Nursing Home Negligence in Maryland and Washington, D.C.: Protecting Your Loved One

Families place a nursing home resident's care in the hands of people they trust to keep their loved one safe, comfortable, and treated with dignity. When a facility fails in that duty - through understaffing, carelessness, or outright abuse - the consequences can be devastating.

At Falodun Law, we represent nursing home residents and their families throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. If you suspect a case of nursing home negligence in Maryland, we can help you understand your rights and hold the facility accountable.

Recognizing the Signs of Nursing Home Negligence in Maryland

Nursing home neglect isn't always obvious, and residents may be unable or afraid to report what's happening to them. Family members are often the first to notice something is wrong. Warning signs include:

•          Unexplained bruises, cuts, or fractures

•          Bedsores (pressure ulcers) — often a sign of prolonged immobility and inadequate repositioning

•          Sudden weight loss, dehydration, or signs of malnutrition

•          Poor hygiene, soiled clothing or bedding, or unsanitary living conditions

•          Unexplained falls or repeated falls

•          Medication errors — missed doses, wrong medications, or overmedication

•          Sudden changes in mood, withdrawal, or fearfulness around certain staff members

•          Frequent, unexplained trips to the emergency room

Any of these signs can indicate understaffing, inadequate training, poor supervision, or in the most serious cases, deliberate abuse. If something feels wrong, it's worth investigating.

Common Causes of Nursing Home Injuries

•          Understaffing that leaves residents unattended for long stretches

•          Inadequate training on lifting, transferring, or repositioning residents

•          Failure to monitor residents with fall risks or dementia

•          Failure to properly manage medications and medical conditions

•          Poor sanitation leading to infections

•          Physical, emotional, or financial abuse by staff members

•          Negligent hiring — failing to screen employees with histories of abuse or misconduct

Nursing Home Regulations in Maryland and D.C.

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are regulated at both the state and federal level, and residents have specific legal rights. In Maryland, nursing facilities are licensed and inspected by the Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ), and facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid funding must also comply with federal nursing home standards, including a Residents' Bill of Rights covering dignity, self-determination, freedom from abuse, and quality of care. In Washington, D.C., nursing facilities are regulated by the D.C. Department of Health, which similarly licenses facilities and investigates complaints.

When a facility violates these standards and a resident is harmed as a result, the facility can be held civilly liable — separate from any regulatory penalties the state or federal government may impose.

How Maryland and D.C. Law Affects Your Claim

Contributory Negligence

Maryland and D.C. both apply the contributory negligence rule, one of the strictest fault standards in the country. In most nursing home negligence cases, the resident bears little to no responsibility for their own injuries, which makes these cases somewhat different from other personal injury claims — but insurers and facility attorneys will still look for any argument that shifts blame. An experienced attorney can help make sure your loved one's case is presented clearly and effectively.

Statute of Limitations

In Maryland, a personal injury claim generally must be filed within three years of the date of injury (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. §5-101). Washington, D.C. also applies a three-year statute of limitations (D.C. Code §12-301). If the nursing home neglect resulted in a loved one's death, Maryland and D.C. wrongful death laws allow surviving family members to bring a claim, though different deadlines and rules can apply. If a government-run facility is involved, Maryland's Local Government Tort Claims Act requires notice within 180 days, and D.C. Code §12-309 requires notice within six months — so acting quickly matters.

What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Neglect

•          Document everything — take photos of injuries, living conditions, and anything that concerns you

•          Keep a written record of dates, incidents, and conversations with staff

•          Request your loved one's medical and care records from the facility

•          Report concerns to the facility's administration in writing

•          File a complaint with the Maryland Office of Health Care Quality or the D.C. Department of Health, as applicable

•          Contact Falodun Law to discuss your legal options before evidence — like staffing records — can be lost or altered

What Damages Can You Recover?

Nursing home negligence claims may allow a resident or their family to recover compensation for:

•          Medical expenses related to treating the neglect or abuse

•          Pain and suffering

•          Emotional distress

•          Relocation costs to a safer facility

•          Wrongful death damages, in cases involving a resident's death

How Falodun Law Can Help

Nursing home negligence cases require a careful, compassionate approach — for the resident, for the family, and for the facts of the case. At Falodun Law, we investigate staffing records, care plans, and medical documentation to uncover the truth about what happened, and we hold negligent facilities accountable. We handle nursing home negligence cases on a contingency fee basis: no fee unless we win.

Contact Falodun Law Today — Free Consultation

At Falodun Law, we fight for injured people and their families throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. If you've been hurt and want to understand your rights, we're here to help — with no cost to you unless we win.

📞  Phone: (301) 289-7737

✉  Email: wole@falodunlaw.com

📍  Address: 8850 Stanford Blvd., Ste. 2900, Columbia, Maryland 21045