Whittel & Melton Tampa – St. Petersburg Nursing Home Abuse Trial Attorney

No Fees or Cost Unless We Win
Award Winning Trial Lawyers

866-608-5529 Statewide Toll-free

Personal Injury, Sexual Abuse, Rape, Physical Abuse, Wrongful Death, Medical Error, Medical Malpractice, Slip and Fall, Bed Sores

Representing Victims of Nursing Home & ALF Negligence and Neglect Causing Injury and Death to Residents in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Brandon, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Dade City, Tarpon Springs, Clearwater, Spring Hill, Brooksville, Inverness, Crystal River Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus County

Tampa Medical and Assisted Living Facility (ALF) Abuse and Neglect

Around 2.6 million people reside in nursing homes, assisted living or long-term care facilities across the United States. According to elderly abuse studies, 44 percent of seniors living in nursing homes have endured some type of abuse, with 48 percent suffering callous treatment and 38 percent bearing witness to the abuse of others. Shockingly, only an estimated 20 percent of nursing home abuse cases get reported.

Millions of families every day make the choice to assign the care of their family members and loved ones into the hands of Florida nursing home staff and medical professionals. Families trust that these Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater facilities will supply quality care and a safe environment to the senior community. Unfortunately, sometimes these facilities fail in their duties to create nurturing environments and instead cause serious harm, neglect and even death to vulnerable adults. Nursing home abuse can be sexual, emotional, physical or financial and is carried out either intentionally, negligently or recklessly. The Law Offices of Whittel & Melton and its partners serve individuals and their families who have suffered injuries or even wrongful death because of nursing home neglect and abuse in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and around the Bay area.

Tampa, Florida Elderly abuse is an unfortunate reality and is on the rise in elderly care facilities in victims over the age of 65 and possibly mentally or physically disabled. A federal investigation in 2008 showed that more than 90 percent of the 15,000 assisted living facilities in the United States received citations for health and safety standard hazards.

Whittel & Melton can help you and your family members get the justice your loved ones deserve. We represent individuals throughout Tampa and St. Petersburg, as well as Citrus, Hernando and Pasco County in communities such as Beverly Hills, Citrus Hills, Citrus Springs, Crystal River, Floral City, Homosassa, Inverness, Lecanto, New Port Richey, Holiday, Hudson, Trinity, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, Wesley Chapel, Spring Hill, Brooksville and Weeki Wachee.

Contact our offices online or reach us by local telephone 813-221-3200, 727-847-2299, 352-666-6666 or Statewide toll-free at 1-866-608-5LAW (5529) for a free consultation today!

Protect Your Loved One and Take Action

An alarming 85 percent of nursing home staff blames the causes for abuse on staffing issues such as shortages, low wages and high patient volume. There is simply no excuse for elderly abuse in nursing homes. Risks of abuse are found to be greater in facilities that lack abuse prevention policies, a history of complaints, hire employees without running background checks and have a high staff turnover rate. You can help your loved ones from falling prey to staffing abuse by familiarizing yourself with behaviors that can tip off possible abuse.

Such alerts can include:

• Staff banning family and friends from being alone with the resident
• Arguments or hostility between the caregiver and resident
• Bedsores or blisters
• Unexplained broken bones, bruises, burns or cuts
• Mood swings and uncharacteristic anxiety
• Lack of care by staff
• Residents fear of being left alone

If you suspect your loved one is being abused in a nursing home or similar facility, remove them at once and notify local police. Then contact Whittel & Melton online or dial us toll-free at 1-866-608-5LAW (5529). Your initial consultation is always free, so call us with your concerns right away! The Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys at Whittel & Melton will investigate the nursing home and its staff for all signs of abuse and neglect. Remember, filing a claim against the nursing home responsible for your family member’s abuse can not only bring about the compensation your loved one deserves, but can keep the abusers from hurting anyone else ever again. We are available around the clock for your complimentary consultation, so call us today. We can even make house calls and hospital visits if need be.

At Whittel & Melton, we fight for the justice your loved ones deserve.

Tampa – St. Petersburg – Sarasota – Bradenton – Clearwater – New Port Richey – Spring Hill – Brooksville – Inverness – Crystal River

Nursing Home Negligence Lawyers
Whittel & Melton, LLC
866-608-5LAW 866-608-5529
Toll-free Statewide

What are common signs of Tampa Nursing Home Abuse in Tampa, St. Petersburg or Clearwater, FL?

In Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida common signs of Nursing Home abuse can be any kind of bed injury, pressure ulcers, bed sores, infections, out of bed injuries such as falls, head injuries or fractures, medical issues like dehydration, misdiagnosis, lack of medication or missed or skipped consumption. Lastly, a major red flag is wandering or unexplained or unusual sexual activity and/or financial activity.

The inability to care for one’s self creates the need for Nursing Homes in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and throughout Florida. The obligation of the family is to watch, pay attention and protect our loved one’s from harm.

Do I need a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney for my loved one in Tampa, St. Petersburg or Clearwater, FL?

Unfortunately, the landscape of claims and litigation in Florida creates too many pitfalls for handling of these claims by a pro se plaintiff. YES, it is practically required in Florida to hire a Florida Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Tampa, St. Petersburg or beyond, despite the law technically not requiring the employment of any attorney to bring any claim in Florida State Court.

How much does a Tampa Nursing Home Attorney cost?

Whittel & Melton Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys and our partners do NOT charge anything upfront. In fact, you will never owe us money. How? Because we handle these matters on contingency. Our legal fee is contingent upon making a recovery for you in the courthouses of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, New Port Richey, Dade City, Brooksville and beyond.

Can I opt out of the Arbitration Clause in my mother’s Florida Nursing Home contract in Tampa, Sarasota, St. Petersburg or Clearwater?

YES. Arbitration Agreements are just that, an agreement, and like any other agreement, you may opt-out, strike through, cancel, not agree to it. Many long-term care facilities in the Tampa Bay area, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities, will routinely include arbitration agreements in their admission documents. It is never a good idea to sign such an arbitration agreement.

Nursing home and assisted living companies in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Clearwater include these arbitration agreements for their own benefit. And, many of the protections available in court are not part of the arbitration process. This could include:

• No jury
• Low caps on damages
• Limited access to evidence
• Limited or no right to appeal an unfavorable decision
• And strict confidentiality rules keeping the facility’s abuse and neglect hidden from the public.

Additionally, you may have to share the cost of the arbitration, which is typically hundreds of dollars per hour, and are likely before an arbitrator selected by the facility, creating an incentive to favor the facility. Simply stated, Tampa Nursing Home arbitration agreements make it more difficult for residents and their family members to seek meaningful justice through a public trial.

Should I hire a Tampa Medical Malpractice Attorney or a St. Petersburg Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer if the Nurses aren’t giving my mother her medicine?

Omission of Medicine to a Resident or Improper amount of Medicine to a resident are very common complaints at Florida Nursing Homes. Maybe worse is the issue of the orderly or nurse notating that medicine was given when it was not. A Tampa Nursing Home Abuse attorney can investigate all of these fact patterns involving medicine. If you believe this is occurring, call today.

What kind of Tampa Lawyer do I hire if my father dies in a Tampa Nursing Home because of neglect and lack of care and treatment in the facility?

The Tampa Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers and Tampa ALF Abuse Attorneys at Whittel & Melton stand ready to investigate and potentially seek compensation for your loved one or the Estate of your loved due to the neglect and lack of care.

Can I file a lawsuit against a Tampa Nursing Home if we believe my grandmother is the victim of Sexual Assault and Rape inside a Tampa Florida Nursing Home? Sadly, all of the vicious and violent crimes that occur in daily everyday life also occur in Nursing Homes in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater. This can include Rape, Sexual Battery, Credit Card Fraud, Assault, Battery, Manslaughter, Murder, and many more. YES, lawsuits are appropriate in these situations.