Chicago Nursing Home Wrongful Death Lawyers

Helping Family Members Recover Compensation Through Wrongful Death Claims in Chicago 

The Chicago nursing home wrongful death lawyers at the Nursing Home Law Center are committed to helping families who have lost a loved one due to elder abuse or neglect. Losing someone under such circumstances is heartbreaking, and your family deserves both answers and accountability. 

Our legal team works to hold negligent facilities responsible, offering compassionate guidance while you navigate this difficult time. We’re here to help you uncover the truth, seek justice, and protect other families from similar tragedies. Contact us today to discuss your legal options.

Wrongful Death Settlements – Holding Negligent Nursing Homes Accountable

Wrongful death settlements allow families to hold negligent nursing homes responsible for the harm they cause. Below are some of the substantial amounts we’ve recovered on behalf of clients who lost loved ones due to preventable incidents.

• $3,000,000 settlement for the death of a woman’s husband who developed fatal pressure sores after being admitted to a skilled nursing facility following hip replacement surgery.
• $2,150,000 settlement for a wrongful death lawsuit involving bedsores acquired in a facility that led to sepsis.
• $815,000 settlement after nursing home staff ignored a physician’s orders for a soft diet and served a stroke patient a hot dog, resulting in choking. Delayed emergency response led to his death. 

What Constitutes Nursing Home Wrongful Death?

Wrongful death in a long-term care setting can occur under several circumstances, leaving families devastated and searching for answers. Below are examples of situations that may lead to a wrongful death claim:

Negligence – Failure to Provide Proper Care  

Negligence might involve staff ignoring signs of infection, dehydration, or malnutrition, resulting in severe health complications or death. For example, if a resident develops an untreated bed sore that leads to sepsis, this could be considered either nursing home negligence or medical malpractice. 

Physical Abuse or Mistreatment by Staff or Other Residents 

Nursing home abuse can take many forms, including hitting, restraining, or otherwise intentionally causing harm to residents. 

For instance, if a staff member uses excessive force while moving a nursing home resident, leading to a fatal injury like head trauma, this could lead to a wrongful death claim. When staff doesn’t prevent violence between residents, it can have similarly tragic results.

Unsafe Conditions or Preventable Medical Errors 

Nursing homes are responsible for maintaining a safe environment and ensuring proper medical care for their nursing home residents. Hazards such as slippery floors, poor lighting, or defective equipment can lead to fatal fall accidents. 

Additionally, medication errors, like prescribing the wrong medication or failing to administer necessary medications, may result in preventable deaths and medical malpractice nursing home claims.

Leading Causes of Wrongful Death in Nursing Homes 

Many long-term care facility deaths are the result of preventable neglect. Some of the most common situations where this occurs include the following: 

• Untreated infections and sepsis: Neglected infections can rapidly worsen, progressing into sepsis, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. When staff fail to identify or treat early signs of infection, the consequences can be devastating.
• Choking due to lack of supervision: Residents with swallowing difficulties often need close monitoring during meals. If staff fail to provide assistance or supervision, choking incidents be fatal.
• Falls resulting in fatal injuries: Falls are a common risk in these settings, especially for elderly individuals with mobility challenges. A lack of proper safety measures, like handrails or assistive devices, can lead to tragic accidents.
• Malnutrition and dehydration: Failing to ensure nursing home residents are receiving adequate nutrition and hydration can weaken their health and immune systems. This can lead to severe complications and eventual fatalities.
• Medication errors leading to overdose or organ failure: Mistakes in prescribing, administering, or monitoring medication can result in serious harm to residents. Overdoses or incorrect dosages may lead to organ failure or other life-threatening reactions.
• Bedsores that become infected and cause life-threatening complications: Bedsores, or pressure ulcers, are preventable with proper care and regular repositioning of immobile residents. When left untreated, severe infections can develop, endangering the resident’s life. 

If your loved one’s death resulted from any of these issues, it may be considered a wrongful death, and you could have grounds to take legal action.   

Family Members’ Rights in a Nursing Home Wrongful Death Case

Families who have lost a loved one in a care facility may wonder about their rights and the steps they can take to seek justice. Below are some of the rights they have:

• Seek answers about the circumstances surrounding their loved one’s death. They can request medical files, incident reports, and staff interviews to find out what really happened. Gathering this information helps determine if the facility failed to meet proper care standards.
• Hold facilities accountable for negligence. By pursuing legal action, families can shine a light on poor practices that contributed to preventable death. This process can also encourage improvements in staff training and oversight.
• Recover damages for funeral costs, emotional distress, and financial losses. A successful wrongful death lawsuit might cover final arrangements, replace income that was lost, and compensation for the heartbreak of losing a loved one.   

A wrongful death lawsuit can also protect other vulnerable residents by bringing attention to ongoing problems at the facility.  

How Our Law Firm Can Help with Your Wrongful Death Claim

​​Losing a loved one in a nursing home can be overwhelming, and our firm is committed to guiding you through this difficult process. 

We begin by listening to your story and reviewing the facts surrounding the loss of your loved one. Our wrongful death attorneys collect relevant documents, interview witnesses, and gather facility records that may reveal wrongdoing.    

We carefully examine health charts, staff logs, and facility incident reports to identify oversights or hidden problems. By comparing those findings to accepted healthcare guidelines, we highlight areas where the home fell short.    

We turn to medical experts who can interpret clinical details and point to substandard care. Their insight reveals how staff actions or inactions contributed to a preventable death.  

We try to resolve wrongful death claims quickly by working toward a settlement, saving you time and stress. If the nursing facility refuses to offer a fair amount, we won’t hesitate to present the case before a judge or jury.  

We fight aggressively for justice so that your family can focus on healing. 

Proving Wrongful Death in a Nursing Home Case

Pursuing a wrongful death claim generally requires showing that the facility’s negligence contributed to your loved one’s passing. To do this, you must prove the following four elements:

The Nursing Home Owed Your Loved One a Duty of Care

Proving that the nursing home owed your loved one a duty of care is usually the easiest step. Nursing homes are legally required to offer an environment that supports residents’ daily and medical needs. This includes meeting basic requirements like nutrition, hygiene, and prompt attention to health concerns.    

The Facility Breached That Duty

Next, you must prove that they breached that duty of care. Staff may have overlooked severe symptoms, provided improper treatment, or left individuals unsupervised. These lapses can mean the nursing home didn’t meet accepted standards of care. Ignoring important guidelines often leads to injuries or fatalities that could have been prevented. 

The Breach Caused You Loved One’s Death

Showing that the nursing home’s actions or inaction led to a preventable death is essential. For instance, if staff failed to monitor your loved one’s condition and it worsened without treatment, you should be able to show causation.

The Passing of Your Loved One Led to Damages

The final element of negligence in a wrongful death legal claim is damages. Families must show that their loved one’s death caused them financial or emotional harm, such as funeral expenses, medical bills, or loss of companionship.   

With legal representation, families have a higher chance of securing compensation for their loss. Experienced wrongful death attorneys understand how to investigate incidents, gather evidence, and present a case that shows the facility’s failings.   

Compensation for Nursing Home Wrongful Death  

When a loved one has died in a long-term care facility because of neglect, surviving family members can seek financial relief for the hardships they’ve faced (through a personal representative who files on their behalf). A wrongful death claim helps cover the following losses:

• Medical Expenses Before the Resident’s Passing: This includes hospital stays, medication costs, and treatments that arose because of the home’s negligent actions.  
• Funeral and Burial Costs: Loved ones may recover expenses for final arrangements like services, caskets, and memorials. This helps ensure families aren’t left struggling with sudden financial responsibilities.
• Pain and Suffering Endured By The Deceased: Courts sometimes recognize the resident’s physical or emotional distress before their death. By awarding damages, they acknowledge the trauma the nursing home resident experienced. 
• Loss of Companionship For Surviving Family Members: This addresses the emotional impact and absence of affection a family faces once their loved one passes away. 
• Punitive Damages to Punish Reckless Negligence: If the facility’s behavior was particularly egregious, courts may add financial penalties as a punishment and deterrent for future behavior.

These financial awards are designed to lighten the load on families who have already gone through far too much.

Consult a Chicago Nursing Home Wrongful Death Attorney Near You! 

Losing a loved one because of nursing home negligence can feel overwhelming, and you shouldn’t have to face it alone. Our personal injury and wrongful death firm has extensive experience handling wrongful death claims and will stand by you through every step, fighting to protect your family’s interests. Contact our lawyers for a free consultation to learn how we can help.

Call (800) 926-7565 or complete our online contact form to speak with a Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer.