Can I Sue a Nursing Home in Los Angeles County for Neglect?

Watching a loved one suffer in a place that promised to keep them safe is a heartbreaking and infuriating experience. If you suspect your family member is a victim of neglect in a Los Angeles County nursing home or assisted living facility, you are likely feeling distressed, angry, and unsure of what to do next.

California law provides powerful protections for seniors, and you have the right to hold negligent facilities accountable. For over 20 years, Nursing Home Law Group has been representing families just like yours across California. We understand the complexities of these cases, and we are here to help you get justice.

In a legal sense, neglect is more than just a single mistake. It is the failure of a facility to provide the level of care that a reasonable person would, resulting in harm, pain, or suffering to a resident.

With so many facilities in Los Angeles, from Long Beach and Glendale to Santa Clarita and the San Fernando Valley, neglect often stems from a corporate-level decision to cut costs by understaffing.

Common signs of elder neglect include:

• Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers): These are a major red flag and almost always preventable with proper repositioning and care. Bed sores of Stage III or IV are frequently due to neglect.
• Frequent Preventable Falls: While not all falls are preventable, repeated falls often point to a lack of supervision, failure to follow a fall-prevention plan, or an unsafe environment.
• Malnutrition and Dehydration: Unexplained weight loss, sunken eyes, and chapped lips are critical warning signs.
• Unanswered Call Lights: Staff ignoring or taking an unreasonable amount of time to respond to a resident's request for help. This frequently leads to tragedy.
• Medication Errors: This can include missed doses, wrong medications, or excessive dose.
• Unexplained Injuries: Bruises (especially on the wrists or arms), broken bones, or head injuries that the staff cannot or will not explain.

If you have witnessed any of these signs, trust your instincts. You are right to be concerned.

Your loved one's safety is the top priority. Here is what you should do right now.

1. Address Immediate Danger: If you believe your loved one is in immediate physical danger, call 911 and get them to an emergency room.
2. Report to the Facility: Immediately speak with the Director of Nursing and the facility Administrator. Put your complaints in writing (an email is perfect) so you have a dated record.
3. LA County Adult Protective Services (APS): Call their 24-hour hotline to make an official report of elder abuse.
4. Long-Term Care Ombudsman: This is a free, independent advocate for residents. The Los Angeles County Ombudsman's office is there to investigate complaints.
5. Document Everything: Take photographs of any visible injuries (bedsores, bruises), unsanitary conditions, or soiled bedding. Write down dates, times, and the names of staff members you spoke with.
6. Contact a Lawyer: Do not wait for the facility or the state to act. You need an advocate on your side immediately. A Los Angeles nursing home lawyer from Nursing Home Law Group can launch an independent investigation to preserve evidence before the facility "loses" it.

Here is what a Los Angeles nursing home lawyer from Nursing Home Law Group does for you:

Investigates Immediately: We send legal demands to preserve all records, including medical charts, staffing schedules, and internal incident reports.

Hires Medical Experts: We work with top-tier nurses and doctors to review the records and prove that the facility's failures directly caused your loved one's injuries.

Handles All Communications: You can focus on your family. We handle the insurance adjusters and defense attorneys.

Builds Your Case for Trial: We prepare every case as if it is going to trial, showing the facility that we are serious about getting full compensation for your loved one's suffering.

For over 20 years, Nursing Home Law Group has dedicated its practice to one thing: fighting for victims of elder neglect in California. We have successfully taken on facilities all over Los Angeles County. We know their lawyers, we know their tactics, and we know how to win.

Our firm is a leading statewide nursing home law firm with lawyers who have been handling cases against nursing homes for decades. We understand the deep sense of betrayal you feel, and we channel that into aggressive, effective representation.

We will listen to your story, answer your questions, and give you a clear, honest assessment of your case. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay absolutely nothing unless we win your case.

Call us or fill out our online form to speak with an experienced Los Angeles nursing home attorney today. Let us help you get the justice your family deserves.