law and how to prove medical malpractice in court. 

What Is Medical Malpractice in Illinois?

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to uphold their duty of care and a patient is harmed as a result. Healthcare industry workers need to be held to a higher standard, as patients’ lives are often on the line. 

In order for the standard of care to be breached, the accused liable party must have made a decision or mistake that one of their peers of similar training, education, and experience would not have made. 

Some of the most common types of medical malpractice seen in Illinois courts include the following:

• Misdiagnosis
• Failure to diagnose
• Failure to treat
• Failure to provide follow-up care
• Delayed diagnosis
• Birth injuries
• Anesthesia errors
• Surgical errors

How to Prove Medical Malpractice

In many medical malpractice cases, your medical records will speak for themselves. But it is not uncommon for healthcare providers to try to cover up their mistakes or try to blame someone else. 

To prove your case, we’ll need to prove to the courts that the standard of care has been breached. We may be able to prove this through witness statements, medical records, photographs, and, perhaps most importantly, expert testimony. 

Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Chicago

If you know or suspect that you are a victim of medical malpractice and need help proving it in court, call an experienced medical negligence attorney at Lane Brown, LLC. 

Our firm proudly offers free claim reviews to medical malpractice victims across Chicago and the surrounding area. Take advantage of this opportunity by calling us at 312-332-1400 or filling out the convenient contact form below.

Nursing homes are supposed to provide much-needed care and support for the elderly. Unfortunately, not all of them serve as a haven for these seniors. Sadly, nursing home abuse is common, including cases of sexual abuse.

More concerning is that a significant number of these incidents go unreported due to conditions such as memory loss and confusion that often affect the elderly. If your loved one has suffered sexual abuse in a nursing home, working with a Chicago injury lawyer can help get them the justice and remedies they deserve for recovery.

What Entails Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes? 

Sexual abuse generally refers to any non-consensual or unwelcome form of sexual activity and contact. When it comes to nursing home sexual abuse, perpetrators can be caregivers, staff members, or even fellow residents or visitors. Common acts include:

• Rape
• Inappropriate fondling
• Taking sexually explicit images or videos of the victim
• Forcing to undress
• Masturbating in the presence of a resident
• Among others

If your loved one has suffered any of the above forms of sexual abuse or something similar while in the hands of a nursing home staff, you might have grounds for a civil suit. Consider speaking with a lawyer to guide you on how to move forward.

Can I Sue if the Abuser Has a Criminal Case?

Sexual abuse is a criminal offense punishable by hefty fines and time in prison. However, criminal proceedings often do little to help the victim besides giving them a sense of justice. 

To get compensation for all the damages suffered by your loved one, you’ll need to file a lawsuit against the liable parties in a civil court, as well. Your elder abuse lawyer can use the criminal court’s verdict to strengthen your case and pursue a decent compensation package.  

A criminal case will punish the offender and hopefully prevent the same thing from happening to another person, while filing a civil suit will compensate the victim for damages caused by the incident, such as related medical bills, psychological distress, or the costs of counseling and therapy.   

Speak with a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Sexual abuse is one of the most traumatic events to happen to anyone. It’s disturbing when an elderly person is the victim of nursing home sexual abuse, because such places are expected to provide safety. 

Fortunately, you can partner with an elder abuse lawyer to seek to hold all responsible parties accountable for the pain and loss experienced by your loved one. Speak with an attorney from Lane Brown, LLC, by dialing 312-332-1400 or sending us a message through our contact form below. 

If you are a victim of molestation or sexual abuse, you may be struggling to cope emotionally. But you also have an opportunity to make sure your abuser, and anyone who may have facilitated the abuse, pays for what they’ve done.

They may or may not be facing criminal charges, but you can pursue a civil claim against them seeking financial restitution for their egregious acts. 

We understand how overwhelmed you must be feeling at the thought of going to court or facing your abuser. Civil claims can be a great option for people who want to feel empowered and in control of their lives again. 

Below, we go into further detail about what is considered molestation under Illinois’ law, what happens when you file a sexual abuse claim and how a Chicago personal injury lawyer can help.

What Is Molestation Under Illinois Law?

Molestation is a type of criminal sexual abuse. A person can face criminal charges for criminal sexual abuse in Illinois if they commit an act of sexual conduct through force or the threat of force and/or they know the victim is unable to give consent. 

The state’s prosecuting attorney may decide to pursue criminal charges against your abuser for sexual abuse after carefully examine the evidence in your case. Sadly, the burden of proof is much higher in criminal court, and the prosecutor will need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant is guilty to persecute. 

Filing a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

The good news is filing a sexual abuse lawsuit is quite different from the criminal charges the defendant could be facing. Your lawyer will assist you as you file a formal civil lawsuit against anyone who may have contributed to the criminal sexual abuse you endured. 

In your lawsuit, you’ll be seeking monetary restitution for what you’ve been through as opposed to the criminal penalties the prosecutor could seek if criminal charges are brought against the liable party. 

The burden of proof is much lower in civil claims, so your lawyer need only prove that the evidence shows the accused party is responsible for the sexual abuse you suffered. This is called a preponderance of the evidence.

If you have additional questions about what does in to a civil sexual abuse lawsuit, you can address them during your initial case review. 

Reach Out to a Sexual Abuse Lawyer in Chicago

If you have been sexually abused or molested and need a strong legal advocate in your corner, you’ve come to the right place. An experienced Chicago sexual abuse lawyer at Lane Brown, LLC could help you bring your abuser to justice. 

Schedule your free claim review by calling our office at 312-332-1400 or completing the quick contact form provided at the bottom of this page.