The decision to move a loved one to a nursing home is never easy for a family. However, in the expectation of expert medical care, it emerges to be the right decision. Unfortunately, the decision can backfire in case of physical or emotional abuse as a result of unintentional or intentional trauma by the nursing home. If such a situation arises, the nursing home should be held liable for their negligence. Hire a nursing home abuse lawyer to help.
This becomes even more important in the context of the data. In New York state, there are approximately 633 nursing homes with nearly 105,000 elderly patients residing in them, and the number has been on the rise. As per records, the New York Health State Department receives around 1600 complaints of abuse and negligence from nursing home patients or their loved ones every year. A nursing home negligence lawyer is ideal to handle such situations of neglect and abuse.
Largely, nursing home abuse can be categorized as physical, emotional, financial or sexual. And, one of the most common signs of physical abuse are bruises and fractures due to falls.
Falls and fractures as a result of nursing home negligence
Elderly and those in need of special medical care and attention are more prone to falls and fractures as their mobility is often compromised due to age-related and other medical issues. Hence, it is the responsibility of the nursing home staff to provide adequate care. For example, for people who need assistance while walking should always have qualified and attentive staff, for the elderly on wheelchairs, ramps should be made available. If the lack of such services cause fall and fractures, they can be a sign of neglect.
Suing a nursing home for falls and fractures
A nursing home can be sued on various grounds in case of falls or fractures. Some of the common claims in case of falls/fractures as a result of negligence in a nursing home are:
- Personal injury: Most often, the patient or their loved one, file a personal injury claim against the nursing home in case of bed sores.
- Medical malpractice: Since the doctors and health care staff are expected to provide a certain standard of medical care, one may file a claim against the nursing staff / doctor for medical malpractice. This could include not taking proactive steps to avoid falls or not providing treatment in time.
- Neglect: Neglect is a common legal claim related to bedsores in a nursing home. If the staff failed to follow standard procedures, such as, assisting the patient in walking, leaving a wet floor without warning, not providing railings next to steps/corridors, etc. they may be sued for negligence if the patient suffers from bed sores.
Your nursing home abuse lawyer would be best placed to advise you on the claim to file as per the facts of the case. Moreover, the lawyer will ensure that you’re compensated beyond the medical costs incurred. They will file a claim which will cover for the physical, mental and emotional trauma caused to you and your loved ones as a result of the nursing home’s negligence.
If you or someone you know has been abused or neglected in a nursing home and needs a nursing home negligence lawyer, contact us today. Reach out to Siler & Ingber by either calling us on 1-877-529-4343 or completing our online form on this page to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation with one of our experienced nursing home abuse lawyers.