Nursing homes, assisted living centers, and other residential care facilities are supposed to provide quality care to residents who can no longer care for themselves because of their age or their physical or mental condition. As part of their duty of care, nursing homes should take precautions to minimize the risk of accidents occurring which could injure their residents. Sadly, there are serious accidents, such as falls, that happen every day which may require the help of a trusted nursing home negligence attorney.
If your loved one fell in a nursing home and suffered a severe injury, your family might be eligible to seek financial compensation in a civil lawsuit. Our Fort Washington nursing home fall lawyers have successfully helped people in similar situations throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
The Effects of Nursing Home Falls
When children fall, they are usually alright and can bounce back up and go on with their day. However, when an elderly resident of a nursing home falls, they can suffer debilitating health consequences. Older people have fragile bones, which are more prone to breaking. A simple fall, which a healthy child or younger adult could brush off, could result in a life-altering bone fracture in an older person. Falls in nursing homes can also result in head injuries and other debilitating harm.
In addition to suffering changes in their physical health, a fall can be very painful and have a devastating impact on a nursing home resident’s overall quality of life. Their injuries from the fall could be slow to heal, and lead to mobility limitations and a functional decline in the other parts of their body. This could cause a resident to experience feelings of depression, isolation, and anxiety.
Our compassionate Fort Washington attorneys understand the seriousness of nursing home fall accidents. We can work with your family to learn the full extent of your loved one’s physical and emotional injuries in order to help them recover a fair and reasonable settlement or damages award.
Sadly, some nursing falls result in fatalities. Our attorneys can help your grieving family members seek justice in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Reasons That Falls Happen in Nursing Homes
The most common causes of nursing home falls tend to be the following:
- Medications, such as sedatives, which can make a resident dizzy and more prone to falling
- Wet floors
- Inadequate lighting
- Debris or other objects in walkways
- Insufficient staff to safely monitor all residents and their activities
- Not providing residents with mobility assistance or not correctly using assistive devices, such as support belts, when residents get out of bed, get into a wheelchair, or go to the bathroom
- Lack of bed rails, handrails, and other assistive devices
Nursing home staff should be aware of each resident’s capabilities and limitations, and have fall prevention protocols to minimize the chances of falls. Our skilled Fort Washington attorneys can review the nursing home’s staffing, training, and employment manuals to determine if the facility’s negligence contributed to your loved one’s devastating fall.
Consult with a Fort Washington Attorney About Compensation for a Nursing Home Fall Injury
Unfortunately, falls in nursing homes are alarmingly common. They can result in life-altering injuries and be incredibly expensive to treat. Your family has rights and can file a medical malpractice suit against the facility for negligence.
Consult with our Fort Washington nursing home fall lawyers at Friedman Schuman Layser today and discuss how we can help your family get compensated for the difficulties your elderly loved one has experienced.