Florida Nursing Home Abuse Damages

Family members place their elderly loved ones in nursing facilities with the expectation of high-quality care. When negligence or abuse occurs it can feel like an extreme violation of trust. Someone who has experienced abuse or believes a family member has been abused may benefit from learning about Florida nursing home abuse damages. A dedicated nursing home abuse lawyer could review the factors surrounding a person’s case and work to hold negligent or abusive parties accountable for their actions. Call today and arrange for an appointment to start reviewing your legal options.

Economic vs. Non-Economic Damages in a Nursing Home Abuse Case

Economic damages may include past and future medical expenses, funeral expenses, expenses for future care and treatment for the abused person, and past and future lost wages. They are generally easier to calculate because they are solid numbers.

Non-economic damages are typically damages for pain and suffering, loss of capacity for enjoyment of life, loss of companionship of a loved one, and the loss of support and services of a loved one. Those things are hard to put a number or value on. Money does not automatically heal a person’s physical and mental wounds, but may help someone move forward.

Potential Impact of Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are damages above and beyond the economic and non-economic damages. They are meant to punish somebody who acted extremely recklessly or injured someone intentionally. Punitive damages are not given in every single case. A well-practiced nursing home abuse lawyer must file a motion and show certain evidence for punitive damages to be considered. Most cases do not have punitive damages. These types of Florida nursing home abuse damages are meant to punish a person for their egregious conduct.

In some instances, punitive damages may be leveraged when a person’s conduct is intentional or they were proven to have exhibit grossly negligent conduct towards the injured individual. A plaintiff generally needs to show clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s actions were negligent and strongly deviated from the standard of care.

Calculating Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are typically calculated by the jury in Florida. It is an amount meant to punish the defendant for what they did. Non-economic and economic damages try to make the plaintiff whole. They are not meant to punish someone. Punitive damages may be calculated by multiplying the compensatory damages by some applicable factor. As an example, two or three times the amount of the compensatory damages awarded to the plaintiff. An injured person may benefit substantially from requesting their attorney to confer with an economic expert to help determine an acceptable amount of punitive damages.

Contact a Knowledgeable Attorney About Nursing Home Abuse Damages in Florida

With a variety of potential Florida nursing home abuse damages that may be applicable to your case, it may be important to seek quality legal counsel. If you suspect that a loved one has experienced severe neglect or abuse while living in a nursing home facility contact a steadfast nursing home abuse lawyer. They could help you fight for justice and fiercely advocate on your loved one’s behalf. Neglect and abuse in care facilities is unacceptable. Take action and call an attorney to schedule an appointment today.