Atlantic County Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyers
Key Takeaways
- D’Amato Law Firm has represented seriously injured South Jersey clients for more than 50 years, and founder Paul D’Amato has earned a New Jersey Super Lawyers selection every year since 2005.
- D’Amato Law Firm offers a free consultation. New Jersey court rules cap contingency fees in injury cases at 33⅓ percent of the first $750,000 recovered.
- About 58,900 Atlantic County residents, or 21.1 percent of the county, are 65 or older, compared with 18 percent statewide.
Placing a parent or spouse in a nursing home requires trust. When staff betray that trust, families need accountability. An Atlantic County nursing home abuse lawyer at D’Amato Law Firm investigates what happened, identifies the responsible parties, and pursues compensation under New Jersey law.
Why Do Families Trust D’Amato Law Firm?
D’Amato Law Firm has represented seriously injured people in Southern New Jersey for more than 50 years. Paul D’Amato was born in Atlantic City, served as mayor of Linwood, and represented the Second District in the New Jersey Assembly. Stephen Van Natten, a former Chief of Prosecutions in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, has prosecuted thousands of cases and and hundreds of jury and non-jury trials. The firm has been named a 2026 “Best Law Firm” by Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-reviewed legal publication in the country.
D’Amato Law Firm served as one of the lead plaintiff attorneys in the Tropicana Casino garage collapse in Atlantic City, a case with 36 plaintiffs and 16 defendants. After almost five years, the case settled on the eve of trial for $105 million, which D’Amato Law Firm describes as the highest construction settlement in the nation. That case did not involve a nursing home, but it shows the resources D’Amato Law Firm brings against well-funded defendants.
Paul D’Amato has appeared on the New Jersey Super Lawyers list every year since 2005. He and Alexa D’Amato Barrera each hold the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating. Alexa D’Amato Barrera holds a 10.0 Avvo rating and a 2026 Clients’ Choice Award, and she sits on the board of the New Jersey Association for Justice. D’Amato Law Firm also earned a 2025 Best of the Press bronze badge. The Supreme Court of New Jersey has not approved these honors.
Clients notice the difference. Consistently high reviews recognize D’Amato Law Firm’s commitment to securing justice for injured victims of negligence and recovering fair compensation.
What Are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?
The World Health Organization reports that 2 in 3 nursing home staff admitted committing some form of abuse in the past year. Residents most often reported psychological abuse (33.4 percent), followed by physical abuse (14.1 percent) and neglect (11.6 percent). Watch for these warning signs:
- Unexplained bruises, fractures, or falls
- Pressure sores that worsen or go untreated
- Sudden weight loss or dehydration
- Medication errors or unexplained sedation
- Fear or withdrawal around certain staff members
What Causes Nursing Home Neglect?
The World Health Organization links institutional abuse to too few care workers, low pay, and inadequate training. When staff miss a turning schedule or ignore a call bell, residents who cannot move alone suffer pressure sores, falls, and malnutrition.
What Rights Do Residents Have Under New Jersey Law?
The New Jersey Nursing Home Responsibilities and Rights of Residents Act, N.J.S.A. 30:13-1 and following, guarantees residents a safe and decent living environment and respectful care. It gives a resident a cause of action against any person who violates those rights, including the facility operator, its owner, and individual caregivers. A prevailing plaintiff can recover actual and punitive damages plus reasonable attorney fees and costs. The federal Nursing Home Reform Act, 42 U.S.C. 1396r, adds protection at facilities that accept Medicare or Medicaid.
What Compensation Can Families Recover?
Recoverable damages can include medical expenses, pain and suffering, and punitive damages for reckless conduct. New Jersey generally caps punitive damages at $350,000 or five times compensatory damages, whichever is greater. If neglect causes a death, the Wrongful Death Act covers funeral expenses and the loss of care, companionship, and support, while the Survival Act covers the resident’s own pain and suffering.
Every claim is unique and compensation depends on its own facts.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire D’Amato Law Firm?
New Jersey Court Rule 1:21-7 sets the maximum contingency fee in injury cases: 33⅓ percent of the first $750,000 recovered, 30 percent of the next $750,000, 25 percent of the following $750,000, and 20 percent of the next $750,000. Court approval governs fees above that. Lawyers calculate the fee on the net recovery, and the agreement must appear in writing. On a $1 million net recovery, the maximum fee equals $325,000.
What Should Atlantic County Families Know About Local Nursing Homes?
Atlantic County has about a dozen nursing homes, including facilities in Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, Atlantic City, Absecon, Pleasantville, and Northfield. Statewide complaints show the strain: in federal fiscal year 2023, the New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman opened 8,283 cases and investigated 17,118 complaints, a 29 percent increase. D’Amato Law Firm serves the region from our office in Egg Harbor Township.
How Do You Report Nursing Home Abuse in New Jersey?
Call 911 if a resident faces immediate danger. Otherwise, contact the New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-877-582-6995, which accepts confidential and anonymous complaints, or the New Jersey Department of Health hotline at 1-800-792-9770, which operates 24 hours a day. Record dates, names, and injuries, and photograph any visible harm.
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?
New Jersey generally gives you two years from the date of injury to file a negligence claim and two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim. Evidence fades quickly, so early action protects your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can file a nursing home abuse claim?
The resident or a guardian can file. After a death, the estate’s personal representative files a wrongful death claim for surviving family members.
Do I need proof of intentional abuse?
No. A claim can rest on negligence, meaning the facility failed to provide reasonable care.
Can a nursing home retaliate if I complain?
No. New Jersey law protects a resident’s right to present grievances without threat of discharge or reprisal.
Hold Negligent Facilities Accountable: Call an Atlantic County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer at D’Amato Law Firm
Your family deserves answers and a plan. Call 609-926-3300 or use our online contact form to schedule a free, confidential consultation with an experienced Atlantic County nursing home abuse lawyer. D’Amato Law Firm, located in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, proudly represents families throughout South Jersey including Atlantic City, Linwood, Galloway Township, Cape May, Vineland, Millville, Bridgeton, Ocean City, and Woodbury.