Nursing Home Falls
For nearly 30 years, the South Carolina personal injury lawyers at Lofton & Lofton have helped their clients seek justice in complex cases involving wrongs such as nursing home neglect and abuse. Our Charleston office provides unparalleled legal service to victims injured by negligence. At Lofton & Lofton, you will receive the stellar representation and personal attention you deserve.
Nursing Home Falls
Nursing homes profit by providing health care to patients. The patients, in turn, rely on them for the skilled, 24-hour service their medical condition requires. These services may include:
- Feeding, hydration
- Assistance walking
- Changing bed position
- Transfers to and from bed
- Help in and out of wheelchair
- Monitoring movement of disabled
- Ensuring safety while in bathroom
- Timely administration of medication
Nursing home falls are the number one cause of medical complications and deaths in elderly patients. Although common, staff can easily prevent such falls by knowing the patients and assisting those who wish to walk, stand, or go to the restroom.
Dangers of Nursing Home Falls
Patients in skilled nursing facilities and convalescent homes no longer have the resilience of their younger years. Their bones may be brittle, their vision diminished, and coordination shaky. A fall for these patients may result in more serious injuries, including:
- Severe pain
- Broken bones
- Hip replacement
- Back, neck issues
- Soft tissue damage
- Decreased mobility
- Permanent disability
- Punctured body organs
- In some cases, wrongful death
Hip replacement and urinary tract infections are leading causes of death in female patients. In cases involving these outcomes, the health care provider may have violated its duty to help patients recover or maintain their quality of life. Indeed, failure to protect the patient from immediate harm can severely delay healing and cause a steep decline in patient health. Nursing homes are liable for this negligent conduct.
Falling Below the Standard of Care
When patients are injured by a preventable accident, health care providers have fallen below their legally required standard of care. As professionals, they should know that falls are common for a variety of reasons, including:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Poor lighting
- Rolling in bed
- Overmedication
- Lack of mobility
- Respiratory distress
- Wet, slippery floors
- Diagnosed disability
- Cognitive impairment
- Intravenous attachment
The patient’s medical chart, behavior, and medication are only a few factors indicating that help and supervision are necessary to prevent imminent harm. Facilities also have a sensor or call system connected to the nursing station. Staff members are responsible for lowering beds to a safe height and setting the restraint bars at night to accommodate the patients’ needs.
Recovering Compensation for Nursing Home Falls
Falls caused by nursing home neglect can implicate various parties. Issues of elder abuse, medical malpractice, and wrongful death may be involved. All relevant providers must be screened for shared liability, including physicians, nurses, aides, and any staff on duty. Injured victims and families are entitled to compensation for medical costs, funeral expenses, lost income or relationship, pain, suffering, and other benefits. An experienced personal injury lawyer can explain your legal options and best avenues for relief.
Lofton & Lofton Recovers Compensation for You
If a nursing home fall has injured you or a loved one, the trusted South Carolina nursing home abuse attorneys at Lofton & Lofton can help. Since 1984, we have been dedicated to defending the rights of injured victims everywhere. Our formidable success rate is attributable to the genuine care and loyalty we show clients. Lofton & Lofton is a family operation with family values, so we honor the parents, children, and relatives that trust us with their cases. Call (843) 722-6319 for a consultation or contact us online.
