The consequences of a nursing home medication mistake can be devastating. If your family member was injured because of a medication-related error, a Clearwater medication error lawyer can help you seek damages.
The team at Distasio Law Firm has over 35 years of combined experience. We handle all nursing home abuse cases in-house, and we have the resources to stand up to large corporate nursing home chains.
If your loved one was harmed because of a mistake with their medication, a nursing home medication error lawyer in Clearwater from our firm can help you pursue compensation.
The Role of a Clearwater Nursing Home Medication Error Lawyer
Nursing home abuse cases often require an extensive investigation and collaboration with experts.
A Clearwater medical malpractice lawyer can assist with your case by:
- Investigating the incident: A lawyer can collect medical records, medication administration logs, witness statements, and facility documentation to determine exactly what happened and who is responsible.
- Calculating damages: An attorney can evaluate you and your family’s economic and non-economic losses and calculate the value of your claim.
- Working with medical experts: A lawyer can consult healthcare professionals who can explain how the medication mistake caused your loved one’s injuries.
- Negotiating with insurance companies: An attorney can communicate with insurers and defense attorneys and work to secure a fair settlement.
- Representing you in court: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, a lawyer can present your case in court.
For a free legal consultation with a Nursing Home Medication Error Lawyer serving Clearwater, call (813) 259 0022
What Types of Compensation Are Available?
If your loved one was injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Hospital bills
- Rehabilitation costs
- Prescription medications
- Future medical care
- Costs of transferring your loved one to another facility
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability
- Wrongful death damages (if the medication error proves fatal)
A Clearwater personal injury lawyer can help make sure you and your family are compensated for all of your losses.
Clearwater Nursing Home Medication Error Lawyer Near Me (813) 259 0022
How Long Do You Have to File a Medication Error Claim in Florida?
The deadline for filing a nursing home medication error lawsuit in Florida depends on how the mistake occurred. If it resulted from the negligence of a healthcare provider, it will likely qualify as medical malpractice, which means you would have two years from the date the injury was discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered) to file a lawsuit.
Florida also imposes a four-year statute of repose on medical malpractice claims, meaning you cannot file a lawsuit more than four years after the medication error occurred, regardless of when you discovered your loved one’s injury.
If the medication error resulted from the nursing home’s failure to provide appropriate care, such as inadequate staffing, poor training, or improper medication administration, it would constitute nursing home negligence. These claims generally must also be filed within two years of discovering the injury, but they are not subject to a statute of repose.
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Who Is Liable for a Nursing Home Medication Error?
Several individuals or organizations may share responsibility for nursing home neglect, depending on how the mistake occurred. Potentially liable parties include:
- The nursing home
- Registered nurses
- Licensed practical nurses
- Certified nursing assistants
- Treating physicians
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy companies
- Medical directors
- Third-party healthcare contractors
- Corporate owners of the nursing home
A nursing home medication error attorney in Clearwater can investigate your case and identify who is responsible for your loved one’s injuries.
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What Is a Nursing Home Medication Error?
A medication error occurs when a resident receives medication in a way that differs from their healthcare provider’s instructions or accepted medical standards. While some errors result in minor complications, others can have life-threatening consequences, especially for elderly residents with chronic medical conditions.
Medication errors can occur during the prescribing, dispensing, administering, monitoring, or documenting of medications.
Common Types of Nursing Home Medication Errors
Medication mistakes can occur in different ways. Some of the most common ones include:
- Giving the wrong medication
- Administering the wrong dosage
- Missing a scheduled dose
- Giving medication at the wrong time
- Administering medication to the wrong resident
- Failing to recognize dangerous drug interactions
- Crushing medications that should not be crushed
- Continuing medications that should have been discontinued
- Giving medication despite documented allergies
- Failing to monitor residents after administering high-risk medications
Common Warning Signs of a Medication Error
The effects of a medication error aren’t always obvious. When visiting your loved one, you should be cognizant of:
- Sudden confusion
- Excessive drowsiness
- Difficulty waking
- Falls
- Unexplained bruises
- Low blood pressure
- High blood pressure
- Breathing problems
- Allergic reactions
- Seizures
- Loss of appetite
- Rapid weight loss
- Hallucinations
- Unusual behavior
- Unexpected hospitalization
Steps to Take if You Suspect a Nursing Home Medication Error in Clearwater
If you suspect nursing home neglect resulted in your loved one’s injury, it’s crucial to:
- Take them to a doctor.
- Ask their healthcare providers about the medications involved in the incident.
- Request copies of their medical records.
- Keep a timeline of their symptoms and recovery.
- Photograph visible injuries (if applicable).
- Notify the nursing home’s administrator or director of nursing about your concerns in writing and file a complaint with the state.
- Save medication bottles or packaging (if available).
- Write down the details of any conversations you have with nursing home staff.
- Speak with other residents or visitors who may have witnessed the incident.
- Avoid agreeing to a settlement until you consult a lawyer and get help with your nursing home neglect claim.
Speak to a Nursing Home Medication Error Attorney in Clearwater
Most medication errors in nursing homes are preventable. If your relative was injured because of someone else’s negligence, a Clearwater nursing home medication error attorney from Distasio Law Firm can help you hold the facility financially accountable.
At Distasio Law Firm, we treat our clients like people, not case numbers. We will listen to your concerns, investigate your case, and do everything in our power to get justice for you and your family. Schedule a free case evaluation to learn about your family’s legal options.
Call or text (813) 259 0022 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form