When a family discovers that an elderly loved one who is living in a Delray Beach nursing home or somewhere else in the county has been abused, it is time for quick action. The first step is to remove the abused person from the home.
The second step is to contact a Delray Beach nursing home abuse lawyer for a no-obligation consultation to assess the family’s legal options. A compassionate injury attorney will work hard to achieve necessary compensation and hold those accountable for their actions.
Abuse ranges from rough handling, to violence, and taking financial advantage.
Elder abuse is a criminal act and authorities must be notified so the offenders can be punished by loss of freedom. Caretakers and others who witness abuse but do not report it are committing a crime, too. If a caretaker reports abuse, immunity from prosecution is granted.
The abuse is also actionable in civil court with intent to recover financially, and if the abuse is egregious, an additional financial award to punish is warranted.
In civil action, personal injury law is invoked using Florida’s comparative negligence standard, which shares financial loss among those who are negligent. Negligence is failing to act with the care a reasonable person would show in a similar situation. It is upon the elder and family to prove the nursing home acted negligently in allowing the abuse.
Negligence has elements that must be proven:
Negligent acts committed by nursing home staff, managers, and owners include:
A Delray Beach nursing home abuse lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation of the abusive conduct and a background investigation of the nursing home to determine if a pattern of abusive behavior or violations of applicable Florida law and regulations has previously been allowed.
The attorney will question, under penalty of perjury, the nursing home staff, managers, and owners to gather evidence of any violation of the elder’s civil rights, which, if proven, is another cause of legal action, this time at the federal level.
The lawyer will calculate the medical expenses as well as pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and other applicable damages and sue for damages.
If you are injured and unable to come to us,
our attorney will come to you - there is no charge for us to do so.