You may be worried about a loved one’s safety in a long-term care facility. If you need a nursing home abuse lawyer in Lancaster, we can help you take action quickly and confidently.
ur team represents residents and families across Lancaster and nearby Antelope Valley communities who have been betrayed by the very institutions paid to care for them.
At Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys, we know that placing a parent or grandparent in a nursing home is rarely an easy choice. It is often a decision made out of medical necessity. You trust the facility to provide safety, hygiene, and medical support.
When that trust is broken through negligence or intentional harm, the results can be catastrophic. Contact a Lancaster personal injury lawyer who understands the specific statutes governing elder care in California.
Why Choose Our Lancaster Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
Families in Lancaster turn to us because we move quickly to secure medical care, protect evidence, and stop ongoing harm. We know how local facilities operate, who owns them, and where records are kept, which helps us act fast when hours matter. We also coordinate with the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and Adult Protective Services when appropriate.
Nursing home cases are technically complex. They sit at the intersection of medical regulations, corporate law, and personal injury. We handle both settlement negotiations and courtroom litigation in Los Angeles County courts.
From the first call, we explain timelines, expected costs, and next steps in plain language. You will get regular updates and direct access to your legal team. Our fee structure is contingency-based, so you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.
What Counts As Nursing Home Abuse Under California Law
California has some of the strongest elder protection laws in the nation, yet abuse remains alarmingly common. The Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (EADACPA) applies to many Lancaster nursing home cases. This law defines abuse broadly to ensure victims have a path to justice.
- Physical abuse: This includes the use of physical force that results in bodily injury, physical pain, or impairment. It can involve hitting, shoving, shaking, or the inappropriate use of restraints (both physical restraints and chemical restraints like sedatives).
- Neglect: Neglect is the failure to provide the degree of care that a reasonable person in a like position would exercise. In nursing homes, this often looks like a failure to assist with personal hygiene, failure to provide food or water, failure to prevent bedsores, or failure to protect residents from health and safety hazards.
- Financial abuse: This occurs when a caregiver or facility staff member misuses or takes the assets of an elder for their own personal benefit. This can range from stolen cash to forged checks or identity theft.
- Abandonment and isolation: Facilities cannot willfully forsake a resident or prevent them from receiving mail, telephone calls, or visitors. Isolating a resident is often a tactic used to hide other forms of abuse.
Abuse does not always require a criminal conviction to be actionable in civil court. A civil claim focuses on accountability and compensation for harm done. Our Lancaster nursing home abuse lawyers review both civil and criminal angles to protect your family’s interests.
Warning Signs Of Abuse And Neglect In Lancaster Facilities
Abuse and neglect often start small and build over time. Staffing shortages in the Antelope Valley can lead to rushed care, which quickly spirals into dangerous neglect.
Family members are often the first line of defense. Watch for sudden weight loss, untreated infections, unexplained bruises, changes in mood, or a decline in hygiene.
Common Red Flags:
- Stage 3 or 4 pressure ulcers: Also known as bedsores, these wounds typically happen when a resident is left in bed for too long without being turned. They are painful, prone to infection, and highly preventable.
- Repeated falls: Nursing homes must assess fall risks. If your loved one is falling repeatedly, the facility may be failing to provide necessary assistance or walking aids.
- Medication errors: Overdoses, missed doses, or giving the wrong medication can have fatal consequences.
- Unexplained injuries: Skin tears, fractures, or head injuries that staff cannot plausibly explain should trigger an immediate investigation.
- Behavioral withdrawal: If a talkative loved one suddenly becomes silent, fearful, or refuses to eat, they may be suffering from emotional abuse.
How To Document What You See
If you suspect something is wrong, documentation is key to building a future case.
- Start a log: Keep a dated journal of every concern. Write down the names of staff on duty, what you observed, and what explanation was given.
- Take photos: If you see physical injuries, unsafe room conditions (like wet floors or frayed cords), or soiled bedding, take clear photographs.
- Request records: Ask for copies of the current care plan and any incident reports. You have a right to see these documents.
- Save correspondence: Keep emails and notes from conversations with administrators.
Compensation Available In Lancaster Nursing Home Abuse Cases
The value of a case depends on the nature and severity of the harm, liability facts, and available insurance. In Lancaster, a nursing home abuse lawyer may pursue compensation for medical treatment, pain and suffering, and out-of-pocket costs.
- Economic damages: This covers tangible financial losses, including past and future medical bills, hospital stays, physical therapy, and the cost of moving to a safer facility.
- Non–Economic damages: These damages compensate for the human cost of the abuse, such as physical pain, mental suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and loss of dignity.
- Wrongful death: If the abuse leads to the death of your loved one, eligible family members can pursue damages for funeral and burial expenses, as well as the loss of companionship and support.
- Punitive damages and attorney’s fees: If the conduct was reckless, malicious, or oppressive, the court may consider punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer. Under EADACPA, successful plaintiffs may also recover attorney’s fees, which can be a powerful lever in settlement negotiations.
Deadlines And Reporting Requirements In Lancaster
Deadlines in elder abuse cases are strict and vary by claim. Many must be filed within two years, while medical negligence cases may allow as little as one year from discovery. Claims involving public facilities can require action within six months, making early review essential in Lancaster.
Suspected abuse should be reported promptly. Families may contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Adult Protective Services, or the California Department of Public Health, and police when criminal conduct is involved.
Omega Law Group offers free consultations to help families understand reporting options and next steps. We assist with coordinating reports while preserving evidence, protecting the case, and reducing the risk of retaliation.
Contact A Lancaster Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today
If you suspect abuse or neglect in a Lancaster nursing home, do not wait. A prompt review can protect your loved one, preserve key records, and strengthen your case. We are ready to step in, investigate, and pursue full accountability.
Our Lancaster team handles claims ranging from bedsores and falls to medication errors, assault, and wrongful death. We offer free consultations and contingency fees, so you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.
Contact us today to speak with a Lancaster nursing home abuse attorney and take the next step. Let our family take care of your family.