Clearwater Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Have you or a loved one been a victim of nursing home abuse in Clearwater, Florida? You may have the right to recover compensation from the nursing home and anyone else who allowed the abuse to happen. An experienced Clearwater nursing home abuse lawyer at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to recover fair compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.

Our lawyers have over 50 years of collective experience fighting for injured clients involved in all types of cases, including medical malpractice, Clearwater negligent security, Clearwater brain injuries, maritime accidents, product liability, and more. Since we were founded back in 1996, we’ve recovered over $100 million in life-changing settlements and verdicts.

Our team will do everything possible to help your family during this difficult time. Contact our law offices in Clearwater, Florida to schedule a free consultation to get started today at (727) 787-2500 .

How Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Clearwater 

How Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Clearwater 

It can be devastating to learn that someone you love has been abused. You trusted the nursing home to take good care of your family member. When the nursing home betrays that trust, you deserve justice.

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers is an award-winning personal injury law firm. We have a proven track record of helping clients recover the maximum compensation possible.

Our founding attorney is board-certified in civil trial law. Our Clearwater personal injury attorneys have been recognized as some of Tampa Bay’s Top Trial Lawyers. We’ve also earned a perfect-10 Avvo rating and an AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Hiring us means you’ll have an attorney to:

  • Gather evidence to prove that your loved one was a victim of abuse
  • Identify all parties who can be financially responsible 
  • Hire experts to help establish your claim
  • Calculate the value of your personal injury case
  • Negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf

We’ve been going toe-to-toe with big insurance companies for decades. Our Clearwater personal injury attorneys are here to discuss your case whenever you’re ready, so call for your free consultation.

How Common is Nursing Home Abuse in Clearwater, FL?

Studies show that about 24% of all nursing home residents in the United States reported at least one incident of physical abuse during their stay. 

According to recent studies, Florida is one of the best states in the nation when it comes to nursing care. Still, at least 173 nursing homes in Florida were cited with serious deficiencies. Another 539 assisted living facilities had infection-related deficiencies.

What is My Clearwater Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth?

Every case is different. Your case value will depend on:

  • The type of harm involved
  • The cost of medical care, relocation, and other costs
  • The nature of the at-fault party’s acts
  • Your loved one’s emotional and physical suffering
  • Whether liability is clearly established

Our lawyers in Clearwater are available to discuss your case value during a free consultation. Just give us a call to schedule yours today.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Nursing Home Abuse in Florida?

Filing a personal injury lawsuit can help your family recover compensation for your economic damages and non-economic damages.

Examples of the types of compensation you may receive include:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Rehabilitation costs
  • The cost of relocating to a new nursing home
  • Increased costs of care
  • Counseling 
  • Pain and suffering
  • Humiliation, shame, and embarrassment
  • Depression
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

You may also be entitled to seek compensation for wrongful death if you lost a loved one because of the nursing home’s careless or wrongful acts. 

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home residents are vulnerable to many different types of abuse. Sometimes that abuse is intentional and obvious. Other times, the harm occurs because nursing home staff members neglect their duties.

Some of the most common types of nursing home negligence and abuse include:

Physical Abuse

Nursing home residents are often extremely vulnerable to physical attacks. Physical abuse can involve kicking, punching, hitting, slapping, and any other type of unwanted physical contact–whether at the hands of a nursing home staff member or another resident.

Sexual Abuse

Nursing home residents can also be sexually assaulted by staff members or other residents. 

Sexual abuse can include:

  • Sexual assault 
  • Rape 
  • Unwanted sexual comments
  • Unwanted touching

It can be extremely difficult for a resident to report these types of abuse.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse can be just as damaging as physical or sexual abuse. When nursing home staff members belittle, threaten, or intimidate residents, the psychological effects can be devastating.

Emotional abuse can include:

  • Threats and intimidating
  • Bullying
  • Name-calling
  • Humiliation 
  • Isolation from other residents
  • Harassment 

Emotional abuse can have serious physical consequences, in addition to depression, anxiety, and other mental health impacts.

Financial Abuse

Nursing home residents have the right to remain in control of their finances. Unfortunately, nursing home staff members may target residents for financial exploitation.

Financial abuse can include the outright theft of possessions, identity theft, credit card fraud, forgery, and other types of theft.

Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing home staff members are often overworked. That can put residents at risk of neglect. When your loved one isn’t receiving the care they need, serious injuries can occur.

Nursing home neglect is a passive type of abuse. It can involve failing to give residents the medication they need, failing to provide adequate food, water, and clothing, and even failing to supervise vulnerable patients.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing home abuse isn’t always obvious. Some signs, such as bruises and physical wounds, are easy to spot. Others can be much more subtle.

Unfortunately, nursing home residents aren’t always able to report the abuse because of cognitive disabilities and memory issues. Others fail to report the abuse because they’re embarrassed, humiliated, and afraid.

Some signs that your loved one may be a victim of nursing home abuse include:

  • Personality changes, including becoming withdrawn or uncommunicative 
  • Depression 
  • Fear of being touched
  • Infections
  • Unexplained fractures or injuries
  • Poor hygiene 
  • Bed sores 
  • Dehydration, malnutrition, and/or unexplained weight loss
  • Unexplained financial transactions
  • Staff that refuses to leave you alone with your loved one
  • Marks around the ankles or wrists
  • Pelvic fractures
  • Unsanitary living conditions 

If you notice anything unusual, you can file a complaint with the Florida Department of Health. Once your loved one is safe, contact an experienced Clearwater nursing home abuse attorney to learn more about your legal options.

What Are Some Long-Term Consequences of Nursing Home Abuse?

The long-term impact of nursing home abuse can extend well beyond physical injuries.

Some of the consequences of nursing home abuse include:

  • Infections caused by bed sores and neglect
  • Worsened medical conditions
  • Broken bones
  • Internal bleeding
  • Organ damages
  • Pneumonia and other respiratory diseases
  • The need for more invasive medical treatment

Not all consequences of nursing home abuse are physical. Victims often suffer severe and ongoing depression. Others may become financially unstable because of financial exploitation.

Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Happen?

Nursing home abuse and neglect happen for a number of different reasons. Often, nursing homes themselves fail to take reasonable steps to keep residents safe.

Some of the most common causes of nursing home abuse include:

  • Failure to hire qualified nursing home staff members
  • Failure to properly train and supervise nursing home staff
  • Nursing homes that are underfunded and overcrowded
  • Overworked employees
  • Negligent nursing home management and oversight

Nursing home abuse is never acceptable. You can count on our lawyers at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers to find out why your loved one’s abuse was allowed to continue. To learn more, call our law firm in Clearwater to schedule a free case review today.

How Do I Establish Liability for Nursing Home Abuse in Florida? 

Nursing home residents have rights under Florida law. For example, nursing home residents in Pinellas County have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. They also have the right to live without fear of physical or mental abuse.

When those rights are violated, the responsible parties can be held accountable.

Of course, the person who was directly responsible for the abuse can be financially liable. However, those parties don’t always have the funds to cover your losses. Fortunately, anyone who shares blame can be held liable.

Examples of responsible parties may include:

  • The long-term care facility
  • Nursing home management companies
  • Doctors, nurses, and others who commit medical malpractice
  • Nursing home staff members and administrators
  • Government agencies responsible for nursing home oversight or licensing

Our lawyers will conduct a thorough investigation to find out who was responsible for the abuse. Just give us a call to schedule a free case evaluation today.

How Long Do I Have to File a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in Florida?

The statute of limitations in Florida personal injury cases is two years. You’ll typically have two years from the date you reasonably should have discovered the abuse to take legal action. However, if there’s fraud or concealment involved, you may have more time to take action. Contact us today to ensure you meet the deadline for filing your lawsuit. 

Contact a Clearwater Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Was your loved one a victim of nursing home abuse in Clearwater, FL? Contact Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers to learn more about how an experienced Clearwater nursing home abuse lawyer can help you fight to hold the at-fault parties accountable.

Our personal injury law firm in Clearwater also provides: