CHICAGO, IL – Nursing home residents are normally elderly individuals, sometimes in poor health, so unfortunately, nursing home deaths are not uncommon. Many residents succumb to his or her illness or of old age; however, there are certain situations where death is preventable. If you have lost a loved one living in a nursing home facility, you may question whether your loved one’s death was caused by poor care or neglect. If a nursing home’s wrongful death or negligent actions lead to a resident’s death, the surviving family members have the right file a wrongful death claim against the nursing home facility.
How Do I Know If My Loved One’s Death Was a Wrongful Death?
Wrongful death is “a death caused by the wrongful act of another, either accidentally or intentionally,” (Cornell Law School). When a party is negligent, careless, or wrongful actions lead to another person’s death, had that person survived, he or she would be entitled to bring a wrongful death claim against the party. Wrongful death claims is intended for a family member of the deceased individual to obtain compensation for the companionship lost due to the death of your loved one. Wrongful death claims attempt to offset any financial hardships you may face while dealing with your loved one’s death.
A skilled wrongful death lawyer will use a variety of strategies to investigate your loved one’s death. Documents included in wrongful death claims include all medical records, staff schedules, witness statements, incident reports, the nursing homes policies and procedures, and photos and videos of the facility.
Signs Your Loved One’s Death May Be a Wrongful Death
Some common signs of wrongful death include:
- Nursing home staff failed to provide necessary medical care in a timely manner.
- Your loved one was not consistently receiving his or her medications.
- Your loved one suffered from dehydration or malnutrition.
- Your loved one has bed sores or other signs of neglect.
- Your loved one had injuries caused by physical abuse or sexual abuse.
- The nursing home did not report your loved one’s fall or other injury-causing accident.
- The nursing home failed to transfer your loved one to an appropriate facility when he or she needed a higher level of care.
- The nursing home failed to prevent wandering, elopement, or resident-on-resident violence.
Bringing a Wrongful Death Claim Against a Nursing Home
While there is no legal recourse you can take that will replace your tragic loss, wrongful death claims can hold a multitude of entities accountable, including the facility, administrators, doctors, and nurses, and other staff members. Bringing forth a wrongful death claim may also allow you to recover financial compensation for the losses resulting in your loved one’s death. You could be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, and your own grief and suffering.
Contact a Chicago, IL Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer
If your loved one’s death was preventable due to another’s negligence, contact one of our skilled nursing home wrongful death attorneys at Dinizulu Law Group. Call our office at (312) 384-1920 for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our Cook County wrongful death attorneys. Our experienced attorneys know when our clients are being mistreated and work hard to help you seek the justice that you and your family deserve.
