If you suspect your loved one is experiencing nursing home neglect or abuse in South Carolina, take immediate action to protect them. First, document everything with detailed notes and photographs of any injuries, unsanitary conditions, or concerning behaviors. Visit your loved one frequently and at varying times to observe care quality. Report your concerns in writing to the facility administrator and keep copies of all communications. Contact the South Carolina Long Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-868-9095 or Adult Protective Services at 1-888-227-3487 to file a formal complaint. If your loved one faces immediate danger, call 911 right away. Finally, consult with an experienced South Carolina nursing home abuse attorney who can investigate thoroughly, protect your loved one's legal rights, and hold the facility accountable for harm caused by neglect or abuse. Learn more about what steps to take after discovering abuse to build a strong case.
When nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Anderson, Greenville, Summerville, Camden, or anywhere across South Carolina fail to provide adequate care and protection, vulnerable residents suffer devastating consequences from neglect, mistreatment, and exploitation. At Pracht Injury Lawyers, our compassionate nursing home abuse attorneys fight relentlessly to hold negligent facilities accountable for the harm they inflict on South Carolina's most vulnerable residents. We understand the betrayal families feel when discovering their loved ones have been mistreated in facilities they trusted, and we're committed to pursuing justice and compensation for victims of elder abuse throughout the Palmetto State.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Understanding Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse in South Carolina
Nursing home neglect and abuse represent some of the most heartbreaking violations of trust in our society. When families place their elderly loved ones in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or long-term care centers across Anderson County, Greenville County, Berkeley County, Charleston County, and Kershaw County, they expect professional care, dignity, and safety. Unfortunately, thousands of South Carolina residents suffer harm each year due to inadequate staffing, poor training, corporate cost-cutting, and outright mistreatment in facilities that prioritize profits over people.
Nursing home neglect occurs when facilities or staff fail to provide the basic care, supervision, medical attention, nutrition, hydration, hygiene, and safety measures that vulnerable residents require. This failure to meet residents' essential needs can result from understaffing, inadequate training, intentional indifference, or corporate policies that sacrifice resident care for profit margins. Learn about premises liability and how property owners must maintain safe conditions for vulnerable individuals.
The Scope of the Problem in South Carolina
Elder abuse and neglect remain severely underreported problems in South Carolina nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Many vulnerable adults cannot advocate for themselves due to cognitive impairments, physical limitations, fear of retaliation, or isolation from family members. Facilities may actively conceal mistreatment or discourage families from visiting at varying times to observe actual care conditions.
South Carolina nursing homes face ongoing challenges with understaffing, high employee turnover, inadequate training, and pressure to reduce costs while maximizing profits. These systemic problems create dangerous environments where residents' basic needs go unmet, medications are administered incorrectly, falls occur due to lack of supervision, and preventable injuries become tragically common.
Types of Facilities Where Abuse Occurs
Nursing home abuse and neglect can occur in various long-term care settings throughout South Carolina, including skilled nursing facilities providing medical care and rehabilitation, assisted living facilities offering residential care with some medical support, memory care units designed for residents with Alzheimer's and dementia, rehabilitation centers providing therapy after hospitalization, and residential care facilities serving adults with disabilities. Understanding the basics of South Carolina personal injury law helps families recognize when facilities breach their duty of care.
Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
Physical Abuse and Assault
Physical abuse involves the intentional use of force causing bodily injury, pain, or impairment to nursing home residents. This devastating form of mistreatment includes hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, or shaking vulnerable adults who cannot defend themselves. Physical abuse also encompasses improper use of physical restraints, rough handling during transfers or personal care, force-feeding, and administering medication as punishment rather than for legitimate medical purposes.
Our Anderson and Greenville nursing home abuse attorneys have represented numerous victims of physical abuse who suffered broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, bruising, lacerations, and other serious harm at the hands of caregivers who violated their sacred duty to protect vulnerable residents. These cases demand thorough investigation and aggressive advocacy to hold abusers and negligent facilities accountable.
Neglect and Inadequate Care
Neglect represents the most common form of nursing home mistreatment in South Carolina. It occurs when facilities or staff fail to provide adequate food, water, medication, hygiene assistance, medical care, supervision, or a safe environment. Common examples of neglect include failure to turn bedridden residents leading to painful pressure ulcers, withholding food and water resulting in malnutrition and dehydration, medication errors including missed doses or wrong medications, inadequate assistance with toileting causing residents to soil themselves, failure to respond to call buttons leaving residents stranded for hours, and lack of supervision leading to preventable falls and injuries.
Many neglect cases stem from chronic understaffing where facilities employ too few caregivers to meet residents' needs. When one aide must care for 20 or 30 residents during a shift, proper care becomes impossible. Our Summerville and Camden offices work extensively with families whose loved ones suffered severe harm due to neglect in understaffed facilities. Learn about how neglect cases are valued and the factors that determine fair compensation.
Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers
Bedsores, also called pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, are painful wounds that develop when immobile residents remain in one position too long without being turned and repositioned. These preventable injuries serve as clear evidence of neglect because proper care protocols prevent their development. Bedsores progress through four stages from redness to deep wounds exposing muscle and bone, often requiring extensive medical treatment, surgery, and prolonged recovery.
The presence of Stage 3 or Stage 4 bedsores typically indicates serious neglect. Facilities that allow residents to develop severe pressure ulcers have failed in their most basic duty to provide adequate care. These injuries cause excruciating pain, increase infection risk, lengthen recovery time, and can even prove fatal in vulnerable elderly patients.
Emotional and Psychological Abuse
Emotional abuse inflicts psychological harm through verbal assaults, threats, intimidation, humiliation, or isolation. This form of mistreatment includes yelling at residents, mocking or belittling them, threatening harm or abandonment, isolating residents from family and friends, ignoring residents or refusing to speak to them, and withholding comfort or emotional support. While emotional abuse leaves no visible scars, it causes profound psychological damage including depression, anxiety, fear, withdrawal, and loss of dignity.
Sexual Abuse and Assault
Sexual abuse of nursing home residents represents one of the most egregious violations of trust. This includes any non-consensual sexual contact, inappropriate touching, exposure, photographing, or sexual harassment of vulnerable adults who cannot consent or defend themselves. Many victims of sexual abuse in nursing homes suffer from dementia or cognitive impairments that make reporting difficult and allow predators to continue their abuse.
South Carolina law treats sexual abuse of vulnerable adults with the seriousness it deserves. Facilities that fail to properly screen employees, ignore warning signs, or protect residents from known predators face both criminal prosecution and substantial civil liability.
Financial Exploitation and Theft
Financial exploitation occurs when caregivers, staff members, or facilities illegally or improperly use a vulnerable adult's funds or property for personal gain. This includes stealing cash, jewelry, or personal belongings, forging checks or credit card charges, pressuring residents to change wills or powers of attorney, overcharging for services not provided, and unauthorized ATM withdrawals or bank account access. Learn more about when financial exploitation is actionable and how to protect your loved one's assets.
Medication Errors and Overmedication
Proper medication management is crucial for nursing home residents who often take multiple prescription medications. Medication errors can cause serious harm or death through administering wrong medications or dosages, failing to give prescribed medications on schedule, giving medications to the wrong patient, and using chemical restraints to sedate residents for staff convenience rather than medical necessity. Overmedication with psychotropic drugs to make residents more manageable constitutes chemical restraint and violates residents' rights under South Carolina law.
Recognizing Warning Signs of Elder Abuse
Physical Warning Signs
Family members should watch for visible indicators of abuse or neglect including unexplained bruises, welts, burns, or marks especially on the face, arms, or torso, broken bones or fractures particularly from unexplained falls, bedsores or pressure ulcers in any stage of development, sudden or unexplained weight loss indicating malnutrition or dehydration, poor hygiene such as unwashed hair, dirty clothes, body odor, or soiled linens, untreated medical conditions or worsening health, and signs of medication errors including confusion, lethargy, or adverse reactions.
These physical signs often provide the first evidence that a loved one is not receiving adequate care. Document all concerning conditions with photographs and detailed notes, and consult with an experienced South Carolina nursing home abuse attorney immediately.
Behavioral and Emotional Warning Signs
Changes in behavior or emotional state can indicate abuse or neglect. Be alert for sudden withdrawal or reluctance to communicate, anxiety, fear, or agitation especially around certain staff members, depression or loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed, confusion or disorientation beyond normal cognitive decline, reluctance to speak openly in front of staff, signs of trauma such as rocking, crying, or cowering, and refusal to be left alone with specific caregivers.
Trust your instincts when your loved one seems frightened or uncomfortable at the facility. Vulnerable adults with dementia may be unable to articulate abuse verbally but may exhibit behavioral changes that signal distress.
Facility-Level Warning Signs
Beyond individual signs of abuse, certain facility conditions and behaviors raise serious concerns about systemic problems. These include staff preventing private visits or refusing to leave you alone with residents, frequent staff turnover indicating poor working conditions, understaffing with long response times to call buttons, dirty or unsanitary conditions throughout the facility, inadequate food quality or quantity, lack of activities or stimulation for residents, damaged or malfunctioning equipment, and staff who appear rushed, stressed, or dismissive of concerns.
If staff members discourage visits or rush you through them, they may be concealing neglect or abuse. Families have the right to visit their loved ones at any reasonable time and to speak with them privately.
South Carolina Laws Protecting Nursing Home Residents
The South Carolina Omnibus Adult Protection Act
South Carolina's Omnibus Adult Protection Act, codified in Section 43-35 of the South Carolina Code, provides comprehensive protection for vulnerable adults including nursing home residents. This law establishes the Vulnerable Adults Investigations Unit within the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to investigate criminal complaints and creates the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program to handle non-criminal complaints.
Under this Act, South Carolina Code Section 43-35-85 makes it a felony criminal offense to knowingly and willfully abuse, neglect, or exploit a vulnerable adult. The criminal penalties are severe including up to five years imprisonment for abuse or neglect, up to 15 years imprisonment when abuse or neglect causes great bodily injury, and up to 30 years imprisonment when abuse or neglect results in death. These criminal penalties exist alongside civil liability where victims can pursue monetary damages.
Mandatory Reporting Requirements
South Carolina law requires certain professionals to report suspected cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults. Mandated reporters include physicians, nurses, dentists, other healthcare professionals, social workers, caregivers, facility staff and volunteers, and law enforcement officers. These professionals must report suspected abuse within 24 hours of discovery.
Failure to report known or suspected elder abuse constitutes a misdemeanor criminal offense punishable by up to one year imprisonment. Even individuals who are not mandated reporters must still report if they have actual knowledge that a vulnerable adult has been abused, neglected, or exploited. Review our legal resource library for more information about reporting obligations.
South Carolina Regulation 61-84
South Carolina Regulation 61-84, established by the Department of Health and Environmental Control, sets comprehensive standards for how nursing homes and assisted living facilities must care for residents. This massive regulation covers staffing requirements, resident safety protocols, medical care standards, nutrition and dietary services, sanitation and infection control, resident rights protections, and admission and discharge procedures.
Violations of Regulation 61-84 can establish negligence per se in civil lawsuits, meaning the facility's violation of the regulation proves both that they breached their duty of care and that they're liable for resulting injuries. This powerful legal tool helps families hold facilities accountable when they fail to meet minimum care standards. Furthermore, violations may support claims for punitive damages designed to punish facilities and deter future misconduct.
The Federal Nursing Home Reform Act
Federal law provides additional protection through the Nursing Home Reform Act, part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987. This law establishes minimum standards for nursing homes that participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs, which includes virtually all South Carolina facilities. The Reform Act guarantees residents numerous rights including freedom from abuse and neglect, dignity and respect in care, participation in care planning decisions, and access to medical treatment.
The South Carolina Nursing Home Bill of Rights
South Carolina law establishes a specific Bill of Rights for residents of long-term care facilities. These rights include freedom from discrimination based on race, religion, or disability, full disclosure of services, charges, and refund policies, right to privacy in personal space and communications, flexible visitation times without restrictions, right to make individual life decisions, ability to voice grievances without retaliation, and participation in their own care plans and medical decisions.
Facilities must provide residents with a written copy of these rights upon admission and ensure staff members respect them at all times. When facilities violate residents' rights, they can be held civilly liable for resulting harm.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Nursing Home Abuse?
The Nursing Home Facility
The nursing home or assisted living facility itself typically bears primary responsibility for abuse and neglect that occurs on its premises. Facilities can be held liable for direct negligence in hiring, training, supervising, and retaining employees, failing to implement adequate care protocols and safety measures, understaffing that prevents adequate care delivery, maintaining unsafe or unsanitary conditions, and failing to properly screen employees for history of abuse.
Additionally, facilities face vicarious liability for the actions of their employees who commit abuse or neglect during the course of employment. Even if the facility didn't directly cause the harm, it may be liable for an employee's misconduct under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior.
Corporate Owners and Parent Companies
Many South Carolina nursing homes operate as part of large corporate chains where profit-driven decisions made at the corporate level directly impact resident care. Corporate owners can be held liable when their policies and practices create dangerous conditions including deliberate understaffing to reduce labor costs, inadequate employee training programs, pressure to cut corners on food, supplies, or medical care, failure to maintain facilities and equipment properly, and ignoring repeated complaints or inspection violations.
Pursuing claims against corporate entities requires thorough investigation and experienced legal representation. Our nursing home abuse attorneys work with experts to trace corporate decision-making that contributed to your loved one's injuries.
Individual Staff Members and Caregivers
Individual employees who commit abuse can be held personally liable for their actions through direct liability for physical abuse, sexual assault, or battery, negligent care that causes injury or harm, and failure to provide adequate supervision or assistance. In some cases, pursuing claims against individual wrongdoers in addition to the facility provides additional avenues for recovery and accountability.
Medical Professionals and Healthcare Providers
Physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals working in or consulting for nursing homes owe a duty of reasonable care to residents. They can be held liable for medical malpractice including failure to diagnose or treat serious conditions, medication errors causing harm, ignoring signs of abuse or neglect, and providing substandard medical care. Learn more about medical malpractice and how it intersects with nursing home neglect cases.
Proving Negligence in SC Nursing Home Cases
Establishing the Elements of Negligence
To prevail in a South Carolina nursing home neglect or abuse case, victims must prove four essential elements. First, the facility or staff member owed a duty of care to the resident. Nursing homes owe residents a duty to provide reasonable care, supervision, medical treatment, nutrition, hygiene assistance, and a safe environment. This duty arises from the resident's vulnerability and the facility's specialized knowledge and control over the resident's wellbeing.
Second, the facility breached that duty of care through action or inaction. Breach occurs when the facility fails to meet the applicable standard of care, which includes following federal and state regulations, implementing accepted care protocols, and providing the level of care that a reasonably prudent facility would provide under similar circumstances.
Third, the breach of duty directly caused injuries or harm to the resident. Causation requires showing that the facility's negligence or abuse more likely than not caused or substantially contributed to the resident's injuries. Finally, the resident suffered actual damages including physical injuries, emotional trauma, medical expenses, pain and suffering, or wrongful death.
Using Violations of Law as Evidence
Violations of South Carolina Regulation 61-84 or other applicable laws can establish negligence per se, significantly strengthening your case. When a facility violates a regulation designed to protect residents and that violation causes injury, the law presumes the facility acted negligently. This shifts the burden of proof and makes it easier to establish liability.
Our experienced nursing home abuse attorneys carefully review facility records, inspection reports, and care protocols to identify regulatory violations that support your claim. Expert witnesses then testify about how these violations fell below the accepted standard of care and directly contributed to your loved one's harm.
Gathering Critical Evidence
Building a strong nursing home abuse case requires comprehensive evidence collection including detailed medical records showing the resident's condition before and after entering the facility, facility records including care plans, incident reports, and staffing logs, photographs documenting injuries, bedsores, unsanitary conditions, or unsafe environments, witness testimony from other residents, family members, and facility staff, expert opinions from geriatric care specialists, nursing experts, and medical professionals, and inspection reports from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Time is critical in preserving evidence. Facilities may destroy or alter records, and witnesses' memories fade. Contact an experienced South Carolina nursing home neglect attorney immediately to begin the investigation process before crucial evidence disappears.
The Role of Expert Witnesses
South Carolina law requires expert testimony in most medical malpractice and nursing home negligence cases to establish the applicable standard of care and prove that the facility's actions fell below that standard. Our firm works with respected experts including geriatric care physicians who can evaluate medical treatment, registered nurses experienced in long-term care standards, facility administrators who understand proper operations and staffing, and wound care specialists for bedsores and pressure ulcer cases.
These experts review all medical records, facility documents, and evidence to provide authoritative opinions about whether the facility met its duty of care and how its negligence caused your loved one's injuries.
Compensation Available in Nursing Home Abuse Claims
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate for measurable financial losses resulting from nursing home abuse or neglect. These include past and future medical expenses for treating injuries caused by neglect, rehabilitation and physical therapy costs, expenses for moving to alternative care arrangements, medication and medical equipment costs, and costs of additional home healthcare or assisted living services. Our attorneys work with medical experts and life care planners to calculate the full extent of future medical needs and ensure you receive adequate compensation.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages address the human cost of nursing home abuse that cannot be measured in dollars. These damages compensate for physical pain and suffering endured, emotional distress, anxiety, and depression, loss of dignity and quality of life, mental anguish from betrayal of trust, and loss of enjoyment of life's activities. South Carolina law previously imposed caps on non-economic damages in some cases, but courts have struck down many of these limitations as unconstitutional. An experienced attorney can help maximize your recovery of non-economic damages.
Punitive Damages
In cases involving willful neglect, reckless disregard for residents' safety, or intentional abuse, South Carolina law allows for punitive damages designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future. Punitive damages are awarded when the defendant's conduct was willful, wanton, or in reckless disregard of the plaintiff's rights.
Violations of South Carolina Regulation 61-84 that establish negligence per se may support claims for punitive damages. These damages can substantially increase the total compensation awarded and send a powerful message that such conduct will not be tolerated. Learn about who pays after a lawsuit verdict and how insurance coverage applies to nursing home abuse cases.
Wrongful Death Damages
When nursing home neglect or abuse results in a resident's death, family members can pursue wrongful death claims under South Carolina law. These claims seek compensation for the deceased's pain and suffering before death, medical expenses incurred treating neglect-related injuries, funeral and burial expenses, loss of the deceased's companionship and guidance, and punitive damages in cases of egregious misconduct.
South Carolina's wrongful death statute specifies who can bring these claims and how damages are distributed among surviving family members. Our compassionate attorneys guide families through this difficult process while fighting for maximum compensation. Review our information about South Carolina wrongful death cases and who speaks for the departed in these tragic situations.
How to Report Nursing Home Abuse in South Carolina
Immediate Danger Situations
If your loved one faces immediate danger from abuse or neglect, call 911 right away. Law enforcement has authority under South Carolina Code Section 43-35-55 to take a vulnerable adult into protective custody when they suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation and the victim faces imminent danger to health or safety. Do not wait to gather additional evidence if your loved one needs immediate protection.
South Carolina Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program investigates non-criminal complaints of abuse, neglect, and exploitation in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. This program, established under the Omnibus Adult Protection Act, advocates for residents and helps resolve care concerns. Contact the SC Ombudsman Program at 1-800-868-9095 to file a complaint. The Ombudsman can investigate your concerns, work with the facility to address problems, and refer cases to appropriate authorities for criminal or civil action.
Adult Protective Services
For suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation occurring in a community setting such as the resident's home or certain facilities, contact Adult Protective Services at the South Carolina Department of Social Services by calling 1-888-227-3487. APS assesses reports to determine if they meet criteria for intervention and can provide protective services to vulnerable adults.
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
DHEC licenses and regulates nursing homes and assisted living facilities in South Carolina. You can file a complaint about care quality, safety concerns, or regulatory violations through DHEC's website or by contacting their Healthcare Quality division. DHEC conducts inspections and can impose penalties, fines, or sanctions against facilities that violate regulations.
Law Enforcement and Prosecutors
For suspected criminal conduct including physical abuse, sexual assault, or severe neglect, contact local law enforcement by calling your police department's non-emergency number or 911 in emergencies. The Vulnerable Adults Investigations Unit within the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division also investigates criminal abuse cases. Criminal prosecution can result in jail time for abusers and may support your civil case for damages.
Consulting with a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
In addition to reporting to appropriate agencies, consult with an experienced South Carolina nursing home abuse attorney who can conduct an independent investigation, communicate with facilities and insurers on your behalf, preserve critical evidence before it disappears, demand fair compensation for your loved one's suffering, and pursue legal action to hold wrongdoers accountable. An attorney can work alongside government agencies while protecting your family's legal rights and pursuing maximum compensation through civil litigation.
Statute of Limitations for Nursing Home Claims
South Carolina law imposes strict time limits for filing nursing home abuse and neglect lawsuits. Generally, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the date of injury. However, nursing home cases can be complex because neglect often develops over time rather than occurring in a single incident.
The discovery rule may extend the statute of limitations in cases where the abuse or neglect was not immediately apparent. The clock may start when the victim or their family discovered or reasonably should have discovered the neglect. For wrongful death claims, the statute of limitations is generally three years from the date of death, though specific circumstances can affect this timeline.
Given these complexities and the critical importance of preserving evidence, contact an experienced Anderson, Greenville, Summerville, or Camden nursing home abuse attorney as soon as you suspect neglect. Waiting can result in lost evidence, faded memories, and potential dismissal of your claim as untimely. Learn more about South Carolina statute of limitations and how timing affects your legal rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I suspect nursing home neglect in South Carolina?
First, document everything with photos and detailed notes about injuries, conditions, or concerning behaviors. Visit your loved one frequently and at varying times. Report your concerns immediately to the facility administrator in writing. Contact the South Carolina Long Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-868-9095 or Adult Protective Services at 1-888-227-3487. If your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911. Then contact an experienced South Carolina nursing home abuse attorney who can investigate the situation, protect your loved one's rights, and hold the facility accountable for neglect or abuse.
What are the warning signs of nursing home neglect or abuse in South Carolina?
Common warning signs include unexplained injuries such as bruises, burns, or fractures, bedsores or pressure ulcers indicating inadequate turning and repositioning, sudden weight loss or signs of dehydration and malnutrition, poor hygiene including unwashed hair, soiled clothing, or body odor, changes in behavior such as withdrawal, anxiety, fear, or depression, medication errors or missing medications, unexplained financial activity or missing personal belongings, and facility staff preventing private visits or refusing to answer questions. Any of these signs warrant immediate investigation and consultation with a South Carolina nursing home neglect attorney.
How long do I have to file a nursing home neglect lawsuit in South Carolina?
South Carolina generally imposes a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims including nursing home neglect cases. However, the timeline can be complex depending on when the neglect was discovered, whether it resulted in wrongful death, and other factors. Given that crucial evidence can disappear quickly and witnesses' memories fade, it's essential to contact an experienced Anderson or Greenville nursing home abuse attorney as soon as you suspect neglect to protect your legal rights and preserve critical evidence.
What types of damages can I recover in a South Carolina nursing home abuse case?
You may recover economic damages including past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and expenses for alternative care arrangements. Non-economic damages compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of dignity, and diminished quality of life. In cases involving willful neglect or gross negligence that violates South Carolina Regulation 61-84, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the facility and deter future misconduct. An experienced nursing home neglect attorney can evaluate your case to determine the full extent of recoverable damages.
What laws protect nursing home residents in South Carolina?
South Carolina nursing home residents are protected by several laws including the federal Nursing Home Reform Act which establishes minimum care standards, the South Carolina Omnibus Adult Protection Act which criminalizes abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults with penalties up to 30 years imprisonment, South Carolina Regulation 61-84 which sets detailed care standards for nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and the South Carolina Nursing Home Bill of Rights which guarantees residents' rights to dignity, privacy, and freedom from abuse. Violations of these laws can provide grounds for negligence per se in civil lawsuits. Review our frequently asked questions for more information about resident rights.
Can I sue a South Carolina nursing home if my loved one signed an arbitration agreement?
Many nursing homes include arbitration clauses in admission contracts attempting to prevent families from filing lawsuits. However, these agreements may not always be enforceable, especially if they were signed under duress, were not properly explained, or if they attempt to waive rights to hold the facility accountable for gross negligence or willful misconduct. An experienced South Carolina nursing home abuse attorney can review your contract and determine whether the arbitration clause is valid or if exceptions apply that allow you to pursue your case in court.
Areas We Serve in South Carolina
Pracht Injury Lawyers handles nursing home abuse cases throughout South Carolina, with primary service areas in:
Primary Service Areas:
- Summerville - Charleston County and surrounding areas
- Greenville - Greenville County and the greater Upstate region
- Anderson - Anderson County and surrounding communities
- Camden - Kershaw County and the Midlands region
Statewide Coverage
In addition to our primary service areas, we also handle cases throughout South Carolina, including:
- Upstate & Midlands: Spartanburg, Clemson, Pickens, Newberry, Union, Laurens, Abbeville, Taylors, Greenwood, Mauldin, Simpsonville
- Pee Dee & Central SC: Florence, Orangeburg, Aiken
- Piedmont & Northern SC: Rock Hill, York, Lancaster, Chester
- Other Communities Across the State: Saluda and all surrounding areas
No matter where your loved one resides in South Carolina, our dedicated nursing home abuse attorneys are here to protect their safety, dignity, and legal rights.
Why Choose Pracht Injury Lawyers
When your loved one has suffered harm in a nursing home, you need a law firm that understands both the legal complexities and the emotional weight of these cases. At Pracht Injury Lawyers, we have extensive experience handling nursing home abuse, neglect, and wrongful death claims, and we know how to build strong cases against negligent facilities.
What We Offer:
- Free case evaluation
- No fees unless we win
- Millions recovered for clients
- Available 24/7 for emergencies
- Experienced in South Carolina law
Call (864) 712-7317 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation today.
