Published on:

South Florida Nursing Home Named in Post-Irma Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Now that Hurricane Irma has come and gone, it’s time for Florida to start the rebuilding process. While the wrath of Irma may not have been what many news outlets claimed it would be, the storm was still severe, displacing hundreds of thousands and leaving millions of Floridians without power.

Florida nursing homes were also affected by the storm, as well as the subsequent power outages. In fact, according to a recent news report, one nursing home is currently facing a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the surviving loved one of a resident who died in the aftermath of the storm.

According to the report, the plaintiff in the case is the daughter of a 94-year-old woman who was a resident in a South Florida nursing home where eight residents died after the nursing home was left without power while Irma passed. The plaintiff claims that the nursing home’s failure to prepare for the power outage showed “negligence and reckless indifference” toward the residents it was charged to protect.

The plaintiff’s complaint explains that, as the storm approached, nursing home staff approached residents of the home and told them that they would not be evacuating, but they would be kept safe. However, no preemptive measures were taken to protect against a power outage. When the nursing home lost power on September 10, staff attempted to secure power elsewhere. Nursing home officials even reached out to Governor Scott’s personal cell phone, seeking assistance. However, given the circumstances, finding alternative power was nearly impossible.

As a result, eight residents died. Those who died were being treated for respiratory distress, dehydration, and heat-related issues. Survivors told reporters that the temperature inside the nursing home reached 106 degrees Fahrenheit at times.

The Florida Department of Health came down strong on the nursing home, explaining that it is “100 percent the responsibility of health care professionals to preserve life by acting in the best interest of the health and well-being of their patients.”

A Nursing Home’s Duty to Its Residents

Nursing homes have a duty to ensure the safety and humane treatment of residents. When a nursing home employee or the management team engages in behavior that violates this duty, the family of any injured residents have a right to seek compensation for their loved one’s injuries through a South Florida nursing home negligence lawsuit.

Has Your Loved One Suffered Harm in a South Florida Nursing Home?

If you have a loved one in a South Florida nursing home, and you believe that they have unnecessarily suffered harm due to the failures of staff, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The skilled South Florida personal injury attorneys at the law firm of Cecere Santana have extensive experience assisting the families of nursing home neglect and abuse victims with pursuing the compensation they deserve. Call 800-753-5529 to schedule a free consultation with an attorney today to discuss your case and determine if you may have a right to compensation.

More Blog Posts:

Cecere Santana can Help with Hurricane Irma Claims, Cecere Santana Injury Lawyers Blog, published September 5, 2017.

South Florida Hit-and-Run Accidents, Cecere Santana Injury Lawyers Blog, published September 3, 2017.

Contact Information