In today’s blog, we’d like to take this oppurtunity to teach our readers about something called Nursing Home Arbitration Agreements.
What are Nursing Home Arbitration Agreements?
Nursing home Arbitration Agreements are legal documents that restrict or eliminate a nursing home resident’s right to bring a lawsuit in a court of law with a jury against a nursing home facility in the event of abuse or neglect resulting in injury or death. Many residents, either unknowingly sign, or are coerced into signing an Arbitration Agreement upon their admission.
What do they do?
Sometimes, a family member unknowingly signs an Arbitration Agreement. Often, these Arbitration Agreements are structured such that they eliminate not only the resident’s right to bring a lawsuit, but the right of a family member and/or the resident’s estate.
You should never sign an Arbitration Agreement without consulting with a lawyer. These Arbitration Agreements are meant to strip people of the fundamental right of access to the courts. You cannot be required to sign an Arbitration Agreement in order to be admitted to a nursing home. Please exercise every caution in signing documents at admission or any time during your loved ones’ stay. You do not want to be in a position of forfeiting your loved ones’ constitutional right to access of the courts for vindication of abuse and neglect.
At The Segal Law Firm, we have the knowledge and the will to fight the application of an unfair Arbitration Agreement. We work every day to protect our civil justice system and the rights of injured people and their families.
Have you or a loved one been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect? If so, contact The Segal Law Firm today.