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Elopement Attorneys

Elder Elopement

California Elder Elopement Attorneys

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Elopement puts vulnerable elders at serious risk. The Peck Law Group will fight passionately for your rights if your loved one was harmed due to inadequate supervision.

- Peck Law Group

5 min read

Compassionate Legal Advocacy for Wandering Incidents

At the Peck Law Group, our Elopement Attorneys understand the terror and uncertainty families face when a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s wanders away from a long-term care facility.

Elopement—also known as wandering—places vulnerable residents at grave risk. When facilities fail to secure exits, maintain alarms, or train staff, families deserve justice.

We’re here to listen, advocate, and win the compensation your family needs. Speak with one of our experienced elopement attorneys today for your free case evaluation.

Elderly man wandering along path.

What Is Elopement in Long-Term Care?

Elopement occurs when a resident with cognitive impairment leaves a care facility unsupervised or unnoticed. Even a brief unsanctioned exit can lead to:

  • Serious Injuries: Slips, falls, tragic vehicle accidents, and fractures on uneven surfaces.
  • Exposure Risks: Heatstroke, hypothermia, or dehydration from weather extremes.
  • Disorientation: Getting lost and unable to find one’s way back.
  • Predatory Harm: Theft, assault, or abuse by opportunistic strangers.

The Peck Law Group Elopement Attorneys hold facilities accountable when they breach their duty of care, ensuring they implement proven safeguards.

Signs Your Loved One May Wander

Recognizing early warning signs helps prevent tragedy. Watch for:

  1. Increased Restlessness– Pacing, frequent door checks, or repetitive movement.
  2. Confusion or Verbal Cues– Saying “I need to go home” or asking “Where am I?”
  3. Routine Changes– Skipping activities, heading toward exits, or refusing meals.
  4. Memory Lapses– Forgetting familiar faces, locations, or daily routines.

If you observe these behaviors, document them and notify facility staff immediately. Find out how the Peck Law Group attorneys can help you preserve evidence to support your case.

How The Peck Law Group Elopement Attorneys Build Your Case

Choosing experienced Elopement Attorneys at the Peck Law Group means working with a team that:

Conducts a Thorough Investigation

We review staffing logs, security footage, incident reports, and maintenance records for doors and alarms.

Leverages Medical-Legal Expertise

Our legal team collaborates with nursing experts to identify gaps in care plans, training, and supervision.

Gathers Compelling Evidence

We collect witness statements, device monitoring data, and expert testimony to establish a case of negligence.

Develops a Strategic Litigation Plan

Whether negotiating a settlement or taking a case to trial, we strive to secure compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and punitive damages when warranted.

Keeps You Informed and Supported

We explain every step in plain language, promptly return your calls, and treat you with dignity.

Scales of justice sitting on table next to gavel on top of books, light shining in to a dark room.

Legal Protections Under California Law

California requires long-term care facilities to:

  • Maintain Safe Premises: Secure exits, working alarms, and monitored gates.
  • Provide Adequate Supervision: Trained staff on duty 24/7 to prevent unsupervised departures.
  • Implement Individualized Care Plans: Assess the risk of wandering and tailor prevention strategies accordingly.
  • Notify Families Promptly: Report any elopement incident without delay.

When facilities neglect these duties, our Elopement Attorneys enforce your rights and demand full accountability.

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Why Peck Law Group’s Elopement Attorneys Excel

  1. Focused Specialization

Since 1990, we’ve devoted our practice to elder abuse, neglect, and elopement cases. That focus gives us unique insights into facility protocols and regulatory requirements.

  1. Record of Success

We’ve secured multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for families whose loved ones suffered wandering-related injuries or wrongful death.

  1. Compassion-Driven Representation

We know how traumatic elopement can be. Our attorneys guide you with empathy, respect, and unwavering support from your first call through resolution.

  1. No Upfront Fees

We handle cases on a contingency basis, meaning if we don’t win, you don’t pay.

Steps to Protect Your Loved One—and Your Case

  • Conduct Unannounced Visits: Verify that doors lock automatically, alarms function, and staff patrol common areas.
  • Review Care Plans: Confirm the facility has documented wandering risks and preventive measures tailored to your loved one.
  • Document Every Concern: Record dates, times, and descriptions of any safety lapses or near-miss incidents.
  • Communicate in Writing: Send emails or letters to facility administrators highlighting your observations.

These actions strengthen your case by demonstrating that the facility knew—or should have known—about the risks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to go to court?

Many cases settle out of court. If settlement offers fall short, we’re prepared to litigate and secure justice before a jury.

What compensation can I pursue?

Medical bills, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, wrongful death, and punitive damages.

How quickly should I act?

Contact our Elopement Attorneys immediately. Early legal intervention preserves critical evidence, from alarm logs to staff schedules, searching for your loved one, and other relevant records.

What qualifies as elopement?

Any unsupervised or unauthorized departure from a care facility by a resident with cognitive impairment.

Lawyer at desk with pen and notebook, evaluating an elopement case.

Your Next Step: Free Case Evaluation

Time is critical after an elopement incident. Contact our dedicated Elopement Attorneys today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. We’ll:

  • Listen to your story.
  • Evaluate the facts and facility protocols.
  • Advise you on the strongest path forward.

At Peck Law Group, our Elopement Attorneys stand ready to protect your loved one’s dignity and secure the compensation your family deserves. Let us turn your loss into a powerful call for accountability and change.

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If you think that your loved one has suffered from nursing home neglect or abuse in California, call the Peck Law Group immediately. Nursing home negligence or abuse should never happen and should never be tolerated.

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Written by Steven Peck, ESQ.

Expertise: Personal Injury

Attorney Steven Peck has been practicing law since 1981. Within the first three years, after some colleagues and friend’s parents endured nursing home neglect and elder abuse, he continued his education to protect those involved in personal injuries. For over 43 years, his dedication has been unyielding. Steve's approach to client representation and care is deeply respected by his colleagues and clients alike. Steven Peck has extensive trial experience and has recovered tens of millions of dollars in damages for clients.

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Have a question about recent abuse or neglect at a nursing home, assisted living facility, or other long term care? Peck Law Group has over 60 years of experience protecting your rights throughout the great state of California.
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