Skilled Miami Attorneys Fighting For Victims Of Nursing Home Neglect And Abuse
Finding out that an elderly loved one has been abused or mistreated can leave you feeling shell-shocked. You’re probably wondering how this could have happened. You may feel rightfully angry and, perhaps, even guilty that you couldn’t protect your loved one.
However, it’s not your fault. The blame falls squarely on those who perpetrated the mistreatment and the facility that allowed it to occur.
Our Commitment
At the Miami area law firm of Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A., we’re committed to protecting vulnerable elders by holding nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other care providers accountable. You and your loved one deserve answers. Above all, you deserve justice.
As we are one of the few Florida firms that focuses on this area of law, our Miami nursing home abuse lawyers know how to uncover the truth in these difficult cases.
Taking A Stand Against All Types Of Abuse, Neglect And Mistreatment
Our attorneys’ work focuses on giving a voice to the voiceless. They stand up for the dignity, rights and well-being of those who are physically or mentally vulnerable. Their representation extends to seniors who have suffered harm in nursing homes, assisted living facilities (ALFs) or group homes, as well as those who have been hurt while under the care of home health caregivers. Our team also represents elderly people who have been injured at day care centers for adults.
Our lawyers handle all types of elder abuse and neglect cases, such as those involving:
- Seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia or other cognitive impairments
- Unexplained injuries
- Sexual abuse
- Untreated infections
- Bedsores
- Wanderings and escapes
- Serious bedsores/pressure sores
- Falling injuries
- Privacy violations
- Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube problems
- Falls
- Dehydration
In many cases, the mistreatment of seniors involves medical negligence. Our attorneys are skilled at addressing these particularly complex nursing home abuse claims.
They also handle tragic cases involving wrongful deaths. Our Miami nursing home abuse lawyers believe that every resident deserves the highest possible quality of care. No patient should have to endure abuse or neglect. No family should have to come to the horrific realization that their loved one was mistreated.
Our lawyers are ready to file nursing home abuse claims and take legal action against HCR ManorCare, Heartland, Brookdale Senior Living, Life Care Centers of America and any other facility responsible for causing harm to an elderly person. Our elder neglect attorneys in Florida have fought these institutions in serious abuse and neglect cases, and they have won millions of dollars on behalf of victims and their families.
When Nursing Home Staff Refuses To Cooperate Or Answer Questions About An Unexplained Injury Or Death
When a loved one suffers a serious injury or even passes away in a nursing home, the staff may become uncooperative or noncommunicative if you and other family members begin to ask questions to learn more about what took place. Staff members may refuse to talk. They may provide answers and explanations that have holes in them or do not make sense. They could ignore calls or fail to answer when you contact them. In some cases, they may claim that documents and other records have been lost.
These are all red flags that you cannot ignore. It may mean that the staff is attempting to hide the details of the event, perhaps because they were liable or neglectful. An experienced and dedicated elder abuse attorney can help you get to the bottom of the situation, determine fault and seek justice on your loved one’s behalf. This is not something you have to do alone – our Miami nursing home neglect attorneys are on your side. They can help you understand the options you have, even when the nursing home staff refuses to cooperate.
The warning signs of elder abuse can be subtle. Family members must be diligent in order to spot them early and take action to protect their loved ones as well as other vulnerable seniors at the same facility. Our Miami nursing home abuse lawyers’ experience means that they understand what contributes to elderly abuse. They are able to spot the signs and take swift and decisive action when appropriate, so we encourage families to reach out to us if they have any concerns about the treatment of their elderly loved ones. Our team is here to answer your important questions about your case, including ones such as those below.
Is neglect in a nursing home grounds for a lawsuit?
Yes, neglect in a nursing home can be enough to justify a lawsuit against that nursing home, especially if the neglect causes an elderly resident to suffer a serious physical or mental injury. Liability in a nursing home neglect lawsuit is not determined by intention. It is merely based on the end result – i.e., the harm suffered by the claimant or their loved one.
How do I know if a nursing home abuse or neglect settlement offer is fair?
When a loved one is injured or passes away and the care facility is liable, calculating compensation in a nursing home neglect lawsuit can become complicated. Many times, nursing homes – often through their insurance companies – will offer low settlements. They may claim it is because the resident was in poor health or was nearing the end of their life. The settlement may also ignore some costs or understate their value.
You do not have to accept a lowball offer. Our experienced Miami nursing home neglect attorneys understand what should be included in a settlement. At Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A., we can review any offer to let you know if it is fair or not. We may be able to help you discover additional types of compensation that should have been included while also holding the facility accountable for nursing home resident abuse or any other wrongdoing. Your loved one deserves justice, and we’ll fight for it.
Why does it seem like so many nursing homes are negligent?
There are so many horror stories about nursing homes and assisted living facilities that fail to protect and care for their residents. Why are these so common when nursing homes should be the last place that you’d expect to find wanton neglect? Unfortunately, nursing homes are allowed to self-evaluate their performances and safety protocols before self-reporting their findings to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It is not a stretch of the imagination to say that some or many of these nursing homes falsify their reports to look better on paper than they are in reality. Indeed, this behavior is almost encouraged because nursing homes that get federal benefits can lose those benefits if they aren’t maintained properly, so dishonest owners lie to keep that funding for as long as they can.
Can neglect really be as dangerous as intentional abuse?
Yes, neglect has the potential to do even more harm than intentional abuse. It all depends on the situation, which is why nursing home abuse and neglect cases must be investigated on a case-by-case basis. For example, neglect can cause a caretaker to forget to give an elderly resident their daily medicine for days or weeks. Depending on what that medicine was meant to do for the elderly, it could rapidly create a life-threatening situation.
Discuss Your Options With Our Miami Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If your loved one has suffered from nursing home resident abuse or neglect, you need to be sure that you are holding the liable party accountable for their actions. We can help you seek justice for what your loved one experienced, and we are only a phone call away. Call us at 305-670-2000 or email us here to schedule your initial consultation today.
Discuss the next steps during a free consultation. Put our attorneys’ more than 40 years of experience to work for you. Call 305-670-2000 or reach out to us online to discuss how our team can protect your loved one’s rights and well-being. You won’t have to pay any fees or costs out of pocket.