Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit

If your loved one has been harmed in a nursing home, you may be able to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit and seek compensation for their medical bills, pain and suffering, and more. Some families have received $1 million or more from nursing home abuse lawsuits. See if a top lawyer can help you take legal action.

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Why Take Legal Action?

By filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit, you can seek financial compensation and justice from those who caused you or a loved one harm.

Results Secured

$2.2 million for a Rhode Island resident who had a heart attack
$2 million for the family of a California patient with dementia who passed away due to negligence
$1.5 million for a woman in Minnesota with stage 4 bedsores

Written by: Rae Theodore

Last updated: Aug 13, 2025

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Julie Rivers

Understanding Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits

A nursing home abuse lawsuit is a legal claim that’s filed when a resident in a long-term care facility is harmed due to neglect, mistreatment, or abuse. The victim or their family may bring these lawsuits to seek justice and financial compensation.

Compensation from a nursing home lawsuit can help cover:

Medical treatment and rehabilitation costs
Pain and suffering or emotional distress
Relocation to a safer, higher-quality facility

Filing a nursing home lawsuit can also hold the facility and any responsible staff members accountable, helping to protect other residents from future harm.

At LawFirm.com, we work with top nursing home abuse attorneys who can handle every step of the legal process, so you can focus on your loved one’s safety and well-being.

Our trusted legal partners have recovered over $314 million for victims of nursing home abuse across the country. Get a free case review right now to see if they can help your family pursue justice.

Nursing Home Lawsuit Settlements & Verdicts

When a loved one suffers abuse or neglect in a nursing home, the emotional and financial toll can be overwhelming. Most nursing home abuse lawsuits end in settlements, meaning families may be able to receive compensation without going to court.

Nursing home settlements and verdicts secured by our legal partners include:

$18.2 million to a Rhode Island woman who suffered a heart attack due to poor care
$2 million for a California woman with dementia who died after being denied treatment
$1.75 million to the family of a Massachusetts man who died in a nursing home fire caused by neglect
$1.35 million for an Alabama resident who suffered a severe shoulder injury
$1.18 million to a nursing home patient in Indiana
$1.11 million for a Florida woman who had a heart attack while under care
$1 million to a California man whose mother died in a facility
$890,000 for a woman in Kentucky harmed by neglect
$600,000 to a Massachusetts patient with Alzheimer’s disease
$500,000 for a diabetic resident in New York who suffered complications
$1.5 million to a Minnesota woman who developed stage 4 bedsores in a facility
$2 million for the family of a Massachusetts resident who passed away from an untreated catheter infection

Case values vary based on the type of abuse, severity of injuries, and more. However, an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer will fight to get your family the most compensation possible.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or chat with a case manager to see if we may be able to help you pursue a nursing home lawsuit settlement.

Can I File a Nursing Homes Lawsuit?

You may be eligible to file a nursing home lawsuit if your loved one was harmed in a long-term care facility. These lawsuits help families seek compensation while working to hold negligent facilities accountable.

You may be able to take legal action if you:

Were injured or mistreated in a nursing home
Are the family member or legal guardian of an injured resident
Serve as the executor of the estate in a wrongful death nursing home lawsuit

If your loved one has a health condition like dementia or is otherwise unable to speak for themselves, whoever has power of attorney may be able to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit on their behalf.

Types of Lawsuits Against Assisted Living Facilities & Nursing Homes

Seniors often turn to nursing homes when they can no longer care for themselves. Sadly, some staff members may neglect older residents or even cause them physical harm.

Find out about the different types of abuse that can result in a nursing home lawsuit.

Lawsuits for Physical Abuse in Nursing Homes

Physical abuse in nursing homes occurs when a staff member causes harm by using force or violence. It includes hitting, kicking, pushing, or slapping.

Nearly 10% of nursing home staff members admitted to physically harming those in their care, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Unexplained injuries like broken bones, bruises, cuts, and burns are warning signs that a loved one may have been physically abused by a staff member. The resident may also be afraid of caregivers due to the abuse they’ve suffered.

Nursing Home Neglect Lawsuits

Nursing home neglect occurs when staff fail to meet basic standards of care, leading to a resident’s physical or psychological injury.

Examples of nursing home neglect include:

Ignoring a senior’s medical care or dental needs
Incorrectly positioning a bedbound patient, causing bedsores (pressure sores)
Leaving a resident in their room for long periods, resulting in depression and isolation
Failing to help a resident with personal hygiene or toileting needs
Providing inadequate food and hydration, leading to malnutrition or dehydration

Even if the harm wasn’t intentional, nursing homes have a duty to provide basic care. When they fail, families can sue a nursing home for neglect to pursue the compensation and justice they deserve.

Lawsuits for Falls in Nursing Homes

About half of all nursing home residents suffer at least one fall per year, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Falls can lead to serious injuries, like broken bones, brain damage, spinal injuries, and even death.

A nursing home fall lawsuit can hold care facilities responsible for creating an unsafe environment that results in a fall injury.

Examples of risk factors for falls include:

Cluttered areas
Lack of supervision
Poor lighting
Unstable furniture
Wet floors

Compensation from a successful nursing home falls lawsuit can help families pay for medical bills and related expenses when negligence played a role. See if you may be eligible with a free, no-obligation case review.

Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Nursing homes should be safe spaces where seniors can live out the rest of their lives in peace. However, employees or other residents may prey on those who are vulnerable, especially when care facilities fail to monitor their activities.

Signs of nursing home sexual assault may include:

Appearing anxious, depressed, or afraid
Bruises or wounds around the genitals
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

Victims may be reluctant to report the abuse, especially if the abuser has threatened them. If they suffer from dementia, they may be unable to tell someone what happened.

After you’ve ensured that your relative is safe, consider filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit to hold the perpetrators accountable and seek justice on your loved one’s behalf.

Nursing Home Wrongful Death Lawsuits

Tragically, nursing home abuse or neglect can lead to the death of a loved one. Many residents are already medically vulnerable, and even minor injuries or infections can become life-threatening if not properly treated.

Wrongful death in a nursing home may result from:

Physical abuse, such as assaults or rough handling
Neglect, including untreated infections, dehydration, or malnutrition
Medical errors, like incorrect medications or failure to monitor serious conditions
Unsafe conditions, such as fires, falls, or lack of supervision

If your loved one passed away due to abuse or negligence, your family may be able to file a nursing home wrongful death lawsuit. Compensation can help cover funeral expenses, unpaid medical bills, loss of companionship, and more.

Class Action Lawsuits Against Nursing Homes

In some cases, multiple residents or families may be harmed by the same nursing home or assisted living facility. When this happens, a class action lawsuit may be filed on behalf of a group of victims instead of pursuing individual cases.

Class action nursing home lawsuits often involve:

Staffing shortages or poor hiring practices leading to repeated harm
Unsanitary conditions or failure to follow safety protocols
Violations of residents’ rights under state or federal law
Widespread neglect or abuse affecting many residents

Class action lawsuits can hold large nursing home chains accountable for systemic problems, potentially leading to major settlements or policy changes that improve conditions for all residents.

Did you know?

A federal judge has allowed a lawsuit against the Maryland Health Department to move forward as a class action on behalf of over 9,000 nursing home residents with disabilities. The case claims the state’s failure to conduct required inspections put residents at risk of serious harm.

Regardless of the type of mistreatment involved, the lawyers in our network can file a nursing home abuse lawsuit on behalf of affected families and fight for maximum compensation.

Get a free case review now to see if an experienced attorney may be able to help you file a nursing home abuse lawsuit and pursue the compensation your family deserves.

How to File a Lawsuit Against a Nursing Home

Filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit may sound overwhelming, but the right attorney can make the process as stress-free as possible. A skilled lawyer can handle the legal work while you focus on caring for your loved one.

Here’s how a nursing home abuse attorney can help:

Review your case for free to determine if you qualify to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit
Gather evidence of abuse or neglect, including medical records, witness statements, and facility inspection reports
File the lawsuit against the assisted living facility, nursing home, or other long-term care facility
Negotiate a settlement to cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages
Take your case to court if a settlement isn’t reached and seek compensation from a jury verdict

An experienced nursing home abuse attorney will fight for the maximum compensation available and work to resolve your case as quickly as possible, so your loved one can be moved to a safer environment.

Deadlines for Nursing Home Lawsuits

You only have a limited amount of time to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit due to state laws known as statutes of limitations. These laws prevent you from taking legal action after a set period of time.

Each state has a different statute of limitations, but in most cases, victims have 2 to 3 years to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit.

Once this deadline passes, you may miss your chance at the justice and compensation you deserve. The best way to protect your legal rights is to reach out to a nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible.

Our Free Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney can help you find the best legal professional for your case.

How Long Does a Nursing Home Lawsuit Take?

The timeline for a nursing home abuse lawsuit can vary depending on the details of the case. Some cases may settle in just a few months, while others, especially those that go to trial, may take longer.

Factors like the strength of your evidence, how severe the injuries or neglect were, and whether the nursing home is willing to settle or chooses to fight the case can all play a role in how long your case takes.

In many cases, skilled nursing home abuse attorneys can secure a settlement without going to trial, which may help families receive compensation faster. A lawyer can give you a better idea of your expected timeline after reviewing your case.

Reasons to File Lawsuits Against Nursing Homes

Nursing home lawsuits are a way to hold negligent facilities accountable for the harm they’ve caused and seek justice for your loved one.

Other reasons to consider filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit include:

Honoring the memory of your family member in the case of wrongful death
Making the public aware that the nursing home is unsafe
Motivating the facility to change its policies and procedures, potentially protecting other residents from harm
Pursuing financial compensation to help pay for medical bills, everyday living expenses, and more

Many families have expressed that a nursing home lawsuit helped them achieve a sense of closure and move forward with their lives.

Get Help Taking Legal Action for Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing homes have a responsibility to keep residents safe from harm. When they fail to do so, a law firm can step in and file a nursing home abuse lawsuit on behalf of those who have been injured.

LawFirm.com works with nursing home law firms that have recovered over $314 million for victims nationwide.

Our legal partners:

Can help clients in all 50 states
Have decades of experience
Never charge any upfront costs or hourly fees

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or complete our form to see if they may be able to fight for the justice you deserve.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit FAQs

Which type of claim is most commonly brought against nursing homes in private actions?

The most common type of claim filed against nursing homes is for negligence. These lawsuits often involve allegations that the facility failed to provide proper care, leading to serious harm like bedsores, preventable falls, or infections like sepsis.

Other frequent claims include medical malpractice and abuse by staff or other residents.

If you or a loved one has been harmed, we may be able to help. Get started now with a free, no-obligation case review.

What are my chances of winning a nursing home lawsuit?

Your chances of winning a nursing home lawsuit are higher if you have strong evidence and work with an experienced attorney.

A nursing home abuse lawyer can work behind the scenes to collect evidence showing that the nursing home failed in its duty of care. With a legal professional shouldering the bulk of the work, you can focus on getting the care you need.

How much can you sue a nursing home for?

The value of a nursing home abuse lawsuit varies depending on the severity of the harm, medical expenses, and emotional distress. On average, families recover about $400,000, but in severe cases, awards can exceed $1 million.

A qualified nursing home abuse lawyer can help estimate your potential compensation based on the facts of your case.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now to see if we can connect you with a top nursing home abuse lawyer near you.

What type of attorney do I need to sue a nursing home?

To sue a nursing home, you need a nursing home abuse attorney or a personal injury lawyer with experience in elder abuse and neglect cases. These attorneys understand the laws and regulations governing long-term care facilities and know how to build strong cases to hold them accountable.

What evidence is needed for a successful nursing home lawsuit?

To win a nursing home abuse or neglect lawsuit, you’ll need strong evidence showing the facility failed to provide proper care and that this failure caused harm.

Common types of evidence include:

Expert testimony on the standard of care
Facility inspection reports or prior violation citations
Medical records documenting injuries or changes in health
Photographs or videos of injuries or unsafe conditions
Witness statements from staff, residents, or family members

An experienced nursing home abuse lawyer can collect, organize, and present this evidence to build the strongest case possible and fight for justice on your behalf.

How much does it cost to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit?

When you work with the nursing home abuse lawyers in our network, it costs nothing upfront to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit. The attorneys we work with operate on a contingency fee basis, which means no hourly fees and no upfront payments.

You only pay if they secure compensation for your family. This allows you to pursue justice without worrying about out-of-pocket legal costs. If there’s no recovery, you owe nothing.

How can I get help with a nursing home abuse lawsuit?

LawFirm.com has a network of experienced lawyers who have recovered over $314 million for nursing home abuse victims and their families.

Our legal partners can help victims in all 50 states, and they only get paid if they secure compensation for you. Get a free case review now to get the legal help you deserve.

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Julie RiversEldercare Advocate

Editor

Julie Rivers is a dedicated eldercare advocate with over 15 years of experience in nursing home neglect and abuse cases. Inspired by her mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s, she blends legal expertise and personal passion to support victims. An MBA graduate and active Alzheimer’s Association volunteer, Julie fights for better eldercare policies and justice for affected families.