Can I Sue a Nursing Home in Riverside County for Neglect?

To answer your question directly: Yes, you absolutely can sue a nursing home in Riverside County for neglect. If you suspect your loved one is a victim, you are likely feeling distressed, angry, and unsure where to turn. Please know that you are not alone, and California law is on your side.

Our state has powerful laws designed to protect seniors, most notably the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (EADACPA). This law isn't just a guideline; it's a powerful tool that allows families to hold facilities accountable for neglect and abuse.

Filing a lawsuit for neglect aims to achieve three crucial goals:

• Hold the facility accountable for its failure to provide a reasonable standard of care.
• Recover financial compensation (damages) for the harm your loved one suffered, including medical bills, pain and suffering, and the cost of moving to a safer facility.
• Create lasting change at the facility to protect other residents from suffering the same fate.

What Legally Counts as "Neglect" in California?

It's important to understand what the law considers "neglect." It's not just "bad service." It is a facility's failure to provide for a resident's basic needs, which in turn causes harm or suffering.

Common forms of neglect include:

Basic Needs Neglect: Failure to provide adequate food, water, or a clean and safe environment.

Personal Hygiene Neglect: Failure to assist with bathing, grooming, dental care, or changing soiled bedding and clothes.

Medical Neglect: Failure to administer medication correctly, manage existing health conditions, get prompt medical care when needed, or—most commonly—prevent and treat bedsores.

Warning Signs Your Loved One May Be a Victim

• Trust your gut. You know your loved one best. If something feels wrong, it probably is.
• Frequent falls, unexplained bruises, cuts, or fractures.
• Bedsores (also called pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers), which are almost always a sign of neglect.
• Sudden, unexplained weight loss or signs of dehydration (a sign of malnutrition).
• Poor personal hygiene, including the strong odor of urine or feces, or soiled bedding.
• Unsanitary or unsafe living conditions (dirty room, broken call light, etc.).
• Sudden changes in behavior, such as withdrawal, depression, or fear, especially around certain staff members.
• Staff preventing you from visiting or refusing to let you see your loved one alone.

Your First Steps: Protecting Your Loved One and Gathering Proof

Your immediate priority is your loved one's safety. Here are the exact steps you should take right now.

1. Address Immediate Danger

If you believe your loved one is in immediate physical danger, call 911.

If the situation is not life-threatening but you are seriously concerned, demand that they be transported to an outside hospital (like Riverside University Health System, Loma Linda, or Kaiser Permanente) for an independent evaluation. This creates a medical record from a neutral third party.

2. Document Everything

Once you suspect neglect, create a paper trail. This evidence is what a lawyer will use to build your case.

• Take Photos/Videos: Safely and discreetly document all injuries (especially bedsores), poor hygiene, and unsafe room conditions. Note the date and time.
• Create a Timeline: In a notebook, write down every event, conversation, and observation. Include dates, times, and the full names of staff members involved.
• Keep Records: Save all emails, letters, and medical bills.
• Get Medical Records: Formally request a complete copy of your loved one's chart from the nursing home and any outside hospitals.

3. The Right Attorney for Your Riverside County Case

This is one of the most important decisions you will make. You need a specialist.

You need an attorney who focuses on this complex area of law, understands the local court system, and knows the reputations of the nursing homes in our area. This is why your first call should be to the Nursing Home Law Group.

Nursing Home Law Group is dedicated to one thing: fighting for victims of elder abuse and neglect. Our team of Riverside County nursing home neglect lawyers has been representing families just like yours for over 20 years. We have successfully taken on facilities across Riverside County, from the city of Riverside and Moreno Valley to Hemet, Temecula, Murrieta, and the Coachella Valley. We know their tactics, we know their insurance companies, and we know how to win.

Key Questions to Ask Our Attorneys (We’re Ready to Answer)“What Percentage of Your Practice Is Dedicated to Nursing Home Neglect?”

Our Answer: 100%. It is all we do.

"Have You Taken Cases Against Facilities in Riverside County Before?"

Our Answer: Yes. We have a 20-year track record of holding facilities right here in the Inland Empire accountable.

"How Do You Charge for Your Services?"

Our Answer: We only work on a contingency-fee basis. This means you pay absolutely nothing upfront. We advance all costs for the investigation and the lawsuit. Our firm only gets paid a percentage of the money we recover for you, if and when we win your case. If you don't win, you owe us no attorney's fee.

Call the Riverside County nursing home neglect lawyers at Nursing Home Law Group today. Our compassionate team is standing by to listen to your story in a free, confidential consultation. Let us take this burden off your shoulders and begin the fight for the justice your family deserves.

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