It’s never easy losing someone you love and hold dear, but when that loss is the direct result of negligence, it’s even more heartbreaking. When a nursing home plays a part in the death of a family member, you should be able to hold the responsible party to account. Shore Law can help you do just that.
Our Columbus nursing home wrongful death lawyers have 40 years of combined experience in helping clients across Ohio get the financial justice they’re owed. We understand how difficult this time can be for you and your family and will provide empathetic legal support as you proceed through the claims process.
Reach out to our Columbus nursing home abuse lawyer to discuss your situation and learn more about your options.
How Our Columbus Nursing Home Wrongful Death Attorneys Handle Your Claim
A wrongful death claim can put a lot on your plate. While you’re trying to work through your grief and figure out funeral arrangements, let our Columbus personal injury lawyers handle the legal process. Here’s what we’ll do for you:
Examine the Situation
Our attorneys will review the events tied to the death of your loved one. As a proficient nursing home software consultant, our lead attorney, Megan Shore, knows exactly how to audit medical records and analyze electronic metadata to track changes or deletions on a resident’s file. This can help us to uncover fraud or cover-ups and help identify potentially liable parties.
We’ll also look at things like care records, incident reports, facility records, staff schedules, witness statements, and more to provide the most detail-oriented investigation into your case.
Estimate Damages
When a family member passes away unexpectedly, you may be left with significant emotional and financial losses. Shore Law will review your damages and provide a detailed estimate of what you could be owed. This may cover medical bills, funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and other wrongful death damages.
Aggressively Pursue Compensation
Once we know what you might be entitled to, our lawyers will get to work on filing your claim. This means handling all documentation, filing deadlines, and negotiations. We’ll take care of all communications with the insurance companies and counter any tactics used to minimize your claim. If your lawsuit goes to trial, we’ll continue to fight for your rights.
What Causes Wrongful Death in Columbus Nursing Homes?
When you make the decision to send your loved one to a nursing home, it’s with the understanding that they’ll be adequately cared for. But that isn’t always the case.
Nursing home abuse and neglect can cause long-term suffering that ultimately leads to wrongful death. This can come in many forms, such as medication errors, untreated infections, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, malnutrition and dehydration, and failing to look after a resident’s hygiene.
Improper safety procedures may also contribute to your loss. Neglecting to address hazards and prevent falls puts residents at risk, while unsafe living conditions could have a major impact on their health and well-being. We’ll assess the situation and help determine the direct cause of your family member’s passing.
Who Might Be Liable for Your Claim
Liability often rests on negligence, meaning anyone who failed in their duty of care to your loved one could potentially be to blame for their untimely death. There are several parties that may be liable for your wrongful death claim. This may include:
- An individual staff member: If someone who worked at the nursing home was abusive, neglectful, or otherwise negligent and this contributed to the death of your family member, they may be responsible. This could be anyone from a receptionist to a caregiver.
- The nursing home facility: When the nursing home has failed to follow state and federal regulations, it could also share liability. For example, negligent hiring, inadequate staffing, poor supervision, and a lack of training may have been a contributing factor.
- A healthcare provider: A doctor or other healthcare provider may be responsible if they fail to provide appropriate care, such as prescribing the wrong medication or failing to recognize and treat an infection.
- Another third party: Some nursing homes in Ohio work with external maintenance providers, equipment manufacturers, and other third parties. If you think they were partly to blame for your family member’s death, we can help you file a claim against them.
How Long You Have to File in Ohio
According to Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02, you have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim. This is a general rule, and there may be some exceptions based on the circumstances surrounding the death; however, you should try to stick to it as closely as possible.
A personal representative of the deceased’s estate is permitted to bring the claim on behalf of surviving family members. Failing to meet the deadline and other requirements could prevent you from recovering compensation altogether. A nursing home wrongful death lawyer in Columbus can explain more about these rules when you book a free case review.
Protect Your Family With the Help of Shore Law
After a loss like this, your family will never be the same again. At Shore Law, we understand how devastating and life-changing wrongful death in a nursing home can be. We want to work with you to protect your rights and fight for the compensation your family deserves.
While nothing will replace your loved one, seeking damages can help to ease the financial burden your family may be facing. Our attorneys have already recovered $250 million in losses for our previous clients. Reach out to our team to learn more about your legal options, and we’ll work towards the most successful outcome for your case.
