We recognize that it is challenging when your loved one has suffered an injury due to a fall in a nursing home. You may feel mixed emotions, including anger, if the injury was due to abuse or neglect.
If this is the case for your family member or yourself, do not hesitate to reach out to our attorneys at Silva Injury Law, Inc. We are here to help you file your claim for your or your loved one’s injuries.
What Is A Fall In A Nursing Home?
You may be wondering, What is considered a fall in a nursing home? Knowing how to define a fall is crucial because it can affect your ability to bring a claim.
A fall is an inability to stay in a sitting, standing, or lying position. Because of this, the person suddenly moves downward without wanting to do so. Losing one’s balance may also be considered a fall even if the person was prevented from hitting the ground by someone catching them.
Sometimes a fall may be at least partially due to abuse or neglect by the nursing home facility or its staff. Discussing your case with an attorney who can advocate for you and your family is critical.
Causes Of Nursing Home Falls
You might be asking yourself, How common are nursing home falls? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of people over 65 years old fall each year. There are a plethora of reasons why a fall might occur in a nursing home.
Medications
Particular medications can result in a fall in a nursing home. Some of these include sedatives or medications for reducing anxiety. Common medications that can lead to nursing home falls include Valium, Centrax, Dalmane, Doral, Klonopin, and Paxipam. There are guidelines that caretakers must follow followed regarding these medications, such as how long they should continue administering them and the methods they should use to prevent falls.
Environmental Hazards
Hazards in the nursing home can also result in a fall. These hazards might consist of:
- Wet floors,
- Unstable bed wheels,
- Uneven floors,
- Unstable furniture,
- Cluttered living spaces,
- Inadequate lighting,
- Inadequately maintained wheelchairs, or
- Inoperative wheelchair brakes.
If your family member has suffered an injury due to one of these conditions, you should contact us. Our lawyers can assist you in seeking the necessary compensation.
Medical Conditions
A nursing home patient might have a health condition that makes them more susceptible to falls. Some of these conditions could be:
- A hip fracture,
- A history of falls,
- Incontinence,
- Huntington’s disease,
- Needing a cane or walker, or
- Impaired vision.
Even if your loved one has one of these conditions, other causes for the fall might also be at play. It is possible that the nursing home or nursing home staff could share in some of the liability for your family member’s injuries.
An attorney can assist you in fighting for your rights under California law. Nursing home residents have various rights according to law, including informed consent for medical treatment. Residents of a nursing home also have the legal right to be free from abuse and neglect. If you have questions, it is crucial that you contact one of our lawyers to determine nursing home fall liability.
Common Fall Injuries In Nursing Homes
There are, lamentably, several typical fall injuries that could take place in the nursing home setting. These can include:
- Broken bones,
- Back injuries,
- Abrasions,
- Depression,
- Head injuries, and
- Traumatic brain injuries.
If your family member or loved one has suffered an injury, you should reach out to a lawyer.
Our experienced attorneys can help you recover compensation while your loved one focuses on healing.
How We Can Help You
Contact us today if your loved one has suffered an injury due to a fall in a nursing home. We can help you hold the nursing facility or staff accountable. Our attorney Michael Silva has worked as a prosecutor and has expertise in every stage of the litigation process.
If you need an attorney who can fight for you, don’t hesitate to call, text or contact us through our online form to request a consultation.
Find Out How We Can Help
At Silva Injury Law we promote healing through compassionate advocacy. With each case tailored to the individual, we look our for your best interests by evaluating your unique circumstances. Contact us today for a FREE in person or remote consultation.