A nursing home resident often depends entirely on staff to move between bed and wheelchair or to reach the bathroom. When caregivers lack the right equipment or enough trained hands, a routine transfer could end in a frightening fall. Dropped patients in Orlando nursing homes may suffer broken bones or serious head trauma that diminishes their independence.
An experienced nursing home abuse attorney from our team could investigate whether the facility ignored the care plan or used an unsafe transfer method. At Colling Gilbert Wright, The Florida Firm Injury and Accident Lawyers, we understand how difficult it is to learn that an injury may have come from another party’s preventable neglect. Our lawyers work exceptionally hard to protect your family member’s rights and pursue accountability when poor care causes harm.
How Bad Transfers Lead to Falls
Many residents cannot safely stand or support their own weight, so staff may need a mechanical lift or a two-person assist. The care plan should specify the safest method based on the resident’s strength and medical condition. A dropped Orlando nursing home patient often means caregivers did not adequately follow those instructions.
Transfer injuries usually involve more than one failure. A facility may undertrain its aides or have them perform an unsafe transfer to save time. Understaffing could push employees to cut safety corners, so we examine whether the facility employed enough qualified caregivers for the residents.
State law protects every nursing home resident’s right to adequate and appropriate health care. Under Florida Statutes § 400.022, the state requires facilities to treat residents with dignity and to provide care without abuse or neglect. For example, facilities are required to adopt and make public a statement regarding the residents’ rights and are required to treat said residents in accordance with those rights. A preventable transfer accident could violate those rights when staff disregards a known fall risk.
What Evidence Could Demonstrate Negligence?
A careful investigation could reveal whether Orlando nursing facility staff dropped a patient because they ignored accepted safety practices. We move quickly to request records before important details fade.
Useful evidence may include:
- The resident’s care plan and fall-risk assessments
- Transfer and mobility instructions
- Nursing notes and incident reports
- Staffing schedules and time records
- Employee training and disciplinary records
- Lift inspection and maintenance documents
- Surveillance footage and witness statements
We compare these records against medical charts and family testimony to expose inconsistencies and to show whether the facility later changed its account. Many of our cases arrive as referrals from attorneys who trust us to prepare thoroughly and take serious neglect matters to trial.
Compensation After a Transfer Injury
A serious fall could lead to surgery and long rehabilitation, along with lasting pain and reduced mobility. Some residents never regain their former independence. When a patient at an Orlando nursing home has a valid claim, they may seek compensation for medical bills and the physical and emotional toll of their lift-related fall.
Under Fla. Stat. § 400.023, a nursing home resident or a family member acting on their behalf may bring a civil action for negligence or for a violation of residents’ rights. The statute allows you to pursue actual and punitive damages for the injuries suffered as a result of another party’s negligence. State law adds specific pre-suit requirements, and we manage that process and document how the facility’s conduct caused the harm.
Our firm brings decades of litigation experience and a history of substantial nursing home recoveries. We evaluate what your loved one has lost and pursue trial when we judge that path offers the strongest result.
Contact Us About Dropped Patients in Orlando Assisted Living Facilities
Dropped patients in Orlando nursing homes deserve a proper investigation, not excuses from the facility. Your family may have the right to seek compensation and to hold negligent caregivers accountable, and early legal guidance helps preserve records before the facility controls the story.
Contact Colling Gilbert Wright today for a free consultation. We will listen to the details of the incident and explain your options with the professionalism and compassion your family deserves. We are trusted by other attorneys and law firms. In fact, many of our cases come from other attorneys who refer clients to us. Additionally, you will pay no fees or costs unless we recover compensation for your claim.