Sepsis is a potentially fatal complication of infections. Unfortunately, it happens frequently in healthcare facilities. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about one-third of hospital fatalities result from sepsis, making it a leading cause of death in these facilities.
Sepsis infections are common in nursing homes throughout Jacksonville, FL. Residents in Florida nursing homes often have pre-existing health conditions or suffer physical injuries that could become septic. If you or your loved one experienced sepsis in a nursing home, Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help.
Contact our Jacksonville nursing home abuse lawyers at Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free case review to discuss your legal options at (904) 396-1100.
How Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Nursing Home Sepsis Claim in Jacksonville, FL
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers was founded to provide legal representation to injured people in Jacksonville, Florida. We have over a century of combined legal experience, and we’ve successfully recovered millions of dollars from at-fault parties and their insurers.
If your loved one suffered harm due to someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions, our Jacksonville personal injury lawyers can provide the following assistance:
- Listening to your story and identifying potential legal claims
- Gathering evidence, including medical records and witness testimony
- Preparing a claim and fighting the nursing home facility or its insurer for a fair settlement
- Litigating if your case cannot be settled
Discovering that a loved one has been abused or neglected in a long-term care facility is a serious betrayal of your trust. Contact our Jacksonville nursing home neglect attorneys for a free consultation to discuss your case and the compensation we can pursue.
What Is Sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening complication triggered by an infection. Normally, the body responds to microorganisms with swelling and a fever. The swelling traps the pathogens in the injured area and rushes antibodies to fight them. The fever increases the temperature to weaken or kill the bacteria or viruses.
Sepsis happens when this response runs out of control. Instead of attacking invading germs, your immune system attacks healthy body tissue.
Some common symptoms of sepsis include:
- Delirium
- Fever
- Rapid or irregular pulse
The patient might also experience extreme pain and swelling near the original infection site.
If the body’s immune response cannot be controlled, the patient will develop a potentially fatal condition called septic shock.
What Causes Nursing Home Sepsis in Jacksonville, FL?
Sepsis can happen naturally. However, conditions in a nursing home can also increase the risk of a septic infection. Nursing home neglect, such as failing to change a patient’s dressings or maintain a clean facility, can allow infections to worsen. Medication errors can occur when staff members fail to administer antibiotics as prescribed.
When a nursing home or its staff members neglect to provide reasonable care under the circumstances, an injured resident can pursue a personal injury claim for their losses.
What Factors Can Affect the Value of a Nursing Home Neglect Claim?
The outcome of the injuries will be one of the primary factors in determining the value of a nursing home neglect case. Septic infections that require hospitalization and long-term care will typically justify greater compensation than those that are cured relatively quickly. Similarly, sepsis that evolves into septic shock and causes death could cause greater losses and thus result in higher compensation.
However, other considerations, such as the victim’s pain and suffering, will also be important when calculating damages. It’s best to consult an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer in Jacksonville to get an idea of the value of your unique claim.
What Compensation Can Nursing Home Abuse Victims Seek?
Nursing home residents can seek compensation for their economic damages, such as the cost of medical care. They can also be compensated for their non-economic damages, such as reduced quality of life and pain and suffering.
If a resident dies, their personal representative may be able to pursue compensation for the family through a wrongful death claim.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Jacksonville?
Jacksonville nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers typically charge a contingency fee. You do not need to pay anything upfront for the lawyer to start on the case. Instead, your lawyer receives a set percentage of the compensation they recover on your behalf.
How Much Time Does Florida Give To File Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits?
Injured nursing home residents generally have two years to file a lawsuit alleging abuse or neglect. This time period starts on the date of the alleged wrongdoing. If the resident dies, the time starts on the date of death.
However, there may be exceptions. You should discuss your case with an experienced Florida nursing home abuse attorney as soon as possible to ensure that you meet the applicable statute of limitations.
Contact Our Jacksonville Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers For a Free Consultation To Discuss a Sepsis Infection Claim
Nursing home neglect and abuse can cause mental, physical, and financial trauma. If your loved one suffered a sepsis infection, our Jacksonville nursing home neglect lawyers are here to help.
Contact Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss the compensation we can seek for nursing home residents and their families.
