Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyers in New York

You trusted a nursing home to care for someone you love, and instead they got hurt. New York law is on your side. Residents of every licensed facility in the state have specific, enforceable rights, and when a home ignores them, you can hold it accountable in court.

We handle nursing home cases the way we handle every case: partner-led, prepared for trial, and honest with you about what your claim is worth. We pledge to represent you as one of our own.

Your rights under New York Public Health Law §2801-d

Most states make families prove ordinary negligence, which can be slow and uncertain. New York goes further. Public Health Law §2801-d gives a nursing home resident a private right of action when the facility deprives them of a right or benefit and that deprivation causes injury. Those rights include adequate care, protection from mistreatment, proper nutrition, and a safe environment.

This matters because you do not always have to prove a doctor-level standard of care was breached. You have to show the home failed to give the resident what the law and their own care plan required. That is a powerful tool, and many families never learn they have it.

The neglect we see most often

Understaffing is the thread running through nearly every case. When a floor has too few aides, residents wait too long for help, and the consequences follow a predictable pattern:

• Bedsores (pressure ulcers). These form when an immobile resident is not turned and repositioned. A stage III or IV pressure ulcer is almost always a sign of neglect, not bad luck.
• Falls and fractures. A home that fails to assess fall risk, use bed alarms, or answer call lights leaves vulnerable residents to fall. Broken hips and head injuries in the elderly can be life-changing.
• Malnutrition and dehydration. Residents who need help eating and drinking get skipped when staff are stretched thin. Sudden weight loss, sunken eyes, and confusion are warning signs.
• Untreated infections and medication errors. Missed symptoms turn manageable problems into hospitalizations.

Signs of neglect you can look for

Families are usually the first to notice something is wrong. Pay attention to unexplained bruises, a resident who is suddenly withdrawn or fearful, soiled clothing or bedding, weight loss, dehydration, and a staff that dodges your questions or limits your visits. Trust what you see. If the explanations do not add up, they often do not.

What a claim can recover

A §2801-d claim can recover compensation for the resident’s injuries, pain, and suffering, and in cases of willful or reckless conduct, the statute allows for additional damages. Where neglect causes death, the case can proceed as a wrongful death claim brought by the estate. We also handle related medical malpractice issues when a facility’s medical care falls below the standard.

How long you have to act

A neglect claim under the Public Health Law generally carries a three-year statute of limitations. If the case is framed as medical malpractice, the window can be as short as two and a half years, and a wrongful death claim runs two years from the date of death. Deadlines depend on the facts, so do not wait to have your case reviewed. Evidence like staffing records, care charts, and photographs of injuries is easiest to preserve early.

Why families call us

Nursing homes are often owned by well-funded operators with insurance lawyers on retainer. You need a firm that will match that preparation. With more than 20 years and eight offices across New York, we investigate the facility’s records, bring in medical experts, and build the case for trial from day one. We are not a settlement mill. If you want to talk it through, reach out for a free, confidential consultation, 24/7. See our case results to learn how we have helped other families.