Nursing home abuse is a serious problem in the United States. Thousands of residents in long-term care facilities are subjected to abuse and neglect by the people entrusted with their care. If your loved one has suffered harm in a nursing home, they may be entitled to compensation for damages.
Our attorneys at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group have over 50 years of combined experience in the legal field. We have won hundreds of millions for our clients in life-changing verdicts and settlements. We provide compassionate, trusted legal advice and guidance for you and your family.
Contact Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group to schedule a free consultation with one of our St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyers at (772) 569-8155. We will fight to hold the parties responsible for the abuse accountable for their actions.
How Our St. Petersburg Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Receive Damages for a Nursing Home Abuse Claim
Do you suspect that your loved one has been abused or neglected in a Florida nursing home? If so, we can help.
Our legal team at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group has extensive experience handling nursing home abuse claims. We will work with you and your family to pursue legal action against the abuser, the facility, and other responsible parties. We will guide you through the process of reporting the abuse to the authorities and the state. If necessary, our legal team will pursue a civil claim on behalf of your loved one, seeking financial compensation for what happened to them.
When you hire our top-rated St. Petersburg personal injury attorneys, you can trust we will:
- Investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s injuries in a nursing home
- Follow law enforcement and government investigations of abuse allegations
- Identify the parties responsible for the abuse or neglect
- Gather evidence supporting an injury claim, including working with expert witnesses as needed
- Assess how much a nursing home abuse claim is worth by documenting all damages
- File insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits
- Handle all matters related to the claims, including aggressively negotiating for fair settlements
- Take your case to trial and fiercely argue for maximum compensation if necessary
Our lawyers have received the highest honors and awards from numerous national organizations, including Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and The National Trial Lawyers Top 100. Our legal team includes two board-certified trial lawyers, an achievement reached by only one percent of all Florida Bar Members.
We are also members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, some of the country’s most prestigious groups of trial lawyers.
Call Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyer. Your loved one deserves compensation from the parties who caused them harm.
How Common Is Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?
Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect happen more than many people realize. We trust nursing homes and long-term care facilities to provide quality care for our loved ones. Sadly, many residents are subjected to abuse and neglect each day in the United States.
It is estimated that about 10% of people 65 years old and older experience some form of abuse. The rates are often higher in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Some studies report that two in three staff members report they have committed abuse in the past year.
Sadly, nursing home abuse and neglect are underreported. Many residents are unable to report abuse and neglect, so they suffer without anyone knowing.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse in Florida
Sadly, residents in nursing homes are subjected to many forms of abuse and neglect. Common forms of nursing home abuse include:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Financial exploitation
- Emotional abuse
- Neglect
- Verbal abuse
All types of abuse are incredibly harmful to patients. In addition to physical injuries, abuse and neglect can result in isolation, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Patients may be subjected to bullying, humiliation, harassment, and threats. Call now to discuss how you can protect your loved one from further abuse or neglect in a nursing home.
What Damages Are Available for a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in St. Petersburg, FL?
The damages for a nursing home abuse case include reimbursement for economic damages and expenses. The resident can also receive compensation for non-economic damages (i.e., pain and suffering). Examples of damages in a nursing home abuse case include:
- Medical treatment and care required because of the abuse or neglect
- The expense of relocating the resident to a safe facility
- Scarring, disfigurement, impairment, or disability
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- The increase in the cost of future personal and/or nursing care caused by the abuse
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life and diminished quality of life
There could be other damages depending on the circumstances and factors involved in the case. The value of the damages depends on the severity and type of injuries caused by the abuse. Other factors, including the parties involved in the case, could impact how much the claim is worth.
Nursing Home Abuse Happens for Many Reasons
There is no justifiable reason for elder abuse. Nursing home abuse happens because of negligence and intentional torts. Common causes of nursing home abuse include:
- Inadequate training and supervision of employees
- Understaffing and/or failing to hire qualified staff members
- Overworked employees
- Negligent hiring procedures
- Financial exploitation
- Inadequate facility maintenance
- Assaults and sexual abuse
- Lack of safety procedures and protocols
- Overcrowding and underfunding of nursing homes
- Mismanagement and fraud
Our legal team investigates the cause of your loved one’s injuries to determine how they happened and who is responsible. We closely monitor the results of law enforcement and government investigations to gather evidence proving how and why your loved one was abused in a Florida nursing home.
Common Injuries and Conditions Patients Sustain Because of Nursing Home Abuse in Florida
The consequences of nursing home abuse can be catastrophic for residents. The resident may sustain physical and psychological injuries because of abuse and neglect. Injuries and consequences of nursing home abuse include:
- Broken and fractured bones and joints
- Infections
- Bedsores
- Internal organ damage
- Worsened medical conditions
- Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders
- The need for additional and possibility more invasive treatment
- Respiratory diseases and pneumonia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Malnutrition and dehydration
- Asphyxiation
Family members and friends should learn how to recognize the signs of elder abuse so they can monitor their loved ones closely. If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, seek immediate medical treatment for your family member. If you believe they are in imminent danger, call 911 for help. You can also file a complaint with the state.
How Do I Prove Liability for a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in St. Petersburg, FL?
Patients in a nursing home in Florida have specific rights. Furthermore, nursing homes owe a duty to their residents to meet a certain standard of care. When a nursing home violates a patient’s rights or fails to meet the required standard of care, it can be held financially liable for the harm suffered by the patient.
In addition to the nursing home, the person responsible for the abuse or neglect can be held liable for damages. In some situations, the person may face criminal charges in addition to civil liability.
Our legal team identifies the parties who may be liable for damages. Those parties include, but are not limited to:
- The owner and operator of the nursing home or long-term care facility
- Management companies and staffing agencies
- Other residents in the nursing home
- Government agencies responsible for licensing and/or overseeing long-term care facilities
- Visitors and guests that come into the nursing home
- Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals
- Nursing home staff members and administrators
We gather evidence proving that the at-fault parties had a duty of care and that they breached the duty of care. We establish that the breach of duty was the direct and proximate cause of your loved one’s injuries and damages.
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in St. Petersburg, FL?
The Florida statute of limitations for most nursing home lawsuits is two years. However, the beginning date for the two-year deadline can be difficult to determine in some situations. Additionally, there could be exceptions that might make the deadline longer or shorter.
Therefore, it is best to talk with one of our attorneys as soon as you discover or suspect nursing home abuse. If you miss the deadline for filing a lawsuit, you could lose the right to pursue a legal claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our St. Petersburg Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
Our St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyers at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group fiercely fight to hold nursing homes and the parties responsible for the abuse accountable for their wrongdoing. We will pursue all claims against all parties to recover maximum compensation for your damages. Contact us for a free case review to discuss how we can help you seek justice for your loved one.