What Are Massachusetts Nursing Home Settlements?
Massachusetts nursing home settlements are financial agreements that resolve lawsuits related to abuse or neglect in care facilities across the Commonwealth.
Through a settlement, the party being sued (usually the facility) agrees to pay for the harm caused. The lawsuit is then dismissed.
In 2024, Next Step Healthcare of Woburn agreed to a record-breaking $4 million Massachusetts nursing home settlement to resolve allegations of severe understaffing that caused residents harm.
Massachusetts nursing home settlements provide compensation for emotional distress, medical expenses, ongoing care, pain and suffering, and relocation to safer facilities.
Usually, settling a nursing home lawsuit allows families to receive compensation quickly and avoid going to trial, where either side could win the case.
The Nursing Home Abuse Center partners with a network of experienced nursing home abuse law firms. They have secured over $280 million for victims of abuse and neglect in nursing facilities across the country, including in Massachusetts.
Get a free case review right now if you or a loved one was harmed at a facility anywhere in the Commonwealth, as you could be eligible for a Massachusetts nursing home settlement.
Massachusetts Nursing Home Settlements and Verdict Amounts
Payouts from Massachusetts nursing home settlements and trial verdicts vary and depend on the specifics of the case. However, some nursing home abuse lawsuits are worth over $1 million.
Our Massachusetts nursing home abuse lawyers have secured these amounts:
- $2 million for a woman who died from an untreated catheter infection
- $1.75 million for a man who passed away in a fire caused by neglect
- $600,000 for an Alzheimer’s patient who suffered from neglect
- $575,000 for a woman whose mother died due to improper care
The best way to determine the value of your potential Massachusetts nursing home neglect settlement or verdict is to get a free consultation from an experienced lawyer.
Call us right now at (855) 264-6310 or Click to Live Chat to start the process.
Who Qualifies for Massachusetts Nursing Home Abuse Settlements?
In general, nursing home residents anywhere in the Commonwealth and their family members may be able to pursue Massachusetts nursing home abuse settlements.
If the victim passes away, an estate representative may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to seek a Massachusetts nursing home abuse settlement.
Typically, Massachusetts nursing home settlements are awarded for harm due to an injury or death. This could involve neglect, physical abuse, or sexual abuse.
Situations that could lead to a Massachusetts nursing home settlement include:
- Bedsores (pressure ulcers), especially stage 4 bedsores
- Choking due to lack of supervision
- Dehydration or malnutrition
- Improper diabetic care
- Overmedicating residents and medication mistakes
- Preventable falls that result in fractures or broken bones
- Sepsis (life-threatening response to infection)
- Any other type of harm
Get a free case review right now to find out if your family could be eligible for a Massachusetts nursing home settlement.
Factors Affecting Massachusetts Nursing Home Settlements
Massachusetts nursing home settlements provide families with the money they need to recover from the impact of abuse and neglect.
Learn about important factors influencing how much Massachusetts nursing home settlements are worth.
Treatment Costs and Other Expenses
Financial burdens caused by the nursing home’s failures play a significant role in determining settlement amounts.
Factors impacting Massachusetts nursing home settlement amounts include:
- Costs for medications, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment
- Expenses related to moving the resident to a new home
- In-home care if the resident moves to a private residence
- Mental health counseling for the resident and family members
Additionally, if a resident dies due to the nursing home’s negligence, final expenses like burial, cremation, and memorial services may be factored in.
These factors are key in determining settlement amounts, ensuring families receive compensation for immediate and long-term expenses.
Severity of Abuse or Neglect
Massachusetts nursing home settlements are influenced by the severity and duration of the abuse or neglect. If a resident suffered more severe or prolonged harm, this typically results in a higher settlement amount.
Evidence of Negligence
The strength of proof showing the nursing home’s failure to provide proper care can greatly impact the settlement.
Evidence that can strengthen a settlement amount may include:
- Medical records or bills
- Photos of visible injuries
- Previous nursing home violations
- Video footage of the abuse
Strong evidence of neglect or abuse often results in higher Massachusetts nursing home settlements by clearly proving the nursing home’s responsibility.
Resident’s Overall Health
The resident’s existing health conditions and how the nursing home’s care affected them also affect settlement amounts.
If neglect worsened their health or caused new issues, the settlement could be higher. The more harm the nursing home’s actions caused, the greater the potential settlement.
Quality of Legal Representation
Effective legal representation is essential in negotiating settlements. Skilled nursing home lawyers can significantly influence the settlement amount.
Experienced Massachusetts nursing home lawyers are familiar with the laws in the Commonwealth and can help you understand how much you could receive.
They will fight for the maximum Massachusetts nursing home settlement amount for you and your family.
Steps to Secure Massachusetts Nursing Home Settlements
Securing a Massachusetts nursing home settlement involves several steps to ensure justice and compensation for victims of abuse or neglect.
Typically, pursuing a Massachusetts nursing home settlement involves:
- Free case review: Top nursing home abuse attorneys offer no-cost initial consultations to determine if you may have a valid claim. Get your free case review right now.
- Collect evidence: Your legal team will gather evidence to strengthen your case, like medical records, photos and videos, incident documents, and police reports if filed.
- File the lawsuit: Your lawyer will file a nursing home lawsuit in the correct court on your behalf, ensuring all deadlines in your case are met.
- Negotiate a settlement: Your attorney will work with the at-fault parties to reach a Massachusetts nursing home settlement as quickly as possible.
The goal is to secure maximum compensation for your family. If a settlement cannot be agreed upon, or the nursing home’s offer doesn’t cover your family’s losses, your attorney will continue fighting for your family in court.
Working with an experienced nursing home attorney allows you to concentrate on recovery after neglect or abuse.
In the meantime, your legal team will work tirelessly to secure the Massachusetts nursing home abuse settlement that your family deserves.
When to Pursue Massachusetts Nursing Home Settlements
It’s essential to pursue a Massachusetts nursing home settlement without delay due to several factors affecting abuse and neglect cases.
First, laws called statutes of limitations, which vary by state, place deadlines for taking legal action.
In Massachusetts, you generally have 3 years from the injury date to file a claim and 3 years from the date of death in wrongful death cases.
If too much time passes, witnesses may not remember the events of a case, and some may even pass away.
This is especially true in nursing home cases, as victims and witnesses are often older or have conditions that affect memory, like Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Therefore, acting quickly is important to seeking a Massachusetts nursing home abuse settlement.
Massachusetts Nursing Home Settlement Service Areas
The nursing home abuse lawyers in our network can assist families across the Commonwealth in pursuing Massachusetts nursing home settlements.
We help Massachusetts residents in these areas seek settlements:
- Agawam
- Amherst
- Andover
- Arlington
- Ashfield
- Assonet
- Attleboro
- Auburn
- Barnstable
- Becket
- Beverly
- Billerica
- Boston
- Braintree
- Brockton
- Brookline
- Buzzards Bay
- Cambridge
- Chelmsford
- Chelsea
- Chilmark
- Chicopee
- Cummington
- Dartmouth
- Dedham
- East Boston
- East Longmeadow
- Everett
- Fall River
- Fitchburg
- Framingham
- Greenfield
- Haverhill
- Holyoke
- Hyannis
- Lawrence
- Leominster
- Lowell
- Lynn
- Malden
- Marlborough
- Medford
- Methuen
- Nantucket
- Natick
- New Bedford
- Newton
- Northampton
- Norwell
- Norwood
- Peabody
- Pittsfield
- Plymouth
- Quincy
- Revere
- Salem
- Shrewsbury
- Siasconset
- Somerville
- Springfield
- Taunton
- Vineyard Haven
- Waltham
- Westfield
- West Springfield
- Weymouth
- Woburn
- Worcester
-
Zipcodes:
- 01089
- 01105
- 01096
- 01082
- 01531
- 01468
- 01230
- 01267
- 01373
- 01354
- 01824
- 02421
- 01923
- 01830
- 02333
- 02359
- 02481
- 02186
- 02136
- 02151
- 02657
- 02633
- 02539
- 02557
- 02584
- 02564
- 02747
- 02760
If your city or town is not listed, call the Nursing Home Abuse Center right now at (855) 264-6310 to see if we can help.
Get Help Seeking a Massachusetts Nursing Home Settlement
Seeking a Massachusetts nursing home settlement is as stress-free as possible with the right team behind you.
Experienced nursing home attorneys at top law firms are skilled at handling all of the legal work, so you won’t have additional burdens in your life. This means you can focus on helping your family heal from the devastating impact of nursing home abuse and neglect.
Our experienced legal partners can help families in all 50 states. Together, they have recovered over $280 million in nursing home compensation, including from Massachusetts nursing home abuse settlements.
Call the Nursing Home Abuse Center at (855) 264-6310 right now or get a free case review to find out if we can help you get justice.
Massachusetts Nursing Home Settlements FAQs
What is the settlement in Marsters v Healey?
The Marsters v. Healey settlement, announced in April 2024, aims to help thousands of nursing home residents in Massachusetts transition back into community living.
This agreement will invest in housing programs, including rental vouchers, and expand community-based services for older adults and individuals with disabilities or mental illness.
The goal is to move at least 2,400 residents out of nursing facilities over the next eight years, ensuring they receive care in less restrictive environments.
How much is the average nursing home in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts nursing home settlements and verdicts can reach $1 million or more, depending on the specifics of each case.
The value of nursing home cases varies widely, depending on the severity of the neglect or abuse and its impact on the victim’s health. The average nursing home payout nationwide for severe harm is around $400,000.
If you or a loved one was harmed in a long-term care facility, get a free case review right now to find out if you may be eligible for a Massachusetts nursing home settlement.
How are settlement amounts determined?
The value of Massachusetts nursing home settlements depends on several key factors.
Key factors include:
- Impact on quality of life: How the abuse or neglect affected the resident’s well-being and daily life
- Medical expenses: Costs for treatment, rehabilitation, or future care needs
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical and emotional distress caused by the harm
- Severity of harm: The extent and seriousness of the injuries or neglect
- Strength of evidence: Clear and compelling evidence can strengthen a case
- Negotiation process: Skilled negotiation often results in higher settlement offers
- Potential for trial: If a case is likely to succeed in court, settlement offers may increase
Every case is unique, and a Massachusetts nursing home lawyer can evaluate the specific details to help determine the potential value of your claim.
How long do you have to sue a nursing home in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, you generally have 3 years from when an injury was discovered or should have been discovered to file a nursing home abuse claim. In wrongful death cases, the time limit is typically 3 years from the date of death.
With an experienced attorney, you can be sure your Massachusetts nursing home lawsuit will be filed properly and before the applicable deadlines.
Call the Nursing Home Abuse Center right now at (855) 264-6310 to see if we can connect you.
Which Mass nursing home company reached a $4 million settlement to resolve understaffing allegations?
In 2024, Next Step Healthcare, a Woburn-based company operating 16 nursing homes across Massachusetts, agreed to a $4 million settlement to resolve allegations of severe understaffing that led to resident neglect.
This Massachusetts nursing home settlement, the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth, includes funds for staffing improvements and mandates oversight by an independent compliance monitor to ensure that care standards are met moving forward.