Were you or a loved one a victim of nursing home abuse in Lakeland, Florida? You may deserve significant compensation for the resulting harm.
An experienced Lakeland nursing home abuse lawyer at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for compensation for medical care, pain, trauma, and more. Call our law offices in Lakeland, Florida at (863) 251-6196 to schedule a free consultation and learn more today.
How Can Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Help With a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Lakeland, FL?
Nursing homes are often owned by major corporations. They have powerful insurance companies and defense lawyers on their side. Standing up to them can be intimidating. When they’ve allowed your loved one to be abused, they must be held accountable.
Our attorneys have over 119 years of experience with personal injury claims. We’ve helped countless clients get justice over the years, and we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in the process. Our experienced Lakeland personal injury attorneys are prepared to stand up and fight for you.
When you hire the nationally recognized team at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, you gain a team that will:
- Conduct a thorough investigation into the nursing home
- Collect evidence to prove the abuse occurred and establish liability
- Document the losses you’ve suffered due to the abuse
- Calculate the value of your personal injury claim–and refuse to settle for less
- Locate all sources of compensation
- Negotiate aggressively with the insurance companies for a full settlement
If you’re anything like most victims, you may not know who to trust for help. Our Lakeland nursing home abuse lawyers have a track record of success that you can count on. All you have to do is call us today to start fighting for justice.
How Common is Nursing Home Abuse?
As many as one in five older Americans were subject to abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, studies show that as few as one in 24 cases of abuse are actually reported. Much of the abuse occurs in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roughly two-thirds of all nursing home staff members surveyed admitted to committing some type of abuse in a recent year.
Our Attorneys in Lakeland Handle All Types of Nursing Home Abuse Cases
Many nursing home residents are vulnerable to abuse. It’s important to understand that there are many different types of nursing home abuse.
Our attorneys handle all types of nursing home abuse cases, including those involving:
- Physical abuse, or any infliction of physical pain or injury on the victim
- Sexual abuse, which is any type of sexual contact, intercourse, or behavior of a sexual nature when the victim does not consent, is threatened, or is unable to consent
- Emotional abuse including verbal attacks, shaming, humiliation, threats, intimidation, and even forced isolation
- Financial exploitation, which can include the theft of assets, misuse of a victim’s assets, withholding assets, or coercing the victim to change a will or beneficiary designations
- Willful neglect, which can include actively withholding food, water, medications, or physical assistance
Any form of abuse can cause significant physical and mental harm. Passive neglect can also be incredibly damaging. Passive neglect occurs when a caregiver simply fails to provide the victim with needed assistance and basic necessities, whether because of understaffing, underfunding, or due to their own negligence.
How Do I Know Whether My Loved One Has Been a Victim of Nursing Home Abuse?
Most people think they’d immediately know that their loved one was being abused. The reality is, that many nursing home residents never report the abuse.
That’s for many reasons. Some are too ashamed and humiliated to admit they’ve been victimized. Others may not remember whether they’ve reported the abuse–or might not understand that the abuse has occurred. It’s therefore critical to pay attention to the potential signs of abuse.
Some key signs to watch for include:
- Unexplained fractures, bruises and injuries
- Sudden personality changes
- Fear of speaking around caregivers
- A caregiver who refuses to leave you alone with your loved one
- Marks around the ankles and wrists
- Unexplained weight loss
- Regressive behaviors, like rocking or self-hugging
- Unexplained financial transactions or changes
- Changes in hygiene
- Appearing depressed or withdrawn
- Bed sores
- Pelvic injuries, STDs, or genital infections
- Unsanitary conditions
The signs of abuse will vary depending on the type of abuse involved. It’s always important to report any suspicions of abuse. You can report abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an elderly individual to Adult Protective Services. You can also file a complaint with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.
What Is My Lakeland Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth?
Nursing homes know that their residents have rights in Florida. Those rights include a right to be free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. They also know that the publicity of a nursing home abuse scandal can significantly damage their business.
As such, they might offer you a fast settlement. That doesn’t mean the settlement is fair. Before you take any settlement offer, contact our Lakeland nursing home abuse attorneys.
When you hire Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll carefully evaluate all factors that can impact your case value, including:
- The specific harm your loved one has suffered
- How the abuse has impacted the victim’s quality of life
- The costs you’ve incurred, including medical treatment and relocating to a safe facility
- The mental trauma your family has endured
- Any income you have lost to care for your loved one
- The nature of the perpetrator’s actions
- The nature of the nursing home’s actions and response
- How the abuse will impact your loved one’s future
It’s never too early to seek legal guidance. Contact our law firm today for more details about how much compensation you may deserve.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Nursing Home Abuse in Lakeland?
Damages in Florida personal injury cases are classified as economic damages or non-economic damages.
Economic damages include financial expenses, such as:
- Current medical expenses
- Expected future medical expenses
- Your lost income
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage and restitution
- Moving expenses
- Transportation costs
- Increased care costs
- Mental health counseling
Non-economic damages compensate for the personal toll the abuse has taken on the victim, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Depression
- PTSD
- Reduced quality of life
- Reduced life expectancy
- Loss of the ability to enjoy life
When someone intentionally harms another person, courts have the authority to award punitive damages, although they are rarely awarded. Punitive damages are only meant to punish a defendant and deter future wrongdoing. If your family is struggling with the aftermath of nursing home abuse or neglect, count on us to pursue every available dollar.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Florida?
Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee depends entirely on the outcome of your case. Once your case has settled or we’ve won a jury verdict, we take a percentage of that compensation. We don’t get paid unless we win your case.
Nursing Home Abuse Can Cause Devastating Long-Term Consequences
Some examples of the types of damage nursing home abuse can cause include:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Pressure ulcers, or bed sores
- Infections, which can quickly lead to ancillary complications
- Worsened medical conditions
- Personality changes
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Severe and lasting depression
- Financial instability in cases involving financial abuse
Moving your loved one to a safe location should be your first step. Once they’re safe, contact our lawyers for legal assistance. We know how to help you fight for justice.
Who Can Be Liable for Nursing Home Abuse in Florida?
The individual who committed the abuse can always be held liable for their own intentional wrongdoing. In fact, they may even face criminal charges. That said, a nursing home caregiver may not have the resources to compensate you for the damage they’ve caused.
The nursing home will likely be liable for your losses. As employers, nursing homes can be held responsible for the acts of their employees. This is called vicarious liability. Nursing homes can also be liable for their own negligence.
That might include failing to:
- Conduct background checks
- Train or supervise caregivers
- Provide necessary inspections to prevent abuse
In the end, you’ll probably be dealing with the nursing home’s insurance company.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit Based on Nursing Home Abuse in Florida?
The statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years. Florida law gives you two years from the date of an injury to file a lawsuit. In nursing home abuse cases where the abuse occurs over time, the two-year clock begins to run on the date a responsible party discovers or should have discovered that the abuse was occurring.
Contact a Trusted Lakeland Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Nursing homes will vigorously defend themselves against allegations of abuse. You’ll want to have an experienced Lakeland nursing home abuse lawyer on your team. Consultations at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers are always free, so call to schedule yours today.
