Group Home Physical Abuse Attorneys in Tallahassee, FL Advocating for Victims of Physical Mistreatment in Leon County, Wakulla County, Jefferson County, Gadsden County, and Throughout Florida & Georgia
In group homes across Florida and Georgia, vulnerable adults are at risk of physical abuse and damaging neglect that could impact their health and their quality of life. Whether it occurs through a group home employee’s own actions or a failure to address abuse at the hands of fellow residents, the mistreatment of vulnerable adults is unacceptable. The Tallahassee group home physical abuse and neglect lawyers at Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster, Gwartney, & Hobbs P.A. fight back against institutions that enable the mistreatment of vulnerable residents.
Through committed legal action, we help victims hold these facilities accountable and secure the financial resources they need to move forward. We represent the injured at no upfront cost, ensuring every vulnerable adult who has been abused or neglected in a group home can retain skilled, dedicated legal representation.
Survivors of abuse and guardians or family members of vulnerable residents can take action on behalf of the abused, starting with a free consultation. Contact us today, and see for yourself why our firm is the clear choice when there’s too much at stake to risk receiving less than you deserve.
Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Adults in Group Homes in Tallahassee, FL
Group homes offer support and supervision for adult individuals with specialized needs. Depending on the group home or assisted living facility in question, the resident may or may not require medical care. Residents of group homes generally have less extensive care needs compared to residents of skilled nursing facilities (or SNFs, often called nursing homes).
In group homes, adults who need assistance can maintain the greatest possible level of independence and social interaction while still receiving the help they need. The assistance provided depends on the patient’s individualized needs and the capabilities of the specific facility, but it may include assistance with daily living tasks as may be needed, personal care and hygiene, meal preparation, and medication management, all with an understanding of their underlying limitations due to disabilities.
Living in a group home is supposed to provide a supportive environment that fosters improved quality of life, but when abuse or neglect occurs, residents of these homes can suffer serious harm. Survivors of such mistreatment—or, in cases in which the patient themselves is unable to take legal action, their guardians or families—can hold the institution and its workers accountable for all of the harm that results from abuse and neglect.
Who Is at Risk of Abuse or Neglect in Group Homes?
Instances of abuse and neglect in nursing homes that primarily serve ailing senior citizens are widely publicized, and often occur in Assisted Living and nursing home settings, but elderly patients aren’t the only ones at risk of mistreatment in residential facilities.
Our firm’s Tallahassee group home physical abuse and neglect lawyers stand up for victims of mistreatment in residential facilities, and in Florida most of these facilities are licensed as an Intermediate Care Facility for the Developmentally Disabled (ICF-DD) providing a home for residents including:
- Individuals with autism
- Adults with intellectual disabilities, whether birth related or accident related
- Patients with developmental disabilities
- Individuals with mental health challenges that require support or supervision
- Adults with physical limitations that necessitate help with daily living activities
This population is at great risk of neglect, abuse or exploitation. These Vulnerable Adults deserve to be treated with respect, dignity, and compassion, yet this doesn’t always happen. Whether through intentionally predatory behavior or failures in care and supervision that constitute neglect, group homes and their staff can enable mistreatment that significantly impacts a victim’s life. When group home negligence gives rise to abuse or neglect, injured residents can seek legal recourse through a claim or lawsuit.
What Constitutes Physical Abuse in a Group Home?
Physical abuse refers to intentional actions that harm a person through bodily contact or injury. In a group home, acts of violence such as the following can constitute physical abuse:
- Slapping
- Hitting
- Pushing
- Shoving
- Kicking
- Rough handling
Unnecessary physical restraints can also be a form of physical abuse in a residential facility. Physical abuse can be perpetrated with the abuser’s bare hands or with a weapon. Often, such abuse is, unfortunately, part of a pattern of such conduct.
Physical abuse in group homes can result in significant injury, including painful bruises, cuts, bone fractures, and head injuries. Additionally, physical abuse may lead to feelings of fearfulness, anxiety, depression, and withdrawal from social interactions and activities.
When Can Vulnerable Adults Sue for Group Home Neglect?
Mistreatment doesn’t have to be intentional to cause serious harm. Neglect, too, can occur in group homes, leading to poor hygiene, physical injuries, and worsened medical conditions. While residents of group homes generally don’t have as complex needs as patients in skilled nursing facilities, they are in this institution because they require some degree of assistance or supervision.
Neglect in assisting with daily living tasks, medication management, meal preparation, or proper maintenance of the group home environment can lead to poor hygiene, serious prescription medication errors, dehydration and malnutrition, or unsafe living conditions. Such neglect can contribute to physical health issues, diminished mental health, social isolation, fear, bodily harm, worsening health conditions, and potentially even a greater risk of death.
Our attorneys understand these serious repercussions, and we take matters of group home facility negligence seriously.
Our Physical Abuse Attorneys in Tallahassee, FL, Hold Group Homes Accountable
Numerous factors can contribute to physical abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults in group home facilities. The factors most commonly involved in abuse and neglect situations in assisted living facilities include:
- Understaffing
- Inadequate employee screening
- Insufficient employee training
- Lack of appropriate supervision of employees
- Unsafe or improper procedures regarding patient care, medication storage and administration, meal preparation, and property maintenance
- Failure to enforce safety standards and procedures
- Inadequate supervision of residents and failure to intervene in abuse or inappropriate interactions between residents
Regardless of the specific factors involved in the abuse or neglect that took place, the group home owed its patient a duty to provide appropriate care and a safe environment. Failing to do so exposes the facility to liability.
How Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster, Gwartney, & Hobbs P.A. Can Help
You can hold group homes legally and financially accountable for harm resulting from abuse and neglect, but many victims and families don’t know where to begin. The group home may try to deny that such mistreatment occurred. To guide you through the legal process, thoroughly investigate suspected abuse, and secure the victim compensation for their losses, you need experienced assisted living physical abuse attorneys in Tallahassee, FL.
Our firm takes action right away to protect victims of abuse and hold facilities like group homes, assisted living facilities (ALFs) and nursing homes accountable. We prioritize the safety and well-being of our clients and their family members, and we swiftly begin our meticulous investigation of the facts. Throughout all aspects of your case against a negligent ICF-DD or other group home, we’re prepared to represent your interests and fight for fair compensation for your losses.
Why Choose Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster, Gwartney, & Hobbs P.A. as Your Tallahassee Group Home Physical Abuse and Neglect Lawyers?
Throughout Florida and Georgia, clients turn to Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster, Gwartney, & Hobbs P.A. as Tallahassee group home physical abuse and neglect lawyers they can depend on. We’re known for our experience, the comprehensive legal services we provide, and our commitment to giving every case our all.
Extensive Legal Experience
With over 35 years in legal practice, our firm has handled more than 10,000 cases. Our dedicated team of legal authorities has more than a century of combined experience to draw from as we prepare every case for the most successful outcome possible. In the field of group home neglect and abuse specifically, our lawyers have been advocating for the victims of abuse and neglect for over 35 years, and other outstanding law firms recognize our level of expertise in this field, referring claims throughout the state to Brooks, LeBoeuf, Footer, Gwartney & Hobbs P..A. for representation.
Comprehensive Representation for Injury Claims
For all stages of the claims process, count on our attorneys to provide complete guidance and full-service support. We handle everything from investigation, insurance issues, paperwork and deadlines to detailed evidence collection, claim preparation and guidance on the post-resolution (whether by settlement or verdict) options that protect other benefits, as may be necessary. By representing you in both settlement negotiations, legal proceedings and distribution models to meet your loved one’s needs, we’re ready to pursue all paths to recovering the compensation you deserve.
Dedication to Our Clients
In matters of group home abuse, the damage and harm can run deep, impacting the victim physically, emotionally, and financially. Getting the results you deserve impacts your ability to heal from these injuries and regain control over your life. We know there’s too much at stake not to give your case our all, and we devote our full resources and legal skill to achieving a resolution that fairly compensates you.
Contact the Tallahassee Group Home Physical Abuse and Neglect Lawyers at Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster, Gwartney, & Hobbs P.A. Today for a Free Case Evaluation
The prospect of standing up to a group home facility can seem daunting, but with the right help, it’s possible to successfully secure compensation. Our firm represents vulnerable adults abused in group homes on a contingency basis, providing skilled legal guidance at no upfront cost.
For help from assisted living physical abuse attorneys in Tallahassee, FL, contact Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster, Gwartney, & Hobbs P.A. online or call 850-605-3555 today.
