You may be able to sue a nursing home for sepsis if the life-threatening reaction is the result of someone else’s negligence, such as untreated bedsores, poor hygiene, or failure to manage an infection. Those dealing with sepsis and their families could pursue compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses.
If your family member lives in a nursing home and has been diagnosed with sepsis, you may wonder if you’re able to sue the facility. At this point, you may have grounds to sue, depending on whether negligence was involved. However, to get compensation, you will have to prove that the facility breached its duty of care to your loved one.
Legal help is available if you want to sue a loved one’s nursing home for sepsis. Partner with an Atlanta nursing home sepsis lawyer as you take legal action against the facility. As your legal advocate and representative, your attorney can build your case around negligence.
Can You Sue a Nursing Home for Sepsis in Georgia?
In Georgia, you could sue a nursing home if a family member living at this facility is diagnosed with sepsis caused by someone else’s negligence. To get compensation, you will have to prove that any liable parties acted negligently, which contributed to your loved one’s sepsis symptoms. Here are factors to consider before you file a sepsis lawsuit against a nursing home:
- Indicators of negligence: Sepsis in nursing homes is often related to an infection caused by neglect. Based on this, if your family member reports pressure ulcers, a urinary tract infection (UTI) from poor catheter care, or pneumonia, these may be indicators of negligence that led to their sepsis.
- Liability: In your lawsuit, you typically must show that a nursing facility didn’t provide your loved one with a safe and sanitary environment, which caused their infection or allowed it to progress.
- Statute of limitations: Georgia generally has a statute of limitations of two years from the date of an injury or the day it was discovered to file a lawsuit against any responsible parties, though some exceptions may apply. If your loved one’s sepsis is fatal, you may have two years from the date of death to submit a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf.
Have an Atlanta nursing home abuse lawyer evaluate your sepsis case. Your attorney can answer any questions you have about what a sepsis lawsuit entails. If you are eligible to file a lawsuit and are ready to move forward with one, your lawyer can guide you through your legal proceedings.
What Is a Nursing Home Lawsuit for Sepsis Worth?
The compensation you may be able to receive if you file a lawsuit against a nursing home due to your loved one having to deal with sepsis and septic shock will depend on the quantifiable and subjective losses associated with your case. Some of the reasons why a judge or jury may award compensatory damages in nursing home sepsis lawsuits include:
- Pain and suffering: The court could award these damages for your loved one’s emotional and physical distress from the sepsis that they suffered during their time at a nursing home.
- Medical bills: You could receive compensation for your loved one’s hospital stays, doctors’ visits, and ongoing medical care for their sepsis symptoms.
- Relocation costs: If your family member’s sepsis necessitates a move to a new home, you may get damages for what you have to spend for your loved one’s relocation.
- Wrongful death damages: It’s devastating to lose a family member because of sepsis that may have occurred due to an assisted living facility’s negligence. Following your tragic loss, you could seek compensation for your family member’s burial and funeral expenses and other wrongful death damages.
Nursing home abuse attorneys can teach about sepsis and the types of compensatory damages that may be available to you if you file a lawsuit. Once your lawsuit is submitted, your lawyer can handle the legal aspects of your case while you focus on caring for your loved one and their sepsis symptoms.
Should You Sue a Nursing Facility for Sepsis?
If a member of your family lives in a nursing home and has been diagnosed with sepsis due to the facility’s negligence, it may be worth considering a lawsuit. Ultimately, if your lawsuit is successful, you could recover economic and non–economic damages.
Suing a nursing facility for sepsis may be a viable option if your family member has reported symptoms of septic shock that affect their health, well-being, and safety. If there is evidence linking your loved one’s sepsis symptoms to neglect or substandard care, you could have a strong case against the nursing home where your loved one resides.
There are times when sepsis in a nursing home is fatal. It’s incredibly sad to lose a family member due to sepsis. But remember, if a nursing home may be liable, a lawsuit could be an opportunity to hold the facility responsible for its negligence. Your lawsuit may allow you to get compensation from the facility. Plus, it could encourage improved care practices at the facility.
Learn More About How to Sue for Sepsis in Nursing Homes
Those interested in suing a nursing home for sepsis should request legal help. A consultation with nursing home abuse attorneys is an opportunity to evaluate your legal options and determine if you’re eligible to sue.
At Schenk Nursing Home Abuse Law, nursing home abuse and neglect law is all we do. We have recovered millions of dollars for residents of nursing homes and their families. Our team can give you information about nursing home sepsis lawsuits and help you decide whether to file one.
We offer free consultations to those debating whether to submit a lawsuit for sepsis in a nursing home. Contact us today.