Managing Partner
Has someone you love suffered an injury after a fall at a Los Angeles nursing home? While some falls are purely accidental, many are the result of abuse and neglect. You trusted that your family member’s nursing home would take care of them.
Now you’re forced to watch your loved one struggle with a painful and debilitating injury. That’s unacceptable. Glotzer & Leib, LLP can help you demand the money you and your family deserve.
Contact our Los Angeles nursing home abuse lawyers to learn about your legal rights and options. Since 2005, our law firm has helped families like yours across Los Angeles County recover millions in settlements and awards.
Our goal is to hold the nursing facility fully accountable for the harm they’ve allowed your loved one to suffer. Your first consultation is free, so call for help today.
Falls are the leading cause of avoidable injury and death in elderly adults. However, just because someone gets older means that they will fall. Falls are often preventable, as long as the proper precautions are in place. Unfortunately, many nursing homes fail to give residents the attention and focus they need.
The average nursing home resident will fall 2.6 times every year. This doesn’t mean that every nursing home resident falls. It’s estimated that anywhere between 50 and 75 percent of residents will fall annually.
Statistically speaking, an elderly person is twice as likely to fall if they live in a nursing home.
Aging nursing home residents fall every day. Just how serious are these falls? Accident statistics show:
According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries.
Despite advances in medicine and families pouring their hard-earned money into nursing care, falls seem to be happening more frequently. At the same time, falls are causing more damage.
The CDC reports that fall death rates in older adults have increased by 30 percent in the last decade. If the trend continues, the agency expects that seven elderly people will die every hour because of a fall.
Falls in hospitals and nursing facilities are considered “never events.” A never event is an accident that should never occur, under any circumstances. This means that there is no reason that your loved one should fall while living in a care facility.
If falls in a nursing home should never happen, why do they? Research reveals that there are a few different reasons.
Underlying Health Issues: Why are the elderly more likely to fall than anyone else? Many experts believe it is because of underlying health issues. Falls are more likely to happen when a person suffers from lower body weakness, vitamin deficiencies, balance issues, or vision problems. When a nursing home resident doesn’t get the care and attention they deserve, these health issues can go undiagnosed. If the nursing facility isn’t aware of conditions that will make a fall more likely, they can’t be prepared to prevent them.
Medication: Many nursing home residents are prescribed and given several medications. It’s not uncommon for a single resident to be on more than eight medications at one time. Prescription drugs have several side effects, which can include dizziness, confusion, and unsteadiness. The side effects can be amplified when several drugs are taken together. This can increase the likelihood of a fall.
Nursing Home Negligence: Many times, elderly adults reside in nursing facilities because they are no longer able to care for themselves. They need a little bit of help doing simple things, like walking and showering. Many nursing homes are understaffed. Others hire unqualified caretakers. Some simply don’t pay their workers enough, resulting in caretakers who don’t take their responsibilities seriously. Your loved one suffers as a direct result. They aren’t given the care and attention they not only deserve, but need to survive.
Dangerous Conditions: Nursing homes must be designed, organized, and maintained to provide a safe space for elderly residents. Falls happen when hazards are present. These might include poor lighting, wet or slippery floors, high beds, improperly fitted wheelchairs, loose rugs, or exposed electrical wires.
Elderly nursing home residents are more likely to suffer severe injuries and complications after a fall. These might include:
A nursing home fall can require extensive rehabilitation and force residents to spend extended periods of time in bed. This can lead to bedsores, infections, and additional health complications.
There’s no reason that your loved one should fall at their nursing home. If they do, it’s important to investigate and look for signs of abuse or neglect. At Glotzer & Leib, LLP, our attorneys will identify anyone who may have been responsible for your family member’s tragic accident. This might include:
We’ll demand compensation from anyone who played a role in your loved one’s nursing home fall.
Falls can create a nightmare for you and your family. Your loved one will have to deal with a painful, possibly debilitating injury. There’s a good chance they’ll struggle with chronic pain and complications for the rest of their life.
Ongoing medical treatment and care will probably be necessary. This type of care won’t be cheap. In 2015, the cost of fall injuries in the United States exceeded $50 billion.
You shouldn’t be responsible for any of the costs related to your loved one’s unexpected nursing home fall. The negligent nursing facility and/or staff should be held fully accountable. Fortunately, you can file a California nursing home abuse lawsuit to recover monetary damages.
You might be entitled to compensation for:
If your loved one dies because of a nursing home fall, you can also recover money to compensate for funeral expenses and the loss of their love and support.
Don’t wait too long to assert your right to recover compensation. California limits the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. Generally speaking, the statute of limitations for bodily injury claims is two years. You’ll lose the right to get the money your family needs if you fail to file a claim within this two-year window.
Falls can be devastating, particularly for the elderly. If your loved one lives in a nursing home, a fall should never happen. If it does, you need to hold the nursing facility responsible.
Our experienced personal injury attorneys can help. Please contact our Los Angeles law office today to schedule a free consultation and learn more.
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