Boynton Beach Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
We trust Florida nursing homes to provide a safe and supportive environment for our senior citizens. When a facility violates that trust, however, it may be necessary to take legal action. The Boynton Beach nursing home abuse lawyers at Steinberg Law represent residents and their families in seeking compensation for egregious acts of neglect and deficiencies in care. All nursing home residents have basic rights under Florida law that facilities and their staff must respect. If they fail to do so, we will help you set things right.
Looking for the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in Florida
One reason nursing home abuse often goes unreported is that vulnerable residents are not in a position to speak up for themselves. Some are physically or mentally unable to do so. Others simply fear retaliation from nursing home managers and staff. So if you have a parent or other loved one in a nursing home, it may fall to you to look for the signs of potential abuse and take action on their behalf.
Nursing home abuse itself takes many forms, ranging from a facility’s failure to provide proper health care and nutrition, to physical and even sexual abuse. Some of the more common signs of abuse can include:
- bruising or scarring on the body;
- unexplained bone fractures and dislocations;
- signs of excessive physical restraint, such as rope burns on the wrists;
- soiled clothing and bedding;
- sudden and unusual changes in behavior;
- unexplained genital bleeding, infection, or other signs of sexual trauma or a sexually transmitted disease;
- unsafe living conditions, such as a lack of running water, heat, air conditioning, or lighting;
- bedsores;
- sudden changes in a resident’s finances, such as unexplained withdrawals from their checking account or missing cash from their room;
- evidence the resident is not receiving their prescribed medication; or
- the resident is kept isolated and denied visitors without explanation.
It is important to understand that all nursing home residents have certain basic rights guaranteed by Florida law. A resident or family member can file a civil lawsuit against a facility that violates these rights intentionally or through neglect. And in cases where a resident has died while under a nursing home’s care, their estate may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death action.
As with any Florida personal injury case, a successful civil plaintiff in a nursing home abuse lawsuit can seek both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include recovery for additional medical and care expenses incurred by the resident as the result of the nursing home’s abuse and neglect. Non-economic damages cover the resident’s pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and overall diminished quality of life.
Contact Steinberg Law Today
Nursing home abuse is often difficult to prove. Nursing home facilities are experienced when it comes to “circling the wagons” and denying abuse or neglect allegations. That is why it is critical to work with a dedicated Boynton Beach nursing home abuse lawyer whose only goal is helping residents and their families attain justice. Contact Steinberg Law today to schedule a consultation.
