Checking yourself—or more likely, checking a family member—into a California drug rehab facility for treatment is a scary time. And it only becomes worse when there’s an injury because of negligence. But you do have ways for holding the people responsible accountable, including reporting them to the government. Our team can help you do that and help you through potential legal options. Set up a free consultation today to get your questions answered.
Who Do I Report Drug Rehab Facility Negligence To in California?
If you’re in a situation where a drug rehab facility is negligent and you or a family member is injured, it’s hard to know where to turn or what to do. But there’s ways to get answers about what happened. One of the first things you can do is ask the facility directly, although that doesn’t always get you clear answers.
But outside of that, you can also report the incident to the state government, specifically the Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS).
This is the state agency that handles licensing and enforces regulations for facilities. Once they have your report, they’ll usually:
- Review the incident report filed by the facility
- Request patient and treatment records
- Interview staff members
- Inspect the facility
- Open a formal investigation if they think there’s been a violation
If the state finds that the facility violated safety rules and other regulations, it has the authority to lay down fines and other citations. And if it’s serious enough, they can suspend their license or shut them down altogether. But that’s as far as their power goes. If you want to get financial help for your losses, you’ll have to go through the legal process.
What Options Do I Have if Someone Is Hurt Because of Drug Rehab Facility Negligence?
Obviously, if you reach the point where you need to report negligence to the DHCS, something has gone terribly wrong inside a drug rehab facility. But again, the DHCS’ power is only regulatory, not legal. That means you have to file an injury claim if you want to get damages for your injuries and other losses. And to do that, there’s generally two options:
- An insurance claim outside of court
- A personal injury lawsuit
Both options are based on the same idea: the facility had a responsibility to provide safe care and supervision, but failed to do that. Then, that failure led to you or someone else getting hurt. Once the claim is filed, though, the focus turns to your “damages”, which is just the legal term for your losses. A claim lets you recover financial support for your
- Medical bills related to the injury
- Future medical treatment if ongoing care is needed
- Lost income from time away from work
- Reduced earning ability if the injury affects someone long-term
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress tied to the experience
- A reduced quality of life after the injury
If the negligence ultimately leads to your family member’s death, the case may turn into a wrongful death claim, which can include funeral expenses and the financial and other losses your family is left with.
It’s also important to keep the timeline in mind. In California, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a claim. If that deadline passes, you can’t file a claim at all.
That’s why starting sooner usually makes things easier. Records are easier to get, witnesses remember details more clearly, and it becomes easier to figure out exactly what went wrong and how the facility may have failed to protect you or your family member they were supposed to care for.
Maison Law Can Help If You’ve Been Hurt by Negligence in a California Drug Rehab Facility
When something goes wrong inside a California drug rehab facility, it’s natural to want answers—not only about what happened, but whether it could have been prevented. In most cases, the injuries could have.
At Maison Law, our California rehab facility negligence lawyers can help you and your family get the clearest answers you can. We’ll:
- Review state investigation findings.
- Figure out whether the facility or someone else was negligent.
- Handle all the talks with the facility and its insurance carriers.
- Put together other evidence, like medical records, pictures, videos, and bills.
- Guide you through an insurance claim or lawsuit.
If you’re trying to understand what happened that led up to an injury inside a drug rehab facility, we’re here to help you walk through the next steps. Set up a free, no-obligation consultation today.
