Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Florida

A nursing home abuse lawyer in Florida can help victims of abuse and their families seek justice for harm suffered at a nursing home or assisted living facility. They can help you pursue compensation by filing a claim against the facility, staff member, or any other party responsible for the abuse. At LawFirm.com, we can connect you with a top Florida nursing home abuse attorney and help you learn more about your legal options.

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Why Take Legal Action?

By filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit, you can seek financial compensation and justice from those who caused you or a loved one harm.

Results Secured

$2.2 million for a Rhode Island resident who had a heart attack
$2 million for the family of a California patient with dementia who passed away due to negligence
$1.5 million for a woman in Minnesota with stage 4 bedsores

Written by: Rae Theodore

Last updated: Dec 19, 2024

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Julie Rivers

What Does a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Florida Do?

A nursing home abuse lawyer in Florida helps victims of elder abuse and their families pursue justice and compensation for neglect or abuse through a nursing home abuse lawsuit.

These lawyers are well-versed in Florida law and have the skills and experience necessary to help families dealing with abuse in Florida nursing home facilities. They can inform you of your rights under the law, collect evidence to prove abuse, and file a lawsuit on your behalf.

Sadly, nursing home abuse is prevalent and has been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Around 1 in 6 people 60 years and older experienced some form of abuse in community settings during the past year.”

– World Health Organization (WHO)

LawFirm.com can help you find a nursing home abuse lawyer in Florida. Contact us now for a free case review.

What Qualifies as Nursing Home Abuse?

When your loved one moves into an assisted living facility or skilled nursing home, you expect them to be treated with the utmost care — but this isn’t always the case. Unfortunately, nursing home residents are vulnerable and subject to different types of abuse.

Lack of training, understaffing, and other inadequate hiring and training measures often contribute to abuse. Regardless, seniors deserve to be safe and receive quality care.

Nursing home neglect lawyers can handle a range of abuse cases and obtain justice for wronged elders.

Some examples of nursing home abuse include:

Medical malpractice: Failure to seek or provide proper medical care, medication errors, or an incorrect diagnosis may be considered medical malpractice.
Neglect: Inattention to an elder’s bedsores and hygiene are examples of neglect cases. Malnutrition and dehydration may also be considered neglect.
Physical abuse: These claims can arise from a staff member pushing, hitting, or slapping a nursing home resident and can result in a range of injuries, including broken bones, burns, and bruising.
Sexual abuse: Nursing home staff, other residents, and even administrators may engage in or allow the sexual abuse of residents in long-term care facilities.
Wrongful death: If a resident dies from nursing home abuse injuries, their family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim and seek justice on their loved one’s behalf.

If your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, LawFirm.com may be able to help. Contact one of our compassionate case managers right now at (888) 726-9160 for a free legal consultation.

Signs of Abuse: When to Contact a Florida Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

If you believe your loved one has suffered harm at a nursing home in Florida, you should contact a Florida nursing home abuse attorney as soon as possible.

While some cases of nursing home negligence or abuse are obvious, in other cases, families may be unsure if their loved one has suffered abuse.

A woman sitting in a wheelchair in a nursing home

Here are some signs of nursing home abuse to watch for in your loved one:

Acting fearful
Appearing depressed, especially if this is out of character
Being unusually quiet or withdrawn
Crying or getting upset easily
Not being available for visitation
Sudden weight loss
Unexplained injuries

If your loved one is showing signs of nursing home abuse, ask them what’s wrong. If possible, make frequent in-person visits and keep a close eye on them.

There may be a reasonable explanation. However, in other cases, abuse may have occurred.

Our nursing home case managers can listen to your story and help you figure out if abuse may have occurred. Chat in confidence now.

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Our case managers can answer your questions and connect you to an attorney.

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How Florida Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Can Help

Nursing home abuse lawyers are personal injury lawyers who specialize in long-term care and nursing home abuse cases. They have the skills and experience needed to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit on behalf of affected families and fight for maximum compensation for a loved one’s mistreatment.

Plus, they can handle your lawsuit from start to finish so you can focus on what’s truly important — caring for your loved one.

Here are the basic steps in a nursing home abuse lawsuit.

1. Free Case Review

The first step in a nursing home abuse case is to get a free case review. A nursing home abuse case manager will ask you questions and verify that you qualify for a lawsuit.

If you are eligible, your nursing home abuse attorney and their support staff will start working on your case right away.

2. Building Your Case

Next, your legal team will start collecting evidence and building a strong case.

This may include:

Medical records
Police reports (if applicable)
Statements from people who worked at the nursing home
The nursing home incident report

Unfortunately, many nursing homes do not investigate cases of nursing home abuse thoroughly. They may even try to cover up any abuse that occurred.

Regardless, your Florida nursing home abuse attorney will examine all relevant information and find out why the abuse was left unreported or uninvestigated.

3. Filing the Lawsuit

Your Florida nursing home abuse attorney will file your nursing home abuse lawsuit against all parties that may be responsible.

This may include:

The nursing home
Nursing home employees
Health care providers
Other caregivers

Your lawyer will file your nursing home abuse claim in the proper court before any legal deadlines.

In Florida, nursing home abuse victims and their family members have 2 years from the date the abuse was discovered to file a lawsuit as per the state’s statute of limitations.

Exceptions may apply, so talk to a nursing home abuse attorney, even if you think that you’ve run out of time.

4. Negotiating a Settlement

Your Florida nursing home abuse attorney will try to negotiate a nursing home abuse settlement with all responsible parties. Nursing home abuse lawyers typically prefer settlements over trial verdicts as they provide families with quicker access to much-needed money.

Almost all nursing home abuse cases settle out of court.

5. Defending Your Case in Court

If you and the nursing home cannot reach an agreement, your lawyer will prepare your case for court. A judge or jury will hear arguments from both sides and then issue a ruling.

Florida Nursing Home Abuse Settlements

When possible, nursing home abuse lawyers prefer settlements over taking a case to trial.

That’s because settlements give families quicker access to money they need to care for their loved ones and are less risky than taking your chances in court.

Additionally, settlements are usually confidential, which means your loved one’s privacy will be protected, and the family does not have to endure an emotionally draining trial.

The law firms in our network have recovered more than $280 million in settlements and verdicts for families impacted by nursing home abuse.

Notably, our legal partners have secured:

$1.35 million for a patient with a shoulder injury
$1 million for a patient with dementia
$600,000 for an Alzheimer’s patient
$500,000 for a patient with diabetes

Compensation from a nursing home abuse lawsuit can help families pay for medical bills and a new nursing home or assisted living facility that can provide your loved one with the quality care they deserve.

Get a free case review and see whether your family may be able to pursue a nursing home abuse settlement.

What to Look for in a Lawyer for Nursing Home Abuse in Florida

Not all Florida nursing home abuse attorneys offer the same level of experience and skills.

When it comes to seeking justice for your loved one, you want to work with an attorney who has a good reputation and a track record of success in nursing home abuse cases.

Qualities of a top nursing home abuse lawyer in Florida include:

Free legal case reviews
Years of experience representing nursing home abuse victims
No upfront or out-of-pocket fees
Access to resources to prove abuse

The nursing home abuse attorneys that LawFirm.com works with have all of these qualities and more. Plus, they’ve recovered more than $280 million on behalf of abuse victims and their families.

They can represent clients throughout the state of Florida, including in:

Fort Myers
Jacksonville
Miami
Orlando
Tampa
West Palm Beach

Questions to Ask a Florida Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

Looking for an attorney to help with your nursing home abuse case can be overwhelming. Many lawyers may say that they can handle your case, but they may not have the skills or experience to get the results that you deserve.

When interviewing Florida nursing home abuse lawyers for your case, make sure that you come prepared with a list of questions.

Questions to ask a Florida nursing home abuse lawyer:

How long have you been a Florida nursing home abuse attorney?
How many nursing home abuse cases have you handled?
What were the outcomes?
How strong is my potential nursing home abuse case?
What fees do you charge?
Do you have any client testimonials?

How Much Do Florida Nursing Home Lawyers Cost?

The cost of hiring a Florida nursing home abuse attorney will vary from one nursing home abuse law firm to the next. Many lawyers charge by the hour and require a retainer (a sum of money paid upfront before they work on a case).

Other attorneys handle nursing home abuse cases on a contingency basis. With this type of fee agreement, you pay nothing unless your lawyer recovers money for you. Then, you pay a small percentage of the money recovered.

The Florida nursing home abuse attorneys in the LawFirm.com network never charge any upfront or out-of-pocket fees. They only get paid if you do.

Tip: Always make sure you have a clearly outlined fee agreement with a nursing home abuse law firm before signing an agreement with an attorney to avoid costly legal fees.

Find a Florida Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near You

Nursing home abuse is illegal and punishable by fines and other consequences, including jail or prison time. People and corporations that prey on the elderly should be made to pay for the suffering they inflict.

If your loved one was a victim of nursing home abuse at the hands of staff members who were supposed to protect them, LawFirm.com may be able to help.

LawFirm.com can connect you with a Florida nursing home abuse lawyer near you who can fight for justice on their behalf.

These compassionate attorneys can handle all aspects of a nursing home abuse case and provide emotional support during this challenging time.

Call (888) 726-9160 to speak to one of our nursing home case managers for a free case review.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Florida FAQs

Who do you report nursing home abuse to in Florida?

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) handles complaints against nursing homes in the state. To report nursing home abuse in Florida, visit the agency’s website and complete the online Health Care Facility Complaint Form or call the phone number listed.

What is the statute of limitations on nursing home abuse in Florida?

In Florida, the statute of limitations on nursing home abuse cases is 2 years. This means you have two years from the date the abuse or incident was discovered to file a claim.

If you don’t file a claim before this deadline expires, you may not be able to take legal action for your loved one’s pain again. Work with a Florida nursing home abuse attorney to take legal action before it’s too late.

What type of abuse is most common in nursing homes?

Some common types of nursing home abuse include:

Emotional abuse
Financial abuse
Neglect
Physical abuse

Unfortunately, anyone in a residential care facility may be at risk of abuse, and in some cases, they may not be able to communicate about the abuse they’re experiencing.

For those reasons, it’s best to be on the lookout for sudden changes in behavior or other signs of abuse.

What kind of lawyer do I need to sue a nursing home?

Personal injury attorneys who specialize in nursing home abuse and neglect cases are best suited to sue a nursing home.

These nursing home abuse lawyers have experience in handling these types of cases and the resources to maximize financial recovery for their clients.

Are nursing homes required to report nursing home neglect in Florida?

Yes, Florida nursing homes are required to report incidents of neglect and abuse. However, many incidents go unreported or uninvestigated.

To take justice for your loved one’s mistreatment into your own hands, seek help from a qualified Florida nursing home abuse attorney.

LawFirm.com can help you find a qualified nursing home abuse attorney near you. Contact us right now for a free consultation.

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Julie RiversEldercare Advocate

Editor

Julie Rivers is a dedicated eldercare advocate with over 15 years of experience in nursing home neglect and abuse cases. Inspired by her mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s, she blends legal expertise and personal passion to support victims. An MBA graduate and active Alzheimer’s Association volunteer, Julie fights for better eldercare policies and justice for affected families.