Legal Help for Nursing Home Residents with COVID-19
If you have lost a loved one due to death by COVID-19 contracted in a nursing home, contact one of our experienced San Diego nursing home abuse lawyer right away.
As the coronavirus spreads throughout the United States, the elderly, especially those 65 and higher, are among the highest risk group for experiencing severe illness and death. Nursing home residents are especially vulnerable because of the fact they have a higher likelihood of having pre-existing conditions. Nursing homes themselves are often densely populated and viruses like the highly contagious coronavirus tend to spread quickly among nursing home residents.
Nursing homes have legal obligations to protect both their patients and personnel from harm. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has laid out guidelines and procedures specifically for nursing homes to follow to help mitigate the risk and slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. These guidelines include recommendations to reduce or completely restrict visitation and to test all faculty and staff for COVID-19. Nursing homes were also instructed to institute an Infection Prevention and Control program (IPC) and have at least one healthcare professional on staff with IPC experience. Following proper safety protocols saves lives and the death of your loved one could have been prevented.
If your loved one became ill or if they died due to COVID-19 and negligent nursing home staff or the facility are to blame, contact Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers at (888) 233-5020 right away. Our knowledgeable and compassionate attorneys will be ready to help you get the answers and justice that you and your family deserve.
Why Choose Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers for Your COVID-19 claim?
We have filed and won cases that cover a wide range of nursing home abuse and neglect claims. Nursing home abuse takes many forms. In some cases, a resident is neglected because there is not enough staff due to a nursing home’s desire to cut costs. It is unfortunate but true that some nursing homes put profit above their patients. Furthermore, many elderly experiences a decline in cognition, and this fact is exploited by those seeking to financially prey off the elderly. Another major category of nursing home cases we handle involves the physical abuse of elders by caretakers. If an elderly loved one is hurt, contracted illness, or financially and physically exploited we are here to get justice on your behalf. While nothing can bring back a lost family member, we will hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
How COVID-19 has affected the elderly in nursing homes
The Coronavirus pandemic has been devastating both in lives lost and in its economic costs. As the death toll continues to climb, nursing home facilities have been hit especially hard. In fact, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, nursing home deaths made up a third of the total number of deaths among the 26 states that disclosed their numbers. In 14 of the 26 states, nursing home deaths accounted for half of that state’s total.
In California, there have been at least 1,600 Covid-19 deaths from nursing homes and other long-care health facilities for the elderly. The total number of deaths in California has been at least 3800, meaning that nursing home cases accounted for at least 40% of the Covid-19 deaths overall. At Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers we don’t forget that behind every one of these numbers is a mom, a dad, an aunt, a beloved family member.
Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers has a proven track record of results. We have collected millions of dollars for our clients through the hard work of our dedicated team. Our attorneys are experienced in nursing home lawsuits, civil litigation, and in standing up to big business and insurance companies. Your case will be carefully examined by our qualified team and given the attention it deserves.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your loved one developed COVID-19 due to negligence on the part of a nursing home, your family could be eligible to seek compensation from the facility and other responsible parties. We know that you have answers about your rights and legal options, so read a few of our frequently asked questions below, and reach out to us by calling (888) 233-5020 to discuss the specifics of your situation with a knowledgeable member of our team today.
How much does it cost to hire a COVID-19 lawyer?
At Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers, we firmly believe that no family should struggle to afford the best possible lawyer to represent them in their COVID-19 case. That’s why we work on a contingency-fee-basis which means you pay no money upfront for us to take on your case. We also have a No Fee Guarantee, so if we do not recover compensation for you, you will not be charged for any of the expenses or fees acquired while taking on your case.
The nursing home company is offering a settlement. Should I take it?
Whenever abuse or neglect claims arise, it is not uncommon for defendants to offer a settlement to make the case go away as quickly as possible. This settlement will likely be substantially lower than what you would get if you hired an attorney to represent you. When you hire an attorney to represent you, they will seek the maximum amount possible for your loved one and your family. If the negligent party fails to offer a fair amount that accounts for all of the expenses and other losses you have incurred or will incur, your lawyer will take the case to court to get you the full damages you’re owed.
What legal obligations do nursing homes have to protect their residents?
There are several nursing home laws both at the federal and state level put in place to protect the rights of patients. In California, these laws and regulations are monitored by the California Department of Public Health. There are strict requirements that a nursing home must meet to obtain and keep their license to operate. There are also regulations as to who the nursing home can employ and how many staff members they must have on site.
Of the nursing homes who have seen COVID-19 outbreaks, hundreds have been found to have violated federal infection-control rules. These nursing homes acted with negligence and it has caused many to lose their lives unnecessarily.
Call us today for a free COVID-19 illness or death case review
COVID-19 is a deadly coronavirus that spread quickly around the world and shut down entire countries. While some demographics were mostly spared the worst effects of the disease, our elderly population, particularly those in nursing homes saw the highest rates of infection and unfortunately some of the highest death tolls. However, it didn’t have to be this way.
As the coronavirus spread, safety guidelines were put in place by state and local governments to mitigate the spread of the virus. Proper safety protocols specifically made for nursing homes were recommended and the failure to follow them resulted in many people becoming severely ill, and lives being lost.
Nursing homes have legal obligations to protect their patients and should be held responsible if they failed to meet those obligations. Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers is here to help review your options.
Our experienced San Diego elder abuse lawyers are currently investigating claims involving the contraction of COVID-19 in nursing homes. We are ready to get justice and work for you.
If your loved one caught the coronavirus in a nursing home and suffered severe illness or died as a result, call us today at (888) 233-5020 or reach out to us online.