Have you or a loved one been the victim of nursing home abuse in Lakeland, FL? If so, our team at Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law, is prepared to help you hold the responsible parties accountable. Call a Lakeland nursing home abuse lawyer at (863) 999-9000 for the total compensation your family deserves.
Injured parties have trusted us to protect their rights since we started our law firm in 1993. We have a proven track record of successfully recovering the compensation to help our clients move forward with their lives.
Nursing home abuse is never acceptable. Our Lakeland nursing home abuse attorneys are passionate about helping families like yours seek justice. To learn more about how we can help, contact our law offices in Lakeland, Florida, to schedule a free consultation today.
How Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law Can Help You Recover Compensation for Nursing Home Abuse in Lakeland
Putting a loved one in a nursing home is rarely a simple or easy choice. You did it to protect them. You wanted them to have the best care possible. Learning that your loved one has, instead, been abused or neglected is extremely difficult.
Our experienced Lakeland personal injury lawyers at Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law are here to help you get justice. Our seasoned trial lawyers know how the corporations that own nursing homes work. We stand up to their insurance companies on a daily basis–and win.
You can trust that we’ll protect your best interests in Lakeland, FL, by:
- Conducting a full investigation
- Determining who is liable for your damages
- Working with leading experts who can strengthen your claim
- Assessing your losses and determining how much you deserve
- Refusing to take a lowball deal and negotiating for a full settlement
Our Lakeland personal injury attorneys won’t stop until we’ve exhausted all options for holding the at-fault parties responsible. Contact our Lakeland nursing home abuse lawyers today to get started.
We Handle All Types of Nursing Home Abuse Claims in Lakeland
Nursing home residents in Florida are subject to many different types of abuse. Regardless of the nature of the abuse, no form of abuse is ever acceptable. If you suspect that someone is abusing or taking advantage of your loved one, call for help today.
At Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law, we handle all types of nursing home abuse cases, including cases involving:
- Physical abuse, whether in the form of hitting, kicking, slapping, beating, or improperly using restraints
- Emotional abuse, which can include things like insults, humiliation, belittling, shaming, coercion, harassment, or forced isolation
- Sexual abuse, including rape, forcing a victim to witness sexual conduct, taking nude photographs, and any type of sexual contact
- Financial exploitation, which can involve stealing money and property, forging signatures, stealing credit cards, identity theft, or coercing a resident into changing beneficiaries or their will
- Nursing home neglect, which can involve an outright refusal to provide basic necessities, failing to provide proper care, or allowing residents to live in unsanitary conditions
- Medical malpractice, or a failure to provide the proper standard of medical care or nursing assistance
Nursing home abuse is a crime. It’s also an intentional tort. Even if criminal charges are levied against the perpetrator, you can seek financial compensation from the responsible party in civil court.
What Are Some Common Signs That Nursing Home Abuse is Occurring?
Nursing home abuse isn’t usually obvious. Caregivers will go to great lengths to cover their tracks. Unfortunately, many victims of nursing home abuse don’t report it–either because they’re too ashamed or because they don’t realize it’s happening.
Here are some signs that your loved one may be a victim of abuse:
- Unexplained injuries, including broken bones, bruises, abrasions, etc.
- Unexplained behavioral changes, including depression, becoming withdrawn or afraid
- Sudden weight loss
- Dirty clothing or changes in hygiene
- Being afraid to speak around a caregiver
- Caregivers who refuse to leave you alone with your loved one
- Unexplained financial transactions
- Signs of restraint on the wrists and ankles
- Bed sores
- Unsanitary conditions
- Regressive behaviors, such as thumb-sucking, rocking or self-hugging
If you suspect your loved one is being abused, our attorneys can help you stop the abuse. In the meantime, you can immediately report the nursing home abuse via the Florida long-term care ombudsman program. You can also contact the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.
How Much Money Is My Lakeland Nursing Home Abuse Accident Case Worth?
The value of your personal injury case depends on a number of issues. The more severe and pervasive the abuse, the higher your settlement or verdict is likely to be.
When we’re assessing your case value, the following factors will be relevant:
- The nature of the harm your loved one has suffered
- The nature of the perpetrator’s actions
- Your family’s expenses, including medical treatment costs
- The pain, suffering, and trauma your loved one has experienced
- Damage to the victim’s quality of life
- How the abuse has impacted your family
- Whether you lost income because of a need to provide care
Nursing homes and their insurance companies will work hard to minimize their financial liability. At the same time, they might offer a fast settlement. After all, they don’t want this kind of publicity. It’s always best to have an experienced lawyer help you understand your case value before taking any insurance deal.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in Lakeland?
Damages in Florida are broadly classified as economic damages or non-economic damages.
Economic damages compensate for financial costs, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Any lost wages if you had to miss work to care for your loved one
- The cost of moving to a new facility
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Counseling
- Property damage
- Restitution in cases involving financial abuse
Non-economic damages attempt to compensate victims for their subjective, personal losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Reduced life expectancy
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD and fear
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
Courts also have authority to award punitive damages in cases involving intentional wrongdoing. In nursing home abuse cases, it may be possible to recover punitive damages to punish the defendant for their actions.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Florida?
Hiring an experienced attorney should never create a financial burden. At Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law, our team works on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t have any out-of-pocket expenses when you hire our lawyers to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Instead, you’ll agree to pay us a percentage of the compensation we recover in your case.
Nursing Home Abuse Often Leaves Victims Struggling With Serious Losses
The consequences of nursing home abuse and neglect can be far-reaching and may include:
- Reduced life expectancy
- Development of new medical conditions
- Broken bones
- Bed sores
- Concussions
- Dislocations
- Shoulder injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Infections and amputations
- Wrongful death
Victims of nursing home abuse can also struggle with serious mental health issues. Many become depressed and anxious. These conditions can have a dramatic impact on their quality of life and physical health.
When you hire our team at Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law, you can trust that our Lakeland nursing home abuse attorneys will get to know your family. That way, we can understand all the ways you’ve suffered–and fight for every available dollar.
Who Can Be Liable for My Damages?
Any responsible party can be held financially responsible.
That includes:
- The person who committed the abuse
- The nursing home, as the perpetrator’s employer
- Supervisors
- Medical professionals
- A corporation that owns a group of nursing homes
- Government authorities responsible for oversight
It’s not just the person who committed abuse that can be held accountable. Nursing home staff members must be properly screened, trained and supervised. When their employers fail to provide proper oversight, they too can be held liable for any abuse that occurs on their watch.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit Based on Nursing Home Abuse in Florida?
The statute of limitations in Florida is two years. As a general rule, you’ll have two years from the date of the abuse to file a lawsuit.
Nursing home abuse cases are different from car accident or pedestrian accident claims. You may not know about the abuse for some time. Victims can suffer from illnesses that impact their memory and their ability to understand. Also, it’s unfortunately true that abuse can be a pattern that persists over time. Typically, the two-year clock will start running on the date you discover the abuse.
That said, don’t ever wait to consult a lawyer if you suspect you have a valid personal injury claim. A judge can dismiss your claim outright if they decide you’ve missed the deadline.
Contact a Trusted Lakeland Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
Nursing home abuse is a serious problem in Lakeland, Florida. If your family has been traumatized by abuse, call our Lakeland nursing home abuse lawyer at Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law today. Your consultation is always completely free of charge.
Highly Rated Lakeland Courts and Paralegal services
- The Sixth District Court of Appeal – 811 E Main St, Lakeland, FL 33801
- Central Florida Court Document Service, LLC – 2432 US-92, Lakeland, FL 33801
Additional Lakeland Nursing Home Abuse resources
- Abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elderly persons and disabled adults – The 2024 Florida Statutes
- Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Law – NOLO
- Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence Law – Justia
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Lakeland, FL
Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law
2306 Florida Ave S
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 999-9000