John Richmond, Co-Founder and CEO
- July 21, 2025
You should never have to wonder if your loved one is safe in a place meant to care for them. If you suspect that someone you love is being mistreated in a Rochester nursing home, you are not alone, and you don’t have to handle this situation by yourself. At Richmond Vona, our Rochester nursing home abuse lawyers are here to listen, support, and take action.
With an office right here in Rochester and a legal team rooted in the community, we bring both compassion and courtroom experience to families in crisis. We understand how hard it is to suspect abuse or neglect, and we know how to hold facilities accountable when they fail to protect the people in their care.
- We Care For Families in Rochester, Let Us Care For Yours
- What Constitutes Nursing Home Abuse?
- Nursing Home Abuse vs. Nursing Home Neglect
- When Should You Contact a Lawyer for Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect?
- How Long Do You Have to File a Nursing Home Abuse Case in Rochester?
- Who Can Be Held Liable for Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?
- The Role of a Nursing Home Neglect Attorney
- Contact a Local Rochester Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today
We Care For Families in Rochester, Let Us Care For Yours
At Richmond Vona, this is more than just legal work. It’s personal. Our Co-Founder and CEO, John Richmond, was born and raised in Rochester, and his family members are still proud residents. This is where we grew up, and we hope our loved ones can grow old with dignity, respect, and the care they deserve.
We approach every nursing home abuse and neglect case as if it involves our own family because, in a community like ours, everyone is connected. Our Rochester nursing home neglect attorneys work with urgency, compassion, and determination to uncover the truth, protect your loved one’s rights, and ensure no one else suffers the same harm. Whether you need answers, accountability, or justice, we’re ready to help your family take the next step forward.
What Constitutes Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse can take many forms, and it’s not always easy to spot. At its core, abuse involves the intentional infliction of harm by someone entrusted with the care of a resident.
Our Rochester nursing home abuse lawyers often see cases involving:
- Physical abuse: hitting, slapping, pushing, or using excessive force during care
- Emotional or verbal abuse: insults, threats, intimidation, or isolation
- Sexual abuse: any non-consensual or inappropriate sexual contact.
- Financial exploitation: unauthorized use of a resident’s funds or personal information
- Medical abuse: overmedicating or withholding treatment
If your loved one has unexplained or catastrophic injuries, sudden changes in behavior, or any signs of mistreatment, it’s time to ask questions. Abuse should never be tolerated, and it’s our mission to help families like yours get the justice and protection they deserve.
Nursing Home Abuse vs. Nursing Home Neglect
When families come to us, they often aren’t sure whether what they’re seeing qualifies as abuse or neglect. Both are serious and unacceptable when you’ve entrusted a facility with the well-being of a loved one, and both deserve swift legal action.
Abuse often involves deliberate acts of harm, while neglect stems from inattention or understaffing. Both can have devastating effects on your loved one’s health, dignity, and quality of life.
Top Three Signs of Nursing Home Abuse:
- Unexplained bruising
- Pressure ulcers
- Bed sores
- Unexplained weight loss
- Complaints of verbal abuse
Top Three Signs of Nursing Home Neglect:
- Nursing staff not responding in a timely fashion
- Being left in feces or urine
- Unexplained weight loss
When Should You Contact a Lawyer for Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect?
If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, don’t wait for confirmation. Trust your instincts and contact a Rochester nursing home neglect lawyer as soon as possible. Early legal intervention can help protect your loved one and other vulnerable residents, preserve critical evidence, and determine whether medical malpractice or neglect occurred.
Many people hesitate to act because they feel unsure. However, if you’ve noticed signs of mistreatment, including weight loss, emotional withdrawal, bedsores, or unanswered calls for help, it’s time to speak to a Rochester nursing home abuse attorney who can listen, evaluate your concerns, and guide you on the right legal path. If you’re still uncertain, watch this short video from our team to learn more about when to talk to a lawyer:
How Long Do You Have to File a Nursing Home Abuse Case in Rochester?
Timing matters in nursing home abuse and neglect cases. In New York, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years from the date of the injury, although there are a few important exceptions to note:
- If your loved one passed away due to suspected abuse or neglect, a wrongful death claim must typically be filed within two years from the date of death.
- If the nursing home is publicly owned or operated by a municipality, you may have as little as 90 days to file a formal notice of claim.
These deadlines can pass quickly, especially when you’re still grieving a loss. That’s why it’s important to speak with a Rochester nursing home neglect attorney as soon as possible.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?
One of the most important steps in any nursing home abuse or neglect case is identifying responsible parties. Liability isn’t always limited to a single caregiver and sometimes extends to the entire facility or outside contractors. Potentially liable parties include individual staff members, facility management, third-party vendors or medical professionals, parent companies, or management corporations.
In some cases, more than one party may share responsibility. Under New York State’s comparative negligence rules, even if a nursing home tries to shift partial blame, your loved one may still be able to recover compensation.
In the case of a wrongful death, our team works tirelessly to uncover systematic failures to seek justice for grieving families. Whether the harm was caused by one nurse or an entire organization, Richmond Vona’s Rochester nursing home neglect attorneys are prepared to hold them accountable.
The Role of a Nursing Home Neglect Attorney
When a loved one has suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home, families are often left feeling overwhelmed and unsure of their next steps. That’s where we can help.
At Richmond Vona, we take a comprehensive and compassionate approach by:
- Listening to your concerns and gathering evidence
- Working with medical experts and investigators
- Communicating directly with the facility and its insurers
- Handling all legal filings and deadlines
- Pursuing the best possible outcome
We know how personal these incidents are, which is why we assign each client a dedicated 3-person team, encouraging consistent communication and individualized attention. At Richmond Vona, your case isn’t just a number. It’s a family we fight to protect.
Contact a Local Rochester Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today
No one should have to face nursing home abuse or neglect alone. If your loved one has been mistreated, ignored, or harmed in a Rochester facility, Richmond Vona is here to help you seek answers and justice.
Our team combines decades of personal injury experience and a deep commitment to client care, so you never feel left in the dark. You’ll always have someone to call, someone to fight for you, and a team that treats you like family.
Call us today at 585-523-2336 for a free, no-obligation case evaluation with a Rochester nursing home abuse lawyer.
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This law firm goes above and beyond to fight for you. Their entire team treats you with respect and truly cares about your well-being. Look no further if you need a personal injury lawyer.
John Richmond and the team at Richmond Vona did an incredible job with my complicated personal injury case. They made sure no stone was unturned and got me the settlement I deserved for my situation. They treat you well, explain everything you need to know and more so you are always in the loop about the status of your case. John was easy to get in touch with anytime during the process and made signing paperwork easy and understandable. Their entire staff is professional and helpful throughout the process These guys are fair, trustworthy, and will stand up for you!
This firm’s attention to detail is second to none. It’s evident that they are true professionals and really care about their injured clients. This is the firm to call if you have been seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence.
