Elder Abuse Wrongful Death Lawyer
Pennsylvania Lawyers Represent Clients with Elder Abuse Wrongful Death Claims in Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Throughout Southeast PA
At some point, many of us are forced to choose someone to care for our elderly loved ones. That caregiver may be a nursing home, in-home health care provider or another trusted family member. None of us expect that our loved ones will be subject to elder abuse. All too often, that elder abuse results in a death that was entirely premature and preventable.
At Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg, and Gifford, our trusted wrongful death lawyers take our responsibilities in elder abuse cases extremely seriously. Our firm has been advocating for victims’ rights in Bucks County wrongful death cases for over 65 years. We pride ourselves on our award-winning legal services—and the fact that our clients can count on us every step of the way.
Involved In A Elder Abuse Wrongful Death Claim And Have Questions? We Can Help, Tell Us What Happened.
If you suspect some form of elder abuse caused your loved one’s death, it’s important to trust your instincts. This is the case regardless of what you’re told about your loved one’s cause of death. We work tirelessly to identify the true cause of death so that we can hold the responsible party accountable for your family’s loss.
Our wrongful death lawyers represent clients grieving lost loved ones throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. To schedule your free initial consultation, call or contact our lawyers today.
Get Advice From An Experienced Wrongful Death Attorney. All You Have To Do Is Call 215-822-7575 To Receive Your Free Case Evaluation.
Possible Causes of Elder Abuse Wrongful Death
Elderly patients—especially those admitted into nursing homes or assisted living facilities—are at an unfortunately high risk for abuse. A similar risk exists when health aides are employed to help your loved one in the home. In the hands of the wrong people, your elderly loved one could potentially be subject to:
- Physical abuse,
- Sexual abuse,
- Emotional abuse,
- Financial abuse.
In many cases, however, elderly individuals are harmed by the gross neglect of those charged with providing care. Sometimes that neglect is intentional. It is possible, however, that the root cause of your loved one’s wrongful death was:
- Understaffing,
- Poorly trained health aides or nursing home staff,
- Lack of experience,
- Under-funded facilities.
For example, elder abuse wrongful death claim can arise from situations involving:
- Infected bed sores, where someone neglected to properly turn the bed-bound individual,
- Unsanitary conditions, which can lead to infection in elderly patients,
- Malnutrition, whether from lack of funding or failure to recognize the elderly individual had stopped eating,
- Complications from procedures such as hip replacements, where someone failed to properly monitor your loved one’s progress and symptoms,
- Deep vein thrombosis, which are blood clots caused by immobility in elderly patients,
- Falls caused by failure to help the elderly patient stand or move from one place to another,
- Medication errors, which can be caused by lack of experience, training and supervision.
Neglect is a form of abuse. If you believe that outright abuse or neglect caused your elderly loved one’s death, contact our Bristol, PA wrongful death lawyers for a free consultation today.
Experienced Elder Abuse Wrongful Death Lawyers Ask the Right Questions to Get Answers in Your Case
In many elder abuse wrongful death cases caused by neglect, the cause of death listed on your loved one’s death certificate might not reflect the true cause. Your loved one may have died of heart failure—but was that heart failure caused by extreme dehydration? If your loved one died of complications after a routine procedure—could the death have been prevented with proper care?
Sometimes extreme physical elder abuse can result in death. The physical signs in these cases may be clear. Often, the evidence is much less clear and you simply suspect that something terrible went wrong.
At Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg, and Gifford, our investigation will include:
- Examining and analyzing training manuals and procedures in place in a nursing or medical facility where your loved one resided,
- Locating and examining your loved one’s medical reports,
- Consulting with medical experts who can help determine the actual cause of death,
- Locating records of any previous safety violations of the facility or in-home care provider,
- Visiting the facility itself if possible,
- Interviewing witnesses, including in situations where a friend or family member was tasked with care.
We work to obtain full compensation awards both to protect your family’s finances and hold the abuser responsible. Compensation awards in elder abuse wrongful death claims should include:
- Medical bills,
- Funeral and burial expenses,
- Loss of employment-related benefits (for example, lost retirement benefits, such as a pension),
- Pain and suffering,
- Emotional distress,
- Loss of companionship,
- Punitive damages.
Call Our Experienced Elder Abuse Wrongful Death Lawyers for a Free Consultation Today
We all want to be there for our elderly loved ones. Unfortunately, life’s responsibilities don’t always make this possible—and abuse that comes in the form of neglect can be difficult to identify until it’s too late.
At Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg, and Gifford, our wrongful death lawyers understand that pursuing your right to compensation via a wrongful death lawsuit can bring up painful emotions. We’re here to listen to your story and explain your possible options for holding the responsible party accountable. To schedule your free initial case evaluation, call our office or contact us online today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Claims Based on Elder Abuse
Not always. Cases involving elder abuse wrongful death that took place in a nursing home, medical facility or assisted living facility are often resolved outside court. Similarly, agencies that employ in-home health aides often settle out of court. These facilities have an incentive to avoid the bad press of an elder abuse wrongful death case. If the elder abuse took place at the hands of a family member or loved one, the situation may be more complex. These individuals are likely reluctant to settle, seeing it as an admission of wrongdoing. Similarly, they may not have insurance to back them up.
No. Punitive damages are designed to punish the responsible party. However, these damages are typically only available when that party intended to cause harm. Punitive damages can also be available in elder abuse wrongful death cases where the responsible party’s acts were especially shocking. Our wrongful death lawyers will pursue these damages if appropriate to hold the responsible party fully accountable for your loved one’s death.
