{"id":353500,"date":"2017-01-20T14:34:51","date_gmt":"2017-01-20T19:34:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/nursing-home-lawsuit-settlements-faqs.html"},"modified":"2023-10-20T14:47:32","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T19:47:32","slug":"nursing-home-lawsuit-settlements-faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/nursing-home-lawsuit-settlements-faqs.html","title":{"rendered":"FAQ: Settlements With a Nursing Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n<div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\"><h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">FAQ: Settlements With a Nursing Home<\/h1>\n\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/robert-rafii-esq\/\">Robert Rafii, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            October 20, 2023\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n    <div class=\"fl-callout-text article-blockquote\">\n        <p>You&#8217;ve started a nursing home lawsuit and have clear evidence of negligence or abuse. But your lawyer recommended settling. Or maybe an assisted living facility sent you a settlement offer. Now, you may want to know whether you should settle.<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>You may also wonder how to make sure the settlement terms are fair. Would settling mean the nursing home lawyers are downplaying the issue or leaving money on the table?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: initial\">Despite the best efforts of medical professionals and elder care advocates,\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/nursing-home-abuse.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nursing home abuse<\/a><span style=\"color: initial\"> and neglect are continuing problems.<\/span> Sometimes, a settlement can bring peace to victims.<\/p>\n<p>If your loved one suffered abuse in a nursing home and you are considering filing a lawsuit for elder abuse, this article can help you with nursing home lawsuit settlements. Remember, every case is different, and no outcome is guaranteed. To learn more, speak with a qualified <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/nursing-home-abuse\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nursing home abuse attorney<\/a> in your area.<\/p>\n<p>This article covers the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#typically-settled\">What nursing home abuse claims typically get settled?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#how\">How does a settlement work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#average\">What is the average settlement amount?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#recovery-limit\">Is there a limit to how much I can recover from a nursing home lawsuit?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#acceptance\">Should I accept a settlement offer?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#fairness\">How do I know if a settlement amount is fair?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#strategies\">What strategies does a lawyer use when settling a nursing home claim?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#when\">When does a settlement happen, and how can settling my case save money?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"typically-settled\"><\/a>What nursing home abuse claims typically get settled?<\/h2>\n<p>When abuse or neglect occurs in a nursing home, you may bring a civil lawsuit to seek financial compensation for damages. In some cases, prosecutors (government lawyers) may bring a criminal complaint to punish the offender for unlawful actions.<\/p>\n<p>There are three\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/nursing-home-abuse-claims.html\">main types of civil claims<\/a>\u00a0that can be brought against a nursing home and its employee-caregivers:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/proving-fault-what-is-negligence.html\">Negligence<\/a>\u00a0(for carelessness)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-contracts-forms\/breach-of-contract-and-lawsuits.html\">Breach of contract<\/a>\u00a0(for violation of an agreement)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death.html\">Wrongful death lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0(for carelessly causing a resident&#8217;s passing)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/elder\/elder-abuse\/types-of-elder-abuse.html\">Elder abuse<\/a>\u00a0in nursing homes can be from neglect resulting in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bedsores, malnutrition, and dehydration<\/li>\n<li>Assault, psychological abuse, and financial exploitation<\/li>\n<li>General mistreatment of residents by nursing home staff members<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Nursing homes may be liable for wrongdoing that leads to falls, broken bones, and head injuries. If a nursing home resident dies as a result of the action or inaction of caregivers, their family may choose to pursue a wrongful death settlement.<\/p>\n<p>The lives of the elderly are not without value. Families suffer a grievous loss and may be haunted by feelings of guilt that their loved ones suffered. No amount of money can bring back a beloved parent. Many families hope that by having to pay for their actions, the nursing home will take more care in the future.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"how\"><\/a>How does a settlement work?<\/h2>\n<p>A settlement is basically a resolution of a lawsuit to avoid trial. Both parties come to an agreement on an amount of money in exchange for giving up the right to pursue further legal action. A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC1361094\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2003 study<\/a>\u00a0found that 88% of nursing home litigation was resolved through settlements and never went to a jury trial.<\/p>\n<p>Either party \u2014 the complainant (plaintiff) or the defendant \u2014 may propose a settlement prior to a trial verdict. Offers can also be negotiated even before a lawsuit is filed in court. In the early stages of a legal case, a plaintiff or their personal injury lawyer can spar with a nursing facility&#8217;s insurance company. A settlement agreement can be reached before or during litigation (filing of a nursing home abuse lawsuit or personal injury lawsuit).<\/p>\n<p>A settlement contract will lay out the terms of dismissal or waiver of the plaintiff&#8217;s claims. This means that the complainant will agree not to sue, or to permanently drop their lawsuit if they have already filed one. In return, the nursing facility will pay a settlement award. The payment will typically include compensation for the injured party&#8217;s medical bills and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/worksheet-damage-estimate.html\">other damages<\/a> arising out of a negligence case.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"average\" name=\"average\"><\/a>What is the average settlement amount?<\/h2>\n<p>Here, we must make a disclaimer. It is almost impossible to predict the outcome of any case, particularly settlements, with precision. Every case has unique facts, evidence, and witnesses.<\/p>\n<p>California, Texas, Illinois, and Florida have the highest number of nursing home abuse and neglect lawsuits. Texas and Florida report higher average financial recoveries. An average recovery of $406,000 was\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC1361094\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>\u00a0for nursing home litigation settlements in 2003. That number has undoubtedly increased in the intervening decades.<\/p>\n<p>Settlements can range from thousands of dollars to multiple millions of dollars. Nursing home neglect cases involving serious injuries and intentional harm achieve significant recoveries. In wrongful death cases involving loss of life, settlement numbers will be relatively larger.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"recovery-limit\"><\/a>Is there a limit to how much I can recover from a nursing home lawsuit?<\/h2>\n<p>It depends on the state. Some states, such as Alaska, California, and Colorado, now limit the amount of recovery a plaintiff can receive for pain and suffering, emotional distress, fear, grief, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ptsd.va.gov\/professional\/treat\/specific\/symptoms_older_adults.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post-traumatic stress disorder<\/a>\u00a0(PTSD), and loss of enjoyment of life. These are also called non-economic damages.<\/p>\n<p>These limits are called\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/what-is-a-damages-cap.html\">damage caps<\/a>. Damage caps are not applicable in every type of personal injury case, however. For example, in California, these caps only exist for medical malpractice claims.<\/p>\n<p>You can see an example in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/ca\/civil-code\/civ-sect-3333-2.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act<\/a>, enacted in California in 1975. This\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/medical-malpractice\/trend-medical-malpractice-tort-reform.html\">tort reform<\/a>\u00a0(improvement to civil injury law) sought to manage the high cost of medical care.<\/p>\n<p>When discussing limits, it&#8217;s also important to be mindful of your state&#8217;s statute of limitations. This is a law that imposes time limits, rather than dollar limits, on lawsuit filings. State laws differ on how long you have to file a complaint against a nursing home. If the statute of limitations on a case runs out, the defendant will no longer be incentivized to enter into a settlement.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"acceptance\" name=\"acceptance\"><\/a>Should I accept a settlement offer?<\/h2>\n<p>Every circumstance is unique. It&#8217;s obviously tempting to say &#8220;yes&#8221; when someone offers you money. But they might be lowballing you.<\/p>\n<p>If you have medical records and other evidence to back up your claims for significant damages, it might be worth holding off. Sometimes, a settlement offer is only an initial gesture, meaning that the opening party expects to receive a counteroffer. So, if you don&#8217;t counter, you would miss out on the additional money they might have agreed to pay.<\/p>\n<p>In some cases, accepting an early settlement offer may be a good idea. Lawsuits can take many years to resolve, and your loved one might need to pay the bills for better care now. If you&#8217;re in desperate need of cash or you don&#8217;t have the luxury of time, it might make sense to resolve the dispute. For others, the emotional toll of a legal action can be unbearable.<\/p>\n<p>In most cases, however, it pays off to be patient. Insurance companies (and defendants in general) have a vested interest in paying as little as possible toward settlement. On the other hand, an injured plaintiff should want to get the most bang for their buck.<\/p>\n<h3>Factors To Consider<\/h3>\n<p>Ultimately, accepting a settlement offer is a function of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How much money you might need to continue spending on your case<\/li>\n<li>How much time and emotional durability you have for withstanding prolonged litigation<\/li>\n<li>The size of the settlement relative to the amount of your losses and costs, including injury damages and legal expenses<\/li>\n<li>The strength of your case and the volume of evidence and expert testimony that might warrant a larger payout<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>The Mutual Risks of Not Settling<\/h3>\n<p>The biggest risk to rejecting a settlement is the possibility that you might lose your lawsuit. In some cases, there&#8217;s a possibility that the judge or jury will find in favor of the nursing home. If that happens, you could walk away with nothing.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, the nursing facility also runs a risk of a larger damage award against them if they don&#8217;t settle. This is why it&#8217;s important to discuss settlement prospects with an experienced attorney to ensure you&#8217;re taking a calculated risk.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"fairness\"><\/a>How do I know if a settlement amount is fair?<\/h2>\n<p>It has been suggested that the fairest settlements are those in which neither side leaves the table feeling too happy. But that&#8217;s not necessarily true. While a portion of your damages can be objectively calculated using medical bills, other portions of your claim are completely subjective. That includes the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/car-accidents\/car-accident-pain-and-suffering-damages.html\">pain and suffering<\/a>\u00a0you or your loved one had to endure.<\/p>\n<p>In general, settlement is appropriate when the cost of continuing litigation is outweighed by the benefit of resolving the case once and for all. Remember that the cost of pursuing a lawsuit is both financial and emotional. No one likes going to court, sitting for depositions (legal interviews), or being questioned about their motives in front of a judge. It might also seem unfair to keep paying lawyers, whether you&#8217;re on the offensive or the defensive.<\/p>\n<p>With these factors in mind, ultimately, a settlement is fair if it:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pays you enough to make you whole for your injuries and costs<\/li>\n<li>Helps you avoid additional financial and emotional trauma inherent to a legal case<\/li>\n<li>Brings you and your family members some degree of closure<\/li>\n<li>Avoids or minimizes the risk of loss in trial<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In general, your settlement should account for all kinds of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/injury-damages.html\">recoverable injury damages<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"strategies\"><\/a>What strategies does a lawyer use to settle a nursing home claim?<\/h2>\n<p>Depending on the facts of your case, attorneys have a wide range of options in their toolbox. If they&#8217;re looking at pure numbers alone, lawyers can simply add up your injury bills to date and calculate future medical expenses. They can also look at similar jury verdicts in your state in order to determine a fair demand for your pain and suffering.<\/p>\n<p>But settling a nursing home case sometimes requires more finesse. Having an attorney on your side means they can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Legally threaten the nursing home by seeking\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/legalblogs\/personal-injury\/when-can-you-sue-for-punitive-damages\/\">punitive damages<\/a>\u00a0in court. Punitive damages are awards exceeding\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/what-are-compensatory-damages.html\">compensatory damages<\/a>\u00a0because they&#8217;re designed to deter nursing homes from future egregious behavior<\/li>\n<li>Press the defendant to engage in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/fact-finding-and-discovery.html\">expensive discovery<\/a>, to the point that settling might make more financial sense<\/li>\n<li>Hire an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/litigation-disputes\/expert-witnesses.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">expert witness<\/a>\u00a0to testify against the nursing home&#8217;s practices or in favor of larger damages for your specific injuries<\/li>\n<li>Capture the public&#8217;s eyes and hearts by bringing attention to your suffering, e.g., by giving interviews to journalism outlets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There are a variety of additional strategies that attorneys have at their disposal. Ultimately, the suitability of these tactics depends on the stage of litigation, the strength of each side&#8217;s facts, and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/litigation-disputes\/the-u-s-legal-system.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">case law and civil codes involved<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"when\" name=\"when\"><\/a>When does a settlement happen, and how can settling my case save money?<\/h2>\n<p>It costs money to hire a lawyer. Some lawyers will work on contingency fee arrangements, which means they won&#8217;t ask you for money until your case settles. But even if you&#8217;re lucky enough not to be paying upfront legal fees, a lawsuit can still be very expensive. Separate from having to pay lawyer&#8217;s fees, a lawsuit can put you in a position to pay for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/attorney-fees-and-costs.html\">court fees and litigation expenses<\/a>. These include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Filing fees, jury fees, and court reporter fees<\/li>\n<li>Expert witness fees (e.g., doctors who might examine you for the purpose of testifying in your favor or against the nursing home)<\/li>\n<li>Travel expenses, discovery costs, and ongoing medical bills<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As previously mentioned in this article, settlement typically happens when the costs to continue litigation are outweighed by settlement prospects. If the settlement amount exceeds the cost of prolonging litigation, it might be time to resolve the case. Ending the lawsuit also means saving money on all the fees and costs associated with your legal action.<\/p>\n<p>Remember that when it comes to legal cases, winning is not guaranteed. Neither are settlements. Sometimes, taking the calculated risk of settling (or taking it all the way to trial) can result in disappointment. That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s important to obtain legal advice before making any final decision.<\/p>\n<h2>Get a Claim Review of Your Nursing Home Abuse Case<\/h2>\n<p>Nothing can be more heart-wrenching than realizing your elderly parent is being abused or neglected by their\u00a0supposedly\u00a0trusted caregivers. Fight back.<\/p>\n<p>You can do that by filing a lawsuit against the caregiver or their parent company. Learn more about filing a nursing home abuse case by contacting a local\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/personal-injury-plaintiff\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">personal injury attorney<\/a>\u00a0who specializes in these types of cases.<\/p>\n<p>Some\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/nursing-home-abuse\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nursing home abuse lawyers<\/a> offer free case reviews that can help you understand your options. A helpful case evaluation is just one phone number away. With the right kind of legal advice, you can learn more about whether a settlement is appropriate for you.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3418)\">\n          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class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                        >Missing the information I need<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Too complicated\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                        >Too complicated \/ too many steps<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Out of date\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                        >Out of date<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\"><div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    A lawyer can help negotiate a fair settlement based on your specific needs\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Abuse and neglect claims are complex, and nursing homes have lawyers on their side\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    An attorney can use their experience to explain the benefits and downsides of settling\n\n                <\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\">\n                <p>Get tailored legal advice and ask a lawyer questions about settling your claim. Many attorneys offer free consultations.<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link fl-flex\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link\">\n                <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <p class=\"find-attorney\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/nursing-home-abuse\/#USER_GEO\/?fli=esum:FL3905\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find a local attorney<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"email-subscription fl-mb30\">\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-header\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-content\">\n            <h3 class=\"fl-callout-sm fl-no-margin\">Stay Up-to-Date With How the Law Affects Your Life<\/h3>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-image fl-flex fl-items-end\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n                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rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about FindLaw\u2019s newsletters<\/a>, including our terms of use and privacy policy.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"general-list\">\n    <h3>Helpful Links<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"fl-list fl-no-margin\">\n                                    <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/elder\/elder-abuse.html\">\n                        Older Adult Abuse\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/nursing-home-reform-act.html\">\n                        Nursing Home Reform Act\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/legal-rights-of-nursing-home-residents.html\">\n                        Legal Rights of Nursing Home Residents\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"popularDirectory\">\n        <div class=\"general-popular-directory \">\n            <div class=\"general-popular-directory-title\">\n                <h3>Attorney Directory<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <ul>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/nursing-home-abuse\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                              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           <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Information on nursing home lawsuit settlements and where to go for legal help. Learn more about neglect and abuse settlements at FindLaw.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":353411,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2734],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-353500","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-injury"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353500","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=353500"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353500\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=353500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=353500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=353500"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=353500"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=353500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}