Sarasota Nursing Home Death Attorney
Nursing home deaths resulting from abuse or neglect should never happen. You should be able to expect that a nursing home will provide the level of care necessary to your loved one, and you should never have to fear that an elderly parent will suffer a deadly injury as a result of nursing home negligence. Often, the best way to determine whether a facility is up to the task of caring for your loved one is to visit and to take note of certain red flags, such as unanswered phones and call lights, poor hygiene and cleaning at the facility, seniors appearing despondent, poor food choices, and high rates of staff turnover. Yet even if you believe a facility has everything your elderly parent needs, abuse and neglect can still occur. If your elderly loved one died as a result of nursing home negligence, do not hesitate to contact a Sarasota nursing home death attorney who can help.
Common Types of Fatal Injuries in Sarasota Nursing Homes
Many types of injuries in nursing homes can be fatal. Sometimes those injuries are physical in nature, and sometimes they are psychological in nature, resulting in a resident’s unwillingness to continue receiving life-saving treatment or to a weakened immune system that ultimately leads to death. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) reports that it is likely at least 10 percent of all older adults aged 60 and up will experience some form of elder abuse, and many researchers believe that number is low due to the underreporting of elder abuse in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Some researchers estimate that about 5 million seniors suffer from abuse annually. The following are common types of injuries in Sarasota nursing homes that can result in a patient’s death:
- Infections;
- Bed sores;
- Malnutrition and dehydration;
- Bone fractures;
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs);
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs); and
- Illnesses due to lack of infection-control measures.
Filing a Nursing Home Abuse Death Claim in Sarasota
If you lost a loved one due to nursing home negligence in Sarasota, you will need to learn more about filing a wrongful death lawsuit in Florida. Under Florida’s wrongful death statute, the personal representative of the deceased’s estate will need to be the one who files the wrongful death lawsuit. Although some states permit other family members to file the claim, the personal representative (or executor) must be the named plaintiff. A wrongful death lawsuit in Florida for nursing home abuse or neglect must be filed within two years from the date of the death. Failure to file a lawsuit within that time window will result in the wrongful death claim becoming time-barred under Florida law.
Contact Kohn Law Today
Kohn Law can assist you with a nursing home death lawsuit. We know how devastating it can be to realize that an elderly loved one died as a result of nursing home negligence, and our firm is here to help. Contact our experienced Sarasota nursing home death attorney today for assistance with your claim.
