Have you or a loved one been the victim of nursing home abuse in Polk County, FL? If so, contact Grajek Law Personal Injury Lawyers at (863) 999-9000 for a free consultation. Let our experienced Polk County nursing home abuse lawyer help you pursue maximum compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
Attorney Thomas C. Grajek has over 25 years of experience helping injury victims get the justice they deserve. He and his team are dedicated to giving each client personalized attention and fighting to protect their rights. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and let us put our experience to work for you.
How Grajek Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Nursing Home Abuse Injury in Polk County
Nothing about a nursing home abuse claim in Polk County, Florida, is easy. The thought that your loved one has suffered because of the intentional or negligent acts of someone else can be tough to handle. Plus, the thought of taking on a big company, like a nursing home, in court can feel overwhelming.
Thankfully, Grajek Law Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help.
You need an experienced Polk County personal injury lawyer to stand up for your rights, and we can help you by:
- Investigating the nursing home where the abuse occurred
- Interviewing current and former employees to gather crucial evidence
- Researching any prior allegations of abuse at the facility
- Handling all communications with the nursing home and opposing counsel
- Negotiating a full and fair settlement of your personal injury claim
- Filing a lawsuit and taking the nursing home to court when they refuse to negotiate
You do not have to go through this difficult situation on your own. Let the team at Grajek Law Personal Injury Lawyers help with every detail of your claim. Call us now to schedule your free consultation with a Polk County nursing home abuse attorney and get started.
What Are Common Causes of Nursing Home Abuse in Polk County?
Nursing home abuse is an unfortunate situation, and there are several reasons why this type of abuse happens.
Some of the most common causes of nursing home abuse include:
- Understaffing
- Improper or inadequate staff training
- Poor management
- High turnover
- Burnout
- Isolation of residents
- Negligent hiring practices
Identifying the root cause early helps us target the responsible parties and pursue the strongest claim possible.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Nursing Home Abuse in Florida?
While the abuser might be held personally responsible for any injuries they cause, the nursing home may also have liability. This is true when the nursing home’s negligence resulted in your injuries. To prove negligence, you need to show:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
For instance, the nursing home has a legal duty to perform reasonable background checks on staff prior to hiring them.
Imagine they hire a staff member with a history of patient abuse, but they fail to check any references or perform any background checks prior to hiring that employee. If the employee abuses a patient, the nursing home could be held responsible because of its negligent hiring practices. Our team evaluates every potential theory of liability to hold all negligent actors accountable.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Polk County Nursing Home Abuse Victims?
Victims who are injured because of nursing home abuse are entitled to recover both economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages compensate the victims for their financial losses.
Common economic damages in nursing home abuse cases are:
- Current and future medical bills
- Relocation expenses
- Medical equipment
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages compensate victims for their physical and emotional pain and trauma. These intangible losses are much more subjective, and putting a specific value on these losses can sometimes be challenging.
Some common examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish or emotional distress
- Depression
- Diminished quality of life
- PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
We document every loss—financial and human—to pursue full and fair compensation for your family.
How Long Do I Have to File a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in Florida?
Most personal injury victims have two years from the date of their injury to file a lawsuit for their damages. Missing this deadline can completely bar you from recovering any compensation for your injuries.
However, you should be aware that there are some special circumstances that can make the deadline in your case different from the general two-year rule. This is why you should always get the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon after your accident as possible.
How Common Is Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse, unfortunately, affects thousands of seniors each and every year. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), more than 7,600 citations were issued to nursing homes in a recent year for abuse and neglect.
The sad reality is that abuse cases in nursing homes may be grossly underreported. Some studies show that only 1 in every 24 cases of abuse is actually reported to the authorities.
Contact Our Polk County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries because of nursing home abuse in Polk County, FL, contact the experienced team at Grajek Law Personal Injury Lawyers today. We will give you the personal time and attention you deserve and help you through every detail of your claim.
Let us help you hold the responsible party accountable so that you can get the compensation you are owed. Call us today to schedule your free consultation with a Polk County nursing home abuse attorney.