Q&A With Nursing Home Lawyer Ricky LeBlanc

Attorney Ricky LeBlanc is a nursing home abuse lawyer at Sokolove Law, a leading national law firm with trusted partners across the country.

Sokolove Law was one of the first firms to take on nursing home cases on a national scale and has been fighting for more than 45 years to hold negligent facilities accountable, providing families with a reliable legal resource when they need it most.

Many for-profit nursing homes operate like businesses, with cost-cutting often taking priority over resident care. As a result, serious injuries, neglect, and wrongful deaths are tragically common.

Nursing home neglect lawyers work to level the playing field and push back against a system that too often overlooks harm just because residents are older or unable to advocate for themselves.

Attorney LeBlanc recently sat down with the Nursing Home Abuse Center team to help families better understand their rights and what steps may be available when serious concerns arise. Here are the questions we asked him and his answers.

Q: What kinds of injuries usually mean that abuse or neglect happened?

A: There are certain injuries that should not happen in a properly run nursing home. When they do, they raise immediate red flags.

Severe bedsores are one of the clearest signs of nursing home neglect. These wounds take time to form and are almost always preventable with routine care.

Unexplained fractures, including hip or leg breaks, often point to a fall that could have been avoided. Dehydration, malnutrition, and sudden weight loss suggest the resident may not have been given food and water as often as needed.

Repeated infections, including urinary tract infections or sepsis, can result from poor hygiene or a failure to monitor wounds and catheters.

If your loved one has experienced any of these injuries, it could mean the nursing home failed in its legal duty to protect them. These are usually preventable harms, and families have every right to demand answers.

Q: What should I do if I think my loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home?

A: If you believe your loved one is being abused or neglected, trust your instincts and act quickly. If they’re injured or in need of care, get them medical help immediately. Their safety and well-being come first.

Next, be sure to document everything. Take photos of injuries, write down what you observe, and note the names of staff involved.

Report your concerns to the nursing home’s leadership if you feel comfortable doing so. In some cases, especially when serious harm has occurred, it may be better to speak with a nursing home abuse or neglect lawyer first.

We can help guide you on how to protect your loved one, preserve evidence, and take the right legal steps without giving the facility a chance to cover up what happened.

Q: What if my loved one has dementia and can’t explain what happened?

A: People with dementia are at higher risk of neglect and abuse in nursing homes. They may not be able to report what’s happening, describe their pain, or remember details clearly. Sadly, this makes them easier targets for neglect or mistreatment, especially in understaffed facilities.

If your loved one has dementia and you notice signs like bruises, fearfulness, withdrawal, weight loss, or changes in behavior, take it seriously. Even if they can’t explain what happened, those signs may point to abuse or neglect.

You don’t need to have all the answers to take action. A lawyer for nursing home neglect can listen to your concerns and help determine if your loved one’s rights may have been violated. It’s our job to ask the hard questions and protect residents who can’t speak up for themselves.

Q: Will my loved one be safe if I speak up or take legal action?

A: Many families worry that taking legal action will lead to retaliation, but the law protects residents from this kind of behavior. If you file a nursing home lawsuit or report suspected neglect, the facility is legally prohibited from punishing or isolating your loved one in response.

A lawyer for nursing home neglect can help you take the right steps while keeping your loved one’s safety as the top priority.

Q: Do I need proof before I talk to a nursing home lawyer?

A: You do not need to have proof before speaking with a nursing home neglect lawyer. If you’re concerned that something is wrong, that’s enough to start the conversation.

Experienced nursing home neglect lawyers can investigate, gather evidence, and determine whether the facility failed in its duty. If you’re unsure, it’s better to ask questions early than to wait and risk losing important information or missing legal deadlines.

Q: Who is allowed to file a nursing home lawsuit?

A: A nursing home lawsuit can be filed by the resident, a legal guardian, or a family member with power of attorney. If the resident has passed away, the executor of their estate or immediate family may be able to file a wrongful death claim.

Q: Can you sue a nursing home for bedsores or infections that got out of control?

A: In many cases, families can sue a nursing home if a resident is harmed due to preventable conditions like stage 4 bedsores or untreated infections. These are often signs of severe neglect, especially when staff members fail to notice or address them in a timely manner.

Stage 4 pressure sores and sepsis from nursing home infections can be life-threatening, and they rarely happen without warning.

Nursing home neglect lawyers look closely at whether staff followed the standard of care. If they didn’t, and your loved one suffered as a result, legal action can help hold the facility accountable.

Q: What if my loved one died while in a nursing home?

A: If your loved one died in a nursing home and something feels wrong, you may have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. Not all deaths in nursing homes are natural. Some are the result of neglect, poor medical care, or outright abuse.

Taking legal action may help your family get answers, seek justice, and prevent future harm to others in the same facility.

Q: How much money can you get from nursing home lawsuits?

A: The amount of money families may receive from nursing home lawsuits depends on the extent of the harm, the costs of medical care, and the pain and suffering involved.

In cases of severe neglect or wrongful death, compensation can reach hundreds of thousands or even more than a million dollars, but there’s never a guarantee. Past results don’t ensure future outcomes.

Nursing home lawsuit settlements are meant to cover medical bills, funeral expenses, and the long-term impact on the family. A nursing home neglect lawyer can give a better estimate based on the details of your case and fight to recover the full compensation your family may deserve.

Get Help From Top Nursing Home Neglect Attorneys Near Me

At the Nursing Home Abuse Center, we’re grateful when experienced nursing home neglect lawyers like Ricky LeBlanc take the time to sit with us and help families understand their legal options after a tragedy.

We partner with nursing home neglect lawyers across the country who have recovered over $318 million for families impacted by harm in long-term care facilities.

Nursing home abuse lawsuits can be complex, but experienced nursing home neglect lawyers help families navigate every step. They investigate what happened, gather evidence, file the legal claim, and negotiate with the facility or its insurance company.

Our partner attorneys only get paid if they secure money for your family. If you’re concerned about abuse or neglect, don’t wait. It’s always free to speak with a lawyer in our network.

Find a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me Right NowCall (855) 264-6310 now or Click to Live Chat