The COVID-19 pandemic has proven fatal to thousands of elderly residents in America’s nursing homes. In many cases, these seniors died without the comfort of a loved one by their sides. Family members still cannot visit their elderly parents, grandparents, or spouses due to restrictions on visitor access in nursing homes. It’s an unparalleled tragedy of our time.
Nevada has 64 state-regulated nursing homes (also called skilled nursing facilities, SNFs). The state Department of Health and Human Services had a recorded total of 1,446 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nevada as of June 24. Of that number, 133 residents and four staff members have died.
Were these untimely deaths due to nursing home negligence? It depends. If your family member died from COVID-19 in a nursing home in Las Vegas, contact THE702FIRM Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. You could be entitled to compensation for your loss.
COVID-19 and Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home neglect typically involves substandard care or a breach of duty that harms a resident. The first SNF in the country to identify an outbreak of COVID-19 among its residents was located in Washington State.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studied the outbreak and published an early release of their results in a series they call the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The report found that:
- COVID-19, once introduced into nursing home, “has the potential to result in high attack rates among residents, staff members, and visitors.”
- There were limitations that prevented effective control and spread of the infection, including staff members who worked in multiple facilities.
- There is a critical need for long-term care facilities to implement active measures to prevent introduction of COVID-19.
As the coronavirus continued to spread throughout the U.S., it became challenging to implement active measures to prevent and control coronavirus infections in nursing homes. These facilities faced many of the same supply chain difficulties experienced by hospitals: shortages of face masks, gloves, gowns, and testing kits.
Why Are Lawsuits Being Filed?
Nursing home lawsuits have been filed in multiple states. The primary allegation against nursing homes is that the facilities had inadequate measures in place to prevent and control infection of residents, staff, and health care providers.
While nursing homes are more likely to be hotbeds for infection because elderly residents are a high-risk population, these facilities are supposed to have the equipment, policies, and procedures in place to limit the mass spread of disease. While no money can make up for the loss of a loved one, a successful COVID-19 nursing home lawsuit can help your family obtain the justice it deserves.
Many states anticipated an increase in lawsuits due to the COVID-19 pandemic and passed immunity laws to shield health care facilities and their employees from liability. Nevada is one of 23 states with some recently implemented immunity protections.
However, if you have experienced the loss of a loved one from COVID-19 at a Nevada nursing home, contact THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys right away to discuss your rights. There may still be options available to you to hold the negligent parties accountable for your loss.
Contact a Las Vegas COVID-19 Nursing Home Death Lawyer
The compassionate nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys are standing by to help during this difficult time. Call or contact us now for a free, confidential consultation.
THE702FIRM is a personal injury expert law firm in Las Vegas, Nevada. They represent the victims of personal injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents, slip & fall, and more. If you know someone who suffered a serious accident, contact the 702 lawyers today for a free consultation.
