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When you trust a nursing home to protect someone you love, then later discover unexplained injuries, poor hygiene, sudden behavioral changes, or other signs of neglect, you are often devastated and left wondering what happened and what you should do next.
The Knoxville nursing home negligence lawyers at NST Law help families find answers and hold negligent facilities accountable. With over 35 years of experience and more than 100,000 clients served, our team has the experience and resources to investigate suspected abuse or neglect while treating your family with the compassion it deserves.
When a nursing home fails someone you love, you deserve a legal team that takes your concerns seriously and has the resources to uncover what went wrong. With 175 lawyers and staff, NST Law can investigate medical records, facility practices, staffing issues, and other evidence while preparing your claim as though it may ultimately go before a jury. Just as importantly, we understand that your family needs answers and support throughout that process.
The Six Pillars of NST Law reflect how we approach that responsibility. Compassionate care and personalized service keep your loved one at the center of the case, while accessibility and transparency help you stay informed about what comes next. Resourcefulness and a commitment to pursuing the maximum compensation available enable us to build a strategy grounded in the evidence and your family’s circumstances rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
| Recovery Amount | Case Context |
|---|---|
| Confidential Settlement After Extensive Trial Preparation | NST Law represented a family after their 60-year-old relative died following nursing home neglect and the development of bedsores. Our attorneys prepared the case for trial and worked to preserve the family’s right to have a jury hear the claim before reaching a significant confidential settlement. |
| $1.3 Million Nursing Home Negligence Settlement | Our attorneys secured a settlement for a family whose loved one died after a blocked tracheostomy tube contributed to their death. The case required extensive litigation and expert testimony to establish the connection between the resident’s care and fatal injuries. |
| $300,000 Bedsore Negligence Settlement | NST Law represented the estate of a 76-year-old woman who developed a severe bedsore after prolonged periods without proper repositioning. Our attorneys investigated the circumstances, worked with medical experts, and prepared the disputed case for trial before securing a settlement. |
| Multiple Confidential Settlements Exceeding $1 Million | Our firm has also negotiated numerous confidential settlements exceeding $1 million in medical malpractice and nursing home negligence matters. |
Our client testimonials offer insight into the experiences of people who have turned to NST Law for help. Their feedback reflects the importance we place on communication, accessibility, compassionate service, and keeping clients informed throughout their cases.
The team has Phenomenal knowledge and experience and will work to get you the results you deserve and more. Thanks so much NST Law for your amazing service. Steven is the best ever. Thanks so much for making me feel so comfortable.
They were excellent to work with. We had a complicated situation, and they made the whole situation stress-free. They communicated with us consistently. They were kind and walked us through everything.
Not every injury means that a nursing home acted negligently. However, unusual changes in your loved one’s health, behavior, belongings, or surroundings deserve attention. You know your family member, and a pattern of concerning changes may signal that it is time to start asking serious questions.
Consider whether you have noticed any of the following:
One warning sign may have an innocent explanation. Multiple signs or repeated problems can warrant closer attention and further investigation.
Your loved one’s immediate safety comes first. Once they are safe, preserving information about what happened can help you report the problem and determine whether neglect or abuse occurred.
Several steps can help you respond when you suspect nursing home neglect or abuse:
You should also consider speaking with a Knoxville nursing home neglect lawyer. Tennessee generally gives plaintiffs one year to bring healthcare liability actions, although the applicable deadline depends on the facts and type of claim. An attorney can determine what deadlines apply, preserve important evidence, and investigate the facility while your family focuses on protecting your loved one.
Nursing home abuse and neglect do not always leave obvious evidence. Changes in a resident’s health or behavior may provide the first indication that something is wrong.
Other common signs and resulting injuries may include:
Choosing a lawyer for a nursing home abuse or neglect claim is also choosing someone to help your family understand what happened to a person you trusted others to protect. It is important to look for an attorney who takes the time to hear your concerns, understands the complexities of nursing home cases, and can explain your options without leaving you confused about what comes next.
You should also consider how the firm will handle your case once you become a client. Ask who will communicate with you, how accessible your legal team will be, and whether the firm has the resources to pursue the case if the nursing home refuses to accept responsibility.
Your consultation with NST Law starts with your family’s concerns. We will ask what you have observed, when the problems began, how your loved one has been affected, and what the nursing home has told you. You can also share photographs, medical documents, communications with the facility, or other information you have gathered. You do not need to determine whether negligence occurred before calling us. Part of our role is helping you understand whether the circumstances warrant further investigation.
That first conversation will also reflect the compassionate care, transparency, and personalized service behind NST Law’s Six Pillars. We will answer your questions, explain your potential legal options, and discuss what may happen next. If we move forward together, you will also leave knowing how to reach your legal team and what information we may need to begin building your claim.
A serious injury alone does not necessarily establish negligence. A successful claim generally requires evidence connecting the nursing home or another responsible party’s conduct to the resident’s harm. That makes a thorough investigation especially important.
NST Law may obtain medical records, care plans, medication records, incident reports, staffing information, facility policies, photographs, witness statements, and other evidence relevant to the circumstances. Depending on the claim, attorneys may also consult medical or other qualified experts to evaluate the care provided and determine whether it met applicable standards.
Your family can help by preserving photographs, correspondence, bills, names of potential witnesses, and notes about concerning events. Our nursing home abuse attorneys in Knoxville can then develop the evidence, address communications with the facility and insurers, and prepare the claim for settlement negotiations or trial.
NST Law’s past results in nursing home negligence cases demonstrate the significant harm these claims can involve. Tennessee law separates many compensatory losses into economic and non-economic damages. Punitive damages may also apply in more severe and limited circumstances.
Economic damages compensate for measurable financial losses caused by the injury and may include:
Bills, invoices, medical records, and other documentation can help establish these losses.
Not every consequence of nursing home neglect comes with a receipt. Non-economic damages address the personal and emotional effects of an injury. These losses may include:
Tennessee generally limits non-economic damages in civil actions, although the applicable cap and possible exceptions depend on the circumstances of the case.
Punitive damages are not available simply because a nursing home acted negligently. Under Tennessee law, a plaintiff generally must establish by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted maliciously, intentionally, fraudulently, or recklessly. These damages are intended to punish especially serious misconduct and deter similar behavior.
Examples of conduct that may support consideration of punitive damages include:
Tennessee requires clear and convincing evidence of malicious, intentional, fraudulent, or reckless conduct before punitive damages may be awarded.
If you suspect that neglect or abuse harmed someone you love, call NST Law at 731-427-5550 or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation and discuss what happened with our Knoxville team.
Abuse generally involves intentional conduct that harms a resident, such as physical, sexual, emotional, or financial mistreatment. Negligence involves a failure to provide appropriate care or protection, such as failing to prevent avoidable bedsores or respond to a resident’s medical needs. Both can cause serious harm and may provide grounds for legal action.
Tennessee regulates assisted living facilities as residential settings that provide room and board, assistance with daily living, and certain health-related services. Nursing homes provide a higher level of nursing and medical care for residents whose needs require those services. The facility classification can affect applicable regulations and standards of care.
Whether Tennessee’s Health Care Liability Act applies depends on the nature of the allegations and whether the claim concerns services provided by a healthcare provider within the scope of its profession or business. Claims covered by the Act carry specific procedural requirements, which makes early review by an attorney important.
For claims governed by Tennessee’s Health Care Liability Act, a claimant generally must provide written notice to each healthcare provider who will become a defendant at least 60 days before filing the lawsuit. An attorney can determine whether the requirement applies and handle the notice process.
Law enforcement may investigate suspected nursing home abuse or neglect when the reported conduct could involve criminal activity. Tennessee Adult Protective Services also investigates reports involving abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of vulnerable adults and coordinates with law enforcement in appropriate cases.
Do not assume that you can secretly record nursing home care. Cameras and audio recording can raise privacy, consent, roommate, facility, and Tennessee surveillance law issues. Speak with a nursing home abuse attorney before installing or using a recording device.
