Mistakes to Avoid in Your Nursing Home Abuse Claim

When you place your family member in a nursing home, you expect that they will be well taken care of. You expect them to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Sadly, this does not always happen. Staff members in these facilities sometimes abuse or neglect the residents in their care. When this happens, residents suffer some of the most serious injuries.

If your loved one has been hurt while in a long-term care facility, you may be able to file a claim for damages. Below, our Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer outlines some of the biggest mistakes that may prevent you from recovering the full settlement your family deserves.

Being Confrontational 

After discovering that your loved one is not being treated well in a nursing home, it is natural to feel upset and become angry. You may want to confront your family member’s abuser and admonish them or rant at them. You may even want to threaten them with a lawsuit. This is a mistake. While you can and should ask staff members what caused your loved one’s injuries, you should remain calm and do not become confrontational. Also do not threaten a lawsuit right away. If you do, the abuser may destroy evidence or manufacture evidence that can exonerate them.

Wait Too Long 

In Florida, you have only two years from the date of neglect or abuse to file a claim. The time limit may be extended if you did not discover the abuse or neglect right away but still, you have no more than four years to start a claim. If you do not file your claim within this time, you will forfeit your right to receive any compensation at all.

Not Seeking Medical Care for Your Loved One 

The injuries sustained due to nursing home abuse and neglect are extremely serious. Due to their advanced age, residents of long-term care facilities are at even greater risk of suffering complications due to their injuries. It is critical that you seek medical attention right away for your loved one right away so their injuries do not become worse. Additionally, getting your loved one the treatment they need will document the injuries and help prove them.

Failing to Collect Evidence 

Evidence plays a critical role in proving your nursing home abuse claim. You should take pictures of your family member’s injuries and anything that could prove how they were sustained. For example, if the conditions in the nursing home were unsanitary and your relative contracted an infection as a result, you should take photos of the conditions. Torn clothing, eyewitness statements, and medical records are some of the strongest pieces of evidence used in these cases.

Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Tampa Will Ensure No Mistakes are Made 

At Kohn Law, our Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer knows the devastation neglect and abuse cause is dedicated to helping families make things right. If your loved one has been harmed, we can help you file your claim and will ensure no mistakes are made so you obtain the full and fair compensation you are entitled to. Call us now at 813-428-8504 or chat with us online to request a free consultation and to get the information you need.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html