Nursing homes must follow stringent rules to prevent falls and minimize their impact. When a resident is hurt or dies due to a fall, the facility may be liable. A fall in a nursing home can greatly endanger a patient’s health and might even be fatal.
The attorneys at Colling Gilbert Wright have an excellent reputation for deftly handling cases concerning falls in Orlando nursing homes. Other lawyers refer nursing home neglect cases to us because they know they can rely on our skills, integrity, and long record of impressive results.
Why Are Nursing Home Falls So Common?
As people age, their muscles weaken, and holding themselves upright requires more effort. Falls are often the result. Other factors, such as medication side effects, diminished visual acuity, and cognitive impairment, can impact balance and lessen the ability to avoid falls.
When patients are no longer mobile, falls are still a leading cause of injury and death. Transfers between bed and a wheelchair or wheelchair to toilet and back may lead to falls. Nursing homes must have the proper equipment to manage the transfer safely, and the workers assisting in the transfer must have proper training.
Our Orlando attorneys will investigate the circumstances surrounding a nursing home fall. If we find that the facility failed to adhere to proper fall prevention protocol or was negligent in some other way, we can bring a claim against the facility.
Determining Whether a Facility Is Negligent
Nursing homes must prioritize minimizing the likelihood of falls, and this process must begin when a resident is admitted to the facility. Each resident must receive an individual assessment of their fall risk and a personalized care plan that addresses this risk, along with the patient’s other medical and social needs. As the patient’s condition changes, the nursing home must update the assessment and care plan to reflect the current fall risk.
Staff must have training in using lifts, straps, and other tools to move or transfer patients safely. These tools must be readily available and in good condition. Sometimes executing a safe transfer requires two staff members, and there must be adequate staff available for these situations.
When the attorneys from The Florida Firm Injury and Accident Lawyers investigate a fall in an Orlando nursing home, we review the patient’s medical records to determine whether their fall risk assessment is current. We look at staff employment records, review the training of staff on duty when the fall occurred, and scrutinize whether a maintenance or janitorial issue might have contributed to the fall. Depending on the results, we can help you make a complaint to the regulatory authorities and prepare a legal claim for compensation.
Bringing a Compensation Claim
A nursing home is negligent when it fails to provide a reasonable standard of care or when it does not keep its premises reasonably safe for visitors. If you can prove that a facility’s negligence led to a fall that caused significant injury or death, the nursing home is liable for damages.
You must bring your claim within two years of the incident, according to Florida Statutes § 400.0326. It is usually wise to get an Orlando nursing home negligence attorney involved as quickly as possible after a fall. A swift response helps ensure that important evidence does not disappear, and also allows us to improve conditions for the patients of the facility by informing the administrator and regulatory authorities about the negligence we discover.
You can claim financial damages to cover the cost of any necessary medical treatment and compensation for pain and suffering. Our firm has obtained numerous high-value verdicts and settlements in nursing home fall cases. These include $750,000 for the family of a patient who died after suffering numerous falls and $500,000 for the family of a patient who fell on stairs and suffered fatal injuries.
Work With Our Orlando Lawyers to Pursue a Nursing Home Fall Case
Orlando nursing home falls are often preventable. If your loved one suffered a significant injury or died due to a fall in a nursing home, hold the facility accountable by bringing a negligence claim.
Reach out to us at Colling Gilbert Wright to schedule a consultation with no risk or obligation. We do not accept fees or expenses unless we win money for you, so contact us today.