Can You Sue a Nursing Home for Neglect?

When nursing home neglect leads to an injury or the death of a loved one, you may be able to take legal action. Suing a nursing home for negligence allows families to seek justice and compensation to help with medical expenses and more. See if a top law firm may be able to fight for everything you deserve.

Get a Free Case Review

Why Take Legal Action?

By filing a nursing home neglect 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: LawFirm.com

Last updated: Jun 13, 2025

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Julie Rivers

Suing a Nursing Home for Negligence in 2025

Nursing home neglect occurs when a staff member fails to provide a resident with necessary care. This can lead to disastrous consequences, like infections, dehydration, malnutrition, and in extreme cases, death.

Residents and their loved ones may be able to sue a long-term care facility for neglect if the mistreatment led to an injury or wrongful death.

Did you know?

Over the past three years, hundreds of nursing homes across the country have had serious deficiencies that put vulnerable residents in immediate danger, according to ProPublica’s Nursing Home Inspect report.

Suing a nursing home for neglect can hold them accountable, put pressure on them to change their ways, and even prevent others from potentially being harmed in the future.

A nursing home abuse lawyer can let you know if you may be able to sue a nursing home for negligence, and they’ll handle all of the legal work on your behalf if you qualify. Get started right now with a free case review.

Nursing Home Negligence Lawsuit Settlements

Compensation from a nursing home negligence lawsuit may vary depending on the level of neglect, the resident’s injuries, and more.

In some cases, residents may be awarded $1 million or more when they suffer neglect that causes serious harm.

LawFirm.com works with personal injury lawyers who have recovered over $304 million for families affected by abuse and neglect.

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

$18.2 million to a woman in Rhode Island who had a heart attack in care
$1.75 million for the family of a Massachusetts resident who died in a fire caused by neglect
$1.5 million on behalf of a patient in Minnesota with stage 4 bedsores
$1.35 million to a patient in Alabama with a shoulder injury
$1.2 million for an Illinois resident who developed a kidney infection and bedsores
$890,000 to a nursing home resident in Kentucky
$625,000 for a Florida woman whose mother passed away after suffering a nursing home fall
$2 million for a man in California whose wife with dementia died within 48 hours of entering a care facility

The attorneys in our network have the resources and experience needed to pursue the most compensation possible in your case when suing for nursing home neglect.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or chat with a case manager to see if a top nursing home abuse lawyer may be able to pursue compensation for you.

Eligibility to Sue for Nursing Home Neglect

You may be able to sue a nursing home for neglect if you:

Experienced mistreatment in a nursing home or assisted living facility
Are the family member of a resident who was harmed
Represent the estate representative of a patient who passed away

If a resident cannot sue a nursing home on their own due to conditions like dementia, a loved one may be able to file on their behalf.

Compensation from a nursing home neglect lawsuit can help with medical bills, transfer to a safer facility, funeral expenses, and more.

How to Sue a Nursing Home for Neglect

Nursing home abuse attorneys handle all the legal work involved in suing a nursing home for negligence, making the process as easy and stress-free as possible.

With an experienced team fighting for justice on your family’s behalf, you can focus on your loved one’s health and well-being. Find out more about the process of working with an attorney.

1. Get a Free Case Review

The first step toward justice is getting a free case review to see if you may be able to take legal action.

We can connect victims with nursing home negligence lawyers who have a track record of success, never charge any upfront costs or hourly fees, and can help families in all 50 states.

2. Collect Evidence of Negligence

Your legal team will gather evidence to build a strong case in preparation for suing a nursing home for negligence.

Evidence for a lawsuit for nursing home neglect may include:

Doctor reports
Medical bills
Nursing home records
Photographs of injuries
Witness statements

Past complaints of neglect against the facility may also be used to show that the facility has a history of providing substandard care.

3. File Your Nursing Home Neglect Lawsuit

Your lawyer will file your nursing home lawsuit before the statute of limitations in your case. This state-specific law limits how much time you have to sue a nursing home for negligence.

Your nursing home abuse attorney can explain the timeline that applies to your case and work to ensure your lawsuit is filed before the deadline.

4. Negotiate Nursing Home Negligence Lawsuit Settlements

By negotiating with the nursing home and its insurance companies, your lawyer will attempt to secure nursing home neglect settlements that provide as much compensation as possible.

Most nursing home lawsuits end in out-of-court settlements, which typically provide families with faster access to money while avoiding the hassle of a trial.

However, if your case doesn’t settle, your team will be prepared to fight for your family in court and work to secure compensation from a verdict.

How Much Is a Neglect Case Worth?

Nursing home neglect cases award about $400,000 on average, but some residents may receive $1 million or more when abuse or neglect causes serious injuries.

Higher case values may occur when the neglect:

Is especially appalling
Led to severe harm like a brain injury or wrongful death
Occurred at the nursing home in the past
Took place over a long period

In February 2025, a Florida jury awarded $1.2 billion to a 69-year-old resident who suffered multiple falls due to inadequate supervision. The verdict included $1 billion in punitive damages to punish the facility for its negligence.

When suing a nursing home for negligence, you may be able to improve your chances of securing the compensation and justice you deserve by working with an experienced nursing home law firm.

Get a free case review now to see if a top nursing home neglect attorney may be able to fight for you.

What Is Considered Negligence in a Nursing Home?

Nursing home residents are at risk of suffering different types of neglect that can lead to injuries or worsen their current health conditions.

Four common types of nursing home neglect include:

Neglect of basic care: Caregivers are expected to provide residents with adequate water, food, and bathroom assistance. Neglecting to do so can lead to dehydration, malnutrition, and even wrongful death, especially if a patient is frail and has other health conditions.
Neglect of personal care: A resident’s clothes and bedding should be changed as needed, and their hygiene must be maintained to avoid infections and other preventable illnesses.
Medical neglect: When nursing home staff fail to attend to a resident’s health care needs, it may be considered medical malpractice. Ignoring pressure ulcers, making medication errors, and not providing medical care can result in serious harm.
Neglect of supervision: When staff fail to supervise residents, they could fall in a facility, choke on food, or be assaulted by other residents. Patients with dementias like Alzheimer’s disease are at a higher risk.

Regardless of the type of neglect your loved one suffered, the nursing home neglect attorneys in our network may be able to fight for justice and compensation on their behalf.

Our legal partners can explain how to sue a nursing home for neglect and take action if you qualify.

Signs of Nursing Home Neglect

Families may suspect a loved one is being neglected at a nursing home facility, but it can be difficult to determine what constitutes neglect.

All families should be vigilant and look for signs of nursing home neglect and elder abuse to ensure the safety and well-being of a loved one.

Warning signs of nursing home neglect include:

Bedsores
Broken bones, bruises, or burns
Dental problems
Fear or anxiety
New medical conditions
Personality changes
Poor personal hygiene
Severe weight loss
Unadministered medications
Other nursing home injuries

If there is no clear explanation for a resident’s injury or health condition, neglect or abuse may be involved.

Tip: It’s a good idea to keep a notebook and jot down any signs of abuse or neglect you may see, along with the date they occurred. This information may be helpful when suing a nursing home for negligence.

Get Help From a Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

Nursing home neglect can cause emotional damage and serious injuries to elderly residents. Tragically, it can also result in the wrongful death of a beloved family member.

The nursing home neglect attorneys in our network have dedicated their careers to advocating for the rights of our most vulnerable citizens. They can even the playing field for families and fight for justice on their behalf.

Our legal partners have secured over $304 million for victims of nursing home neglect and abuse nationwide.

There are no upfront costs or hourly fees to work with the nursing home negligence lawyers in our network, and they can help families in all 50 states.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or fill out our form to see if one of our trusted partners may be able to help your family.

Can You Sue a Nursing Home for Neglect FAQs

Can you sue a nursing home for negligence?

Yes, you may be able to sue a nursing home for negligence if the mistreatment caused you or a loved one harm.

Examples of nursing home negligence include:

Failing to prevent falls
Ignoring hygiene
Mismanaging medical conditions
Not providing proper hydration or nutrition

An experienced lawyer can explain how to sue a nursing home for neglect and act on your behalf if you have a case.

Get a free case review now to get started.

What evidence is needed to prove nursing home negligence?

Different types of evidence may be used to prove nursing home negligence and hold facilities accountable.

Evidence for proving nursing home negligence may include:

Medical records
Notes detailing what happened
Photos or video footage
Witness accounts

A nursing home negligence attorney can collect evidence to establish that a facility’s carelessness caused a resident harm and build a strong legal claim.

How much is a nursing home negligence lawsuit worth?

The amount of money that you may receive if you sue a nursing home depends on the type of mistreatment you or a loved one suffered, your damages, and other factors.

However, the average nursing home settlement is about $400,000 nationwide, with some residents securing $1 million or more in cases of severe harm.

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

How difficult is it to sue a nursing home?

Experienced nursing home lawyers make the process of suing a nursing home as easy and stress-free as possible.

A nursing home attorney can:

Collect evidence of neglect and abuse
Build a strong nursing home negligence lawsuit
Work to secure maximum compensation

With a legal team handling all aspects of suing a nursing home for negligence, you can focus on helping your loved one recover.

How successful are nursing home lawsuits?

You can increase your chances of a favorable outcome by working with a lawyer who has successfully handled nursing home lawsuits in the past.

The nursing home lawyers in our network have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for neglect and abuse victims across the country.

Get a free case review now to find out if one of our trusted legal partners may be able to fight for you.

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.