Atlanta is a beautiful city in Georgia. It is known for its growing communities, busy neighborhoods, and strong connection to families and businesses across the state. With a large population of older adults and numerous long-term care facilities in and around the metro area, families sometimes face difficult decisions when a loved one needs nursing home care.

Families believe their loved ones are being safe in nursing homes, but suddenly finding out that an elderly parent, grandparent, or spouse may have been abused or neglected can be heartbreaking. Families often have questions about what happened, who may be responsible, and what they can do to protect their loved one. 

When legal help is needed, choosing an attorney with specific experience in nursing home cases can make a meaningful difference. Holbert Law is the preferred choice for many families in Atlanta. Holbert Law’s Atlanta nursing home abuse lawyers has built its practice around representing people who have suffered abuse or neglect in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

A law firm focused on nursing home cases

Nursing home abuse cases are different from many ordinary injury claims. A family may know that something went wrong, but proving what happened can require much more than photographs of an injury or a medical bill.

For example, a resident who develops a serious bedsore may already have several medical conditions. A facility might argue that the wound was related to the person’s health rather than inadequate care. 

Holbert Law focuses specifically on nursing home abuse and neglect cases. Its practice includes claims involving medication errors, bedsores, choking injuries, failure to monitor, malnutrition, sexual abuse, slip-and-fall injuries, infections and sepsis, wandering and elopement, and wrongful death. That narrow focus can be important. 

More than 1,000 nursing home cases

Experience is another important consideration when choosing legal representation. Holbert Law’s attorneys have handled more than 1,000 nursing home cases and have more than 40 years of combined experience in the field.

That number matters because nursing home cases can vary considerably. One case may involve a medication error, while another may center on a resident who wandered away from a facility. A third might involve an untreated injury that became significantly worse over time.

The more cases an attorney handles in this area, the more familiar the legal team becomes with the different ways nursing home abuse and neglect can occur. It also means the team has experience examining the circumstances surrounding an injury rather than treating every case as a simple accident.

Understanding the defence side

There is another part of Holbert Law’s background that is particularly relevant to nursing home litigation.

Founder William “Bill” F. Holbert previously worked as a defence attorney at one of Atlanta’s largest law firms, where he represented nursing homes, hospitals, and medical professionals. He later began representing residents and families in long-term care cases.

That experience gives him familiarity with how the other side may approach a claim.

In a disputed case, a nursing home or its insurer may argue that an injury was caused by a resident’s pre-existing medical condition. It may also dispute whether staff could reasonably have prevented an accident or challenge the extent of the resident’s injuries. Knowing the types of arguments that may be raised can help an attorney investigate a case with those issues in mind.

Experience with serious cases

Another reason families may look at Holbert Law is its history of reported case results.

The firm has achieved various results, including 

• $4 million settlement involving a medication error
• $1.5 million settlement involving a resident-on-resident assault 
• $1 million settlement involving a staff assault of a resident

Other outcomes include a $700,000 settlement involving bilateral hip fractures and a $650,000 pre-suit settlement involving an untreated hematoma and subsequent skin breakdown.

Previous positive experience with serious nursing home cases can give families confidence when comparing attorneys.

A local Atlanta firm serving families across Georgia

Holbert Law is based in Atlanta and represents families throughout Georgia. The areas include Atlanta, Decatur, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Marietta, Sandy Springs, and communities across the state.

For an Atlanta family, having a local lawyer can make the initial process more accessible. More importantly, the firm’s practice focuses on the specific legal issues that the type of legal problem the family is facing.

Free consultations can make the first step easier

Families may hesitate to contact a lawyer because they are worried about the cost or are unsure whether they even have a case. Holbert Law offers free consultations and states that it only collects fees when it wins a case.

That allows a family to discuss the circumstances with the legal team before deciding how to proceed.

If something feels wrong about the care a loved one received, getting information early can be worthwhile. The goal is not to assume that every injury is the result of abuse or neglect. It is to understand what happened, determine whether the resident’s rights were violated, and identify what options may be available.

Georgia residents have legal rights

Families sometimes assume that nursing home care is simply a private matter between the resident and facility. Georgia law provides residents with specific protections.

For example, O.C.G.A. § 31-8-108 provides that residents of covered long-term care facilities must receive adequate and appropriate care, treatment, and services, with reasonable care and skill and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Georgia’s long-term care residents’ rights also address matters such as privacy, medical records, personal property, participation in care planning, freedom from unnecessary restraints, and the ability to raise grievances.

This matters because a nursing home abuse case is not simply about whether someone was injured. The circumstances surrounding the care provided, the resident’s rights, and the facility’s responsibilities may all become relevant.

Key takeaways

• Holbert Law focuses specifically on nursing home abuse and neglect cases.
• The firm reports handling more than 1,000 nursing home cases and more than 40 years of combined experience.
• Founder Bill Holbert has previous experience defending nursing homes, hospitals, and medical professionals.
• The firm handles cases involving medication errors, bedsores, falls, malnutrition, infections, wandering, abuse, neglect, and wrongful death.
• Georgia law protects residents of long-term care facilities, including through O.C.G.A. § 31-8-108.
• The firm is based in Atlanta and serves families throughout Georgia.
• Free consultations are available, and the firm states that it collects fees only when it wins a case.

Robert Haynes, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.