August 23, 2025Discovering that a loved one has been harmed or passed away in a place you trusted with their care is a devastating betrayal. You chose a nursing home believing they would provide a safe, respectful, and supportive environment.
When that trust is broken by neglect or abuse, the resulting feelings of anger, grief, and confusion can be overwhelming. You are not just left with questions about what happened, but also what you can do to hold the responsible parties accountable. The path to justice begins with understanding your legal rights.
If you suspect neglect or abuse caused harm, you may be able to sue a nursing home for injury or death. Virginia law provides a framework for protecting the vulnerable and allows families to seek justice when a facility fails in its fundamental duties.
Understanding a Nursing Home Injury Lawsuit
A nursing home injury lawsuit is a legal action taken when a resident suffers harm due to a facility’s negligence. These injuries are often preventable and signal a systemic failure in the facility’s operations, staffing, or training. Common grounds for a lawsuit include a variety of tragic, but avoidable situations, including:
- Bedsores (pressure ulcers). These painful wounds develop when staff fail to reposition a resident with limited mobility. They are a classic sign of neglect.
- Infections. Unsanitary conditions, poor wound care, or failure to monitor for infection can lead to life-threatening complications for vulnerable residents.
- Malnutrition and dehydration. A facility is responsible for ensuring residents receive adequate food and water. Failure to do so can lead to severe health crises.
- Medication errors. Giving the wrong medication, the wrong dose, or missing a dose can have catastrophic consequences for a resident’s health.
If your loved one suffered these or other injuries, a lawsuit can help you recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages related to their ordeal.
Pursuing a Claim for Suing a Nursing Home for Wrongful Death
The most catastrophic outcome of nursing home negligence is the death of a resident. When a facility’s actions or inactions directly lead to a resident’s death, the family may have grounds for suing a nursing home for wrongful death. Virginia law allows the personal representative of the deceased’s estate to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the surviving family members.
A wrongful death action can be brought if the death was caused by a wrongful act, neglect, or default that would have entitled the person to file a personal injury lawsuit had they survived.
Damages in these cases are intended to compensate the family for their profound losses and may include:
- Sorrow, mental anguish, and loss of companionship;
- Reasonably expected loss of income and services the deceased would have provided;
- Medical expenses incurred for the final illness or injury; and
- Reasonable funeral and burial expenses.
More than financial compensation, wrongful death claims are about achieving a measure of justice and closure for families who have lost someone due to inexcusable negligence.
How Much Does It Cost to Sue a Nursing Home for Wrongful Death?
Many families worry about the financial burden of legal action, wondering, How much does it cost to sue a nursing home for wrongful death?
Our firm understands that you are already dealing with immense emotional and financial stress. That is why we handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay a fee if we successfully recover compensation for you through a settlement or verdict. This approach allows you to pursue justice without adding to your financial worries.
Why You Need a Virginia Beach Nursing Home Injury Lawyer
Taking legal action against a nursing home is a complex undertaking. These facilities and their insurance carriers have powerful legal teams dedicated to minimizing their liability and paying as little as possible. An experienced Virginia Beach nursing home injury lawyer knows how to counter their tactics. A skilled legal advocate can:
- Conduct a comprehensive investigation to gather evidence like medical records, staffing logs, and witness statements;
- Hire medical experts to establish the standard of care and demonstrate how it was breached;
- Accurately calculate the full extent of your family’s damages;
- Negotiate aggressively with the insurance company for a fair settlement; and
- Prepare your case for trial if a settlement cannot be reached.
If you suspect your loved one has been harmed due to the negligence of a nursing home, reach out to a qualified nursing home injury attorney immediately to learn more about your rights and options for taking action.
Securing Justice with a Virginia Beach Wrongful Death Lawyer
The stakes are even higher when neglect leads to a resident’s death. In these tragic cases, the legal focus expands to include securing justice for the family’s profound loss and holding the facility accountable for the ultimate failure in care.
Having a dedicated Virginia Beach wrongful death lawyer on your side helps ensure that your rights are protected and that you have the strongest possible chance of securing the accountability your family deserves. When you decide to sue a nursing home for injury or death, you need a legal team with the resources and determination to see the fight through to the end.
The Law Firm of Carlton F. Bennett, P.L.L.C.: A Legacy of Advocacy
For over 40 years, Carlton F. Bennett has been a pioneer in Virginia nursing home malpractice litigation. Our firm is built on a foundation of serious legal representation for families facing the most serious losses. We don’t handle minor injury cases; our focus is dedicated to complex claims involving catastrophic injury and wrongful death.
Carlton’s reputation is such that other attorneys, even competitors, refer their most challenging nursing home abuse and neglect cases to us since we have a decades-long track record of holding negligent facilities accountable and fighting for the dignity of older adults.
Contact Us for a Consultation Today
If you believe your loved one’s injury or death was the result of nursing home negligence, you do not have to face this fight alone. We are here to provide the firm, compassionate, and experienced guidance you need. Contact The Law Firm of Carlton F. Bennett, P.L.L.C. today to schedule a confidential consultation and learn how we can help you seek justice.