Can I Sue Someone for Financially Exploiting My Elderly Loved One?

Financial abuse and exploitation of the elderly is a civil wrongdoing that can be penalized under tort law. If your senior citizen loved one, whether parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle, has become a recent victim of financial manipulation or abuse, it is important to speak with an experience elder abuse lawyer right away. Your family could be entitled to restitution, as well as additional compensation for any damages suffered as a result of the abuse. The same rights apply to cases of financial exploitation involving mentally handicapped, challenged, or disabled persons.

Continue reading to learn more about financial abuse and exploitation of the elderly, and how to get started on your Indiana nursing home abuse or elder abuse claim today.

Financial Elder Abuse Lawyers in Indiana 317-636-7497
Financial Elder Abuse Lawyers in Indiana 317-636-7497

Protecting Our Elders From Financial Abuse and Exploitation

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, financial abuse is among the most common types of abuse suffered by elderly citizens in our country. Even the National Center on Elder Abuse estimates that an average of $2.9 billion are scammed out of senior citizens in the form of financial exploitation. It is estimated that by 2030, around 20% of the total U.S. population will be those aged 65 and older. So, as a fast-growing populace, this is a problem that will only worsen without more personal intervention.

For these reasons alone it is encouraged to keep a close eye on how your elderly loved ones are managing their money, whether they are living on their own, in a care or assisted living facility, or even in your own home. Online predators are out there, and they can manipulate and exploit your loved one’s finances under your own roof.

What is Elder Financial Abuse?

Well, the Federal Elder Justice Act, which was enacted in 2010, defines financial elder abuse as, “the fraudulent or otherwise illegal, unauthorized, or improper act… that uses the resources of an elder for monetary or personal benefit, profit, or gain, or that results in depriving an elder the rightful access to, or use of, benefits, resources, belongings, or assets.”

Predators typically target the elderly because they retain fuller assets in their late life, and many often suffer from mental incapacities, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. Other elderly folk are simply lonely for companionship, which is a need that is taken advantage of by financial abusers and exploiters.

Types of Elder Financial Exploitation and Abuse

There are many ways such predators use and abuse senior citizens for their money and assets, the most common ones being identify theft, telemarketing scams, and con-artists. It is more common for such abuse to take place domestically rather than in a hospital or care center. The perpetrator in domestic cases of elder financial abuse is usually a family member or Power of Attorney guilty of stealing, transferring, or gaining access to money or assets.

Nursing home and senior care facility staff members are another common predator to watch out for, as there are many cases of employees manipulating elderly patients or residents into giving them money or adding them to their will as beneficiaries.

Common Signs of Senior Citizen Financial Abuse

Signs that suggest elder abuse can come from your elderly loved one or the person exploiting them. Here are the most common signs to look for:

▷ Having a new “best friend” or suspicious friend
▷ Sudden interest or concern over their finances
▷ Missing money or assets
▷ Giving gifts or personal items away
▷ Requests to amend their will or estate plan
▷ Disputing over future inheritance or trust funds
▷ Unexplained financial transactions
▷ Increased or unusual bank account activity

Seniors and elderly citizens are protected under Indiana law from such injustices. If your older adult loved one is a victim of financial abuse or exploitation, it is important to take action as soon as possible. You may contact the state or local Adult Protective Services agency, but your first call should be to a licensed Indianapolis personal injury lawyer who specializes in nursing home and elder abuse cases to learn your rights to pursing legal action against the perpetrator or establishment.

Are you looking for a seasoned personal injury law firm in Indiana to represent your claim? Contact Carl Brizzi LAW at 317-636-7497 to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our skilled elder abuse lawyers in Indianapolis, Indiana. Although based out of Indy, we serve clients all throughout the state.

You Might Also Like:

Can Government Mandate Vaccinations?
What to Ask Yourself Before Filing a Lawsuit for Mental Trauma
How to Protect Yourself Legally After Being Injured on a Bus

Carl Brizzi Law Indianapolis Indiana
Carl Brizzi Law Indianapolis Indiana 317-636-7497

Information About Filing an Injury Claim for Assault in Indiana

Continue reading to learn some tips for anyone who has recently suffered a type of assault, or lost a loved one to a wrongful death as a result of assault.

Indianapolis Indiana Assault Injury Lawyers 317-636-7497
Indianapolis Indiana Assault Injury Lawyers 317-636-7497

You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer for an Assault Case

Assault is illegal in our country, and is considered a very serious crime. In fact, those guilty are also subject to civil penalties as well as criminal penalties. So, if a person intentionally harms or injures another person out of malice, they can be held legally liable for their victim’s damages and losses, plus face criminal sentencing on a state or federal level. Personal injury lawyers represent assault victims, or families of victims, who have suffered physically, emotionally, mentally, and/or financially following an assault, or a wrongful death of a loved one by assault.

No one should have to ever face an unwarranted physical altercation or experience a serious threat, but it happens to millions of innocent victims, nonetheless; and when it does happen, do, justice is deserved. Whether you were attacked during a mugging, jumped on campus by bullies, sexually abused, threatened by extreme intimidation, suffered a traumatic brain injury after being knocked unconscious, lost a loved one to homicide, or suspicious of nursing home abuse, it is important to seek legal representation right away. Personal injury lawyers have the knowledge, experience, and resources to obtain the full and fair compensation for any damages and losses you’ve incurred as a victim of assault.

Time Restrictions for Assault Injury Claims

It is important to contact an accident lawyer immediately (or as soon as possible) after suffering a wrongful attack that results in serious injury.  The sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner they can begin investigating and putting together your case. If you wait too long, you might exceed the statute of limitations in your state for filing an injury lawsuit against an offender. Also, during that time, evidence can be lost, offenders can jump state, witnesses can forget details of the crime, and so forth. This is why it is important to act fast. In Indiana, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is two years, but can differ depending on the crime. Call your local personal injury law office for more information about your state’s limitation laws.

Life After a Serious Assault

Once you have consulted and hired a personal injury lawyer to file a suit against your attacker(s), you can then get some closure to your troubling experience by becoming involved in some helpful therapeutic remedies. Look into local clinics that help treat people that have suffered traumatic situations and attacks. You can even get involved in self-defense courses which are great sources of healthy exercise for the mind and body. Another recommendation for anyone that has experienced a serious assault is to join group therapy. Talking to other survivors about their experiences and how they cope day to day can be tremendously healing and helpful. You can meet and make confidants, peers, and long-lasting friendships through these intimate group sessions. 

For people who prefer a more private approach to post-trauma therapy, one-on-one therapy is also an effective solution. If therapy is not an option that you’re comfortable with, there are still options out there for satisfying resolution and mental recovery. For example, adopting a puppy, taking up a new hobby, getting regular exercise, starting a new relationship, going on a vacation, learning a new language, joining a club, and even relocating are all potential remedies for someone that has recently been involved in a traumatic assault or serious attack. 

Get Started With a Free Consultation as Soon as Possible

Do not wait too long to learn about your personal injury compensation rights. If the statute of limitations runs out, you are no longer able to make a claim. It is always better to contact an experienced assault injury lawyer as soon as possible after the assault accident so information and evidence is not lost.

Contact Carl Brizzi, a lawyer with Lewis And Wilkins LLP (“LAW”), at 317-636-7497 and schedule a free initial consultation with a practiced Indianapolis injury attorney to find out if your assault injuries might entitle you to legal compensation in Indiana.  Not only do we offer free initial consultations, but we never collect lawyer fees unless we recover a settlement or judgment for you.

You Might Also Read:

Do I Have a Case?
Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Hire an Accident Lawyer
Expected Fees and Costs in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Carl Brizzi Law Indianapolis Indiana
Carl Brizzi Law Indianapolis Indiana 317-636-7497