How To Protect Yourself And Loved Ones From Funeral Home Abuse

When a family member or loved one passes on, you trust that any funeral home that you choose to work with will be compassionate, honest, and ethical. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Funeral homes have been known to neglect or even abuse the trust that families place in them. Funeral homes that mistreat or mishandle a loved one can ruin a family’s attempt to honor their loved one’s life and render a very stressful time even more so. Know that if this has happened to you, you may be entitled to compensation if it can be shown that the funeral home abused or neglected your loved one’s remains.

The lawyers at Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates, PC know how important your loved one’s legacy is and we will work hard to hold any funeral home accountable if they fall short of the duty of care that they owe to those they serve. To schedule a free consultation, reach out to us today by calling 949-727-9300 or contact us online. 

What Is Funeral Home Abuse?

No business is perfect, and funeral homes are no exception. While most funeral homes are competent and respectful, others can be negligent or in some cases, may even engage in unlawful behavior. When this happens, it is known as funeral home abuse or funeral home malpractice. Some examples of funeral home abuse include:

• Putting the wrong body in a casket
• Dropping or mishandling a body
• Insufficient or improper embalming
• Sexually abusing a body
• Maiming a body
• Delivering the wrong body to a cemetery or gravesite
• Theft of a body
• Cremating a body erroneously

How To Protect Your Family From Funeral Home Abuse

In most cases, when dealing with a funeral home, you will enter into a contract that will outline the services and responsibilities that the funeral home is bound to. It is very important that that you ensure that it is complete and that you understand all the terms and conditions before you sign this document. 

It is also wise that you do your research on the funeral home you employ and ensure that it is licensed and certified in the state in which it operates. Because funeral homes are deal with the bodies of deceased persons, there are rules and regulations that they must abide by that are set by each state’s governing agency. Any funeral home that is not in good standing with a state’s regulatory agency or has a history of violations should be avoided. Finally, maintaining copies of all documents and correspondence you have with the funeral home may be helpful in the event there is an issue and you need to pursue legal action. 

What To Do If You Believe Funeral Home Abuse Has Occurred

Funeral home abuse is not uncommon. Many families are unhappy with how a funeral home that they have hired has treated their loved one and, in some cases, they may have grounds to file a claim for compensation. It is important to understand that if you believe that a funeral home has abused or neglected your loved one, you should immediately contact a funeral home abuse and malpractice attorney. An experienced funeral home attorney can investigate the circumstances surrounding the abuse and gather the necessary evidence to better ensure that the offending funeral home will be held responsible. If it can be proven that your loved one has been neglected or abused by a funeral home, then you may potentially receive compensation for emotional distress, loss of enjoyment, and a refund of funeral expenses. 

Orange County Funeral Home Abuse Lawyers

Few things are more disconcerting than learning that your loved one’s body has been abused or mistreated. The lawyers at the Law Office of Samer Habbas & Associates, PC, understand how sensitive funeral home abuse is and we take great care in vigorously pursuing these cases and holding offending funeral home responsible. Because each case is different, we will carefully review the facts of your case to better ensure that we have the evidence we need to secure the most favorable outcome possible under the circumstances. For a consultation, reach out to us today by calling 949-727-9300 or contact us online. We look forward to speaking with you.