Losing a loved one is never easy, but it can be especially devastating if the death was directly caused by a nursing home’s negligence. Many families believe their loved ones will have longer lives, and a better quality of life, with a nursing home’s professional care. When a nursing home causes a wrongful death, it fails its residents and their families in the most fundamental way imaginable. The Philadelphia nursing home wrongful death attorneys at Rosenbaum & Associates represent families with respect and caring in these difficult cases.

“Wrongful death” is a legal term for any death caused by someone else’s wrongful actions -- including abuse or neglect at a nursing home. Families may file nursing home wrongful death claims over any behavior that causes a death, and would otherwise form the basis of a nursing home negligence lawsuit. This includes all of the kinds of negligence including:

• Untreated, advanced bedsores leading to death
• Falls from high places
• Severe infections from preventable causes, such as bad hygiene or failure to seek medical treatment early
• Severe malnutrition and dehydration
• Medication errors leading to life-threatening side effects
• Physical abuse by staff members or other residents
• Injuries from improper use of physical or chemical restraints
• Allowing an irrational person to wander into dangerous conditions

In Pennsylvania, families actually have two legal claims to pursue after a wrongful death: a wrongful death lawsuit and a survival action. A wrongful death lawsuit allows immediate family members to claim financial compensation for the costs of the death, including funeral expenses and medical bills. A survival action allows the estate of the deceased person to recover any damages he or she would have been entitled to if the death had not occurred. This could include damages for pain and suffering, loss of good health or quality of life, or even loss of income. Only the personal representative of the estate (such as the person responsible for executing any will) can bring a survival action, but the husband, wife, children, parents or personal representative of the deceased may bring a wrongful death lawsuit.

Our Pennsylvania nursing home wrongful death lawyers understand that no amount of money can compensate for the loss of someone you love. However, an unexpected death can be a severe financial burden for some families. In situations without a viable criminal case, a civil claim can also be the only avenue for families to seek justice. And a civil case may help prevent other families from facing the same terrible situation, by publicly exposing dangerous practices at a nursing home.

If you’re considering a wrongful death claim or survival action against a nursing home, Rosenbaum & Associates can help. We serve clients with claims against homes throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. To learn more at a free consultation, please contact us through the Internet or call 1-800-