Lawsuits for Fractures and Falls in Nursing Homes
Residents in nursing homes are at a significantly increased risk of falling since they are often disabled, elderly and easily disoriented. Given their frail medical condition, a fall resulting in a fracture or injury in a nursing home can have a significant impact on a resident’s functional ability and quality of life.
Although nursing home residents are prone to falling, in many cases mistakes by the facility or their staff may contribute to a fall. Nursing homes have an obligation to take extra precautions to make sure that the facility is free of hazards and that preventative measures are in place.
The nursing home injury lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. review potential lawsuits for fracture bones and other serious injuries caused by falls, as well as other forms of neglect and abuse. To review a potential case for a loved one, request a free case evaluation.
NURSING HOME FALL AND FRACTURE LAWSUITS
When a facility fails to follow the proper standard of care and it results in a serious injury from a fall, the nursing home may be held responsible for the damages caused by their negligence.
Some examples of nursing home failures which could cause or contribute to a fall injury include:
- Hazards in the hallway such as wet floors or cords from medical equipment
- Failure to use safety devices such as bed rails, floor mats or adjust the bed height appropriately based on known risk factors
- Failure to have assistive devices available, operational call buttons or bed alarms to alert staff when a resident tries to move without assistance
- Dropping a resident while moving them as a result of understaffing or lack of training
- Failure to adequately supervise residents and prevent those at risk of falling from attempting to move about without assistance
Federal nursing home regulations require that every resident have an assessment done when they enter the facility and to update the assessment on a regular basis or with changes in their medical condition.
This report must include a written plan of care which describes the functional capacity of the resident and an assessment of their risk of falling. Based on this assessment, proper steps must be taken to supervise the resident and provide safety devices to prevent fall injuries.
NURSING HOME INJURY LAWSUITS
If a friend or loved one has suffered an injury as a result of a fall in a nursing home and you believe that it could have been prevented, request a free consultation and legal claim evaluation to determine if they may have a claim. The nursing home attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. have experience reviewing complex injury claims and can review the circumstances surrounding the fall to determine if your loved one and family may be entitled to compensation.
There are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained. However, every claim has a deadline, so it is important that you review any potential claim with a qualified nursing home neglect lawyer as soon as possible.