Florida’s numerous nursing homes and assisted living facilities provide a valuable service to the state’s many elderly residents. These homes have the responsibility of providing skilled and dedicated care that meets certain standards.
Unfortunately, residents commonly experience injuries at the hands of negligent or abusive staff members. These injuries can range in severity from mild aggressions to life-threatening conditions. In any event of abuse or neglect, an injured resident has the right to seek compensation for their injuries.
If your loved one has been intentionally harmed or neglected in a nursing home, a Clearwater nursing home abuse lawyer could help your family to pursue compensation. A compassionate personal injury attorney could work diligently to investigate the incident, leverage relevant injury laws, and demand a favorable outcome for your loved one’s losses.
The Legal Obligations of Clearwater’s Nursing Homes
Florida has enacted some of the country’s harshest rules concerning proper nursing home administration. Under Florida Statute §400.022, a nursing home has a duty to care for the wellbeing of all their residents and must uphold certain responsibilities. These responsibilities include providing appropriate medical care as well as for all residents’ day-to-day needs. This includes:
- Medication
- Food
- Assistance with bathing or dressing
- Proper socialization
- Access to communication
- Access to medical and dental care
- Financial security
Any failure on the part of a nursing home to live up to these obligations allows a resident or their family to file a complaint with the state. When these failures result in an injury, a Clearwater nursing home abuse lawyer could help residents file a claim based on this failure to follow the law.
Proving Negligence in an Injury Case
Evidence that a nursing home has failed to provide proper care under Florida law can be used as evidence in an injury case. In fact, any sort of negligence or outright intentional abuse that results in an injury can be the basis of a nursing home abuse lawsuit.
Since residents in nursing homes are dependent on their caretakers for many or all of their daily needs, they are likely to experience injuries from any lack of supervision or improper care. Common examples of injuries suffered by nursing home residents include:
- Dehydration
- Broken bones from slips and falls
- Bed sores from being left on one side for too long
- Adverse reactions to medication
- Abrupt changes in finances from stolen money
When an injury can be traced to the actions or inactions of a nursing home staff member, that injury could be the source of a nursing home abuse claim. However, potential plaintiffs must be sure to act quickly.
Florida Statute §429.296 says that a plaintiff must file a lawsuit alleging nursing home abuse no later than two years from the date of the discovery of the injury. Families must, therefore, act quickly to ensure that their case is heard.
A Clearwater Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Could Fight For Elders
If you believe your loved one has been or is a victim of nursing home abuse, do not hesitate to contact a Clearwater nursing home abuse lawyer. A committed legal team can examine all of the aspects of your loved one’s case and help your family determine the most favorable legal option and strategy to obtain compensation. Reach out today to learn more about fighting for the compensation your senior deserves.
