How to Sue a Nursing Home in Reno

When a loved one suffers harm due to neglect or abuse, it shatters trust and leaves families feeling helpless. If you suspect your family member has been injured due to subpar care, you likely have questions about how to sue a nursing home. Taking legal action is not just about financial compensation; it’s about holding negligent facilities accountable and preventing future harm. In Reno, navigating this process requires a deep understanding of Nevada’s specific laws and legal system. 

Why is it Important to Know How to Sue a Nursing Home for Negligence? 

Understanding how to sue a nursing home for negligence empowers you and protects your loved one. Negligence—which includes failures like inadequate staffing, poor hygiene, and lack of supervision—can lead to serious and even life-threatening injuries like preventable falls, dehydration, and infections. 

When a facility is sued, it forces systemic change. A successful lawsuit achieves two critical goals: 

1. Justice and Compensation: It recovers funds needed for corrective medical care, rehabilitation, and compensates for the pain and suffering your loved one endured. 

2. Accountability: It forces the nursing home, and often the corporate owners, to address the core issues, protecting other vulnerable residents. 

The first step in securing this accountability is speaking with a qualified nursing home negligence lawyer who can immediately assess your situation and initiate the legal investigation. 

7 Steps on How to Sue a Nursing Home in Nevada 

The legal process for a personal injury claim against a nursing home in Nevada follows a structured, multi-step path. While every case is unique, understanding these steps is key to knowing how to sue a nursing home for negligence. Here are the seven essential steps you and your legal team will take: 

1. Identify and Document the Signs of Neglect 

Before any legal action, you must have strong evidence. This begins with recognizing and documenting the signs of harm. This could involve documenting weight loss, unexplained bruises, emotional withdrawal, or preventable injuries like infections. 

2. Contact and Hire a Reno Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer 

This is the most critical step. Nursing home litigation is complex and heavily defended by corporate legal teams. You need a local Reno attorney experienced in Nevada tort law and elder abuse statutes. Your lawyer will immediately take over the investigation and communications. 

3. Comprehensive Investigation and Evidence Gathering 

Once retained, your lawyer launches a formal investigation. This involves: 

• Subpoenaing all facility records, including care plans, staffing logs, and internal incident reports. 

• Obtaining all medical records from doctors and hospitals. 

• Interviewing key witnesses, including family members, former staff, and other residents. 

• Securing expert testimony from geriatric physicians, nurses, and life care planners to establish the extent of the negligence and the cost of future care. 

4. Filing the Formal Complaint (The Lawsuit) 

Once the evidence is compiled, your attorney will file a formal complaint with the appropriate Nevada civil court. This document legally notifies the nursing home of the lawsuit and specifies the claims against them, detailing how to sue a nursing home for negligence under Nevada law, the legal basis for your claim, and the compensation (damages) you are seeking. 

5. The Discovery Phase 

Discovery is often the longest phase. Both sides exchange evidence, documents, and witness lists. Depositions—where witnesses (including staff and management) answer questions under oath—are taken during this time. The goal of discovery is to uncover all facts and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of both sides’ cases. 

6. Mediation or Settlement Negotiations 

Before a case goes to trial, the vast majority are resolved through mandatory or voluntary mediation. In mediation, a neutral third-party mediator helps both sides negotiate toward a mutually acceptable settlement. Settlements are often preferred as they provide guaranteed compensation sooner and reduce the financial and emotional risk of a full trial. 

7. Trial (If Necessary) 

If a satisfactory settlement cannot be reached, the case proceeds to trial. Your lawyer will present the evidence, expert testimony, and arguments to a jury or judge to prove that the nursing home’s negligence directly caused your loved one’s injuries and that the facility is legally responsible for paying damages. 

How Long Does a Nursing Home Negligence Lawsuit Take? 

Families often ask this question because they need closure and resources quickly, especially when they’re researching how to sue a nursing home for negligence. Unfortunately, there is no quick answer, but you should expect the process to take anywhere from 18 months to 3 years from the date the lawsuit is filed. 

Phase 1: Investigation and Filing (The First 60-90 Days) 

The initial phase involves gathering records and filing the complaint. This is quick, but it takes time to secure all documents needed to build a strong claim. 

Phase 2: Discovery (The Longest Phase: 6+ Months) 

Discovery takes time due to the scheduling of multiple depositions, expert reviews, and the lengthy process of waiting for the facility’s defense team to produce requested documents. 

Phase 3: Mediation, Settlement, or Trial 

If a settlement is reached during mediation, the case can conclude rapidly (within weeks). If the case proceeds to a full trial, it can add many more months, depending on the court’s schedule. 

Remember, Nevada’s Statute of Limitations sets a strict deadline for filing these claims, making it imperative to consult an attorney immediately. 

Why is It Important to Have a Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer on Your Side? 

Attempting to sue a nursing home—especially one owned by a large corporation—without legal representation is highly discouraged. You need a dedicated legal team for several reasons when deciding how to sue a nursing home for negligence: 

• Navigating Complex Regulations: Nursing homes are governed by a dense mix of state and federal regulations. Your lawyer knows how to use violations of these rules to prove negligence. 

• Arbitration Agreements: Many homes require residents to sign arbitration agreements, which attempt to block your right to a jury trial. Experienced lawyers know how to challenge these agreements. 

• Access to Experts: Proving medical negligence requires testimony from specialized experts (doctors, nurses, economists). A reputable firm has an established network of these high-level professionals. 

• Leveling the Playing Field: Your lawyer provides the necessary resources, legal knowledge, and litigation power to successfully take on multi-million dollar corporate defense teams. 

Choose Jensen to Help With Your Nursing Home Legal Needs 

If your loved one was harmed due to negligence in a Reno-area facility, the time to act is now. At Jensen Personal Injury Law, we understand the emotional toll these cases take, and we fight tirelessly to ensure that the victims and their families get the answers and the compensation they deserve. 

We operate on a contingency fee basis—meaning you pay NO FEE unless we win your case. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation to begin the path toward justice and accountability.