Neglect in Nursing Homes Leading to Falls and Other Injuries
Neglect in Nursing Homes Leading to Falls and Other Injuries
DATELINE NEW HYDE PARK, NY — “Dad, remember when the two of you wanted to go for a walk to Umberto’s for a pizza?” Abby asked. “You always went early in the afternoon, remember?”
Abby’s father, Ben, was a fit 80-something in full possession of his faculties.
“Definitely. If she was having trouble with her walker, I’d try to help her across the rough spots on the sidewalk. She loved going to Umberto’s,” Ben said.
“I think this fall, the one the hospital says proved fatal, could have been avoided. I’ll bet you anything that she had to go to the bathroom and nobody came to assist her when she rang the call bell.” Abby’s sadness was tinged with anger.
“I know, honey. But what can we do now?” Ben said, trying to soothe her in this, one of the worst in their lives together.
“I’m going to do something about this. And get to the bottom of it. Even if the nursing home is telling us they don’t even know who was on duty in that wing when it happened.”
Abby hardened.
“I can’t let Mom’s death be in vain.”
A nursing home should be a safe place for patients, but sadly patients suffer falls and injuries due to negligent nursing home care. Nursing home abuse takes many forms, with unexpected injuries being significant examples. If you suspect abuse, you and your family have certain rights. Gathering the evidence needed for a lawsuit against nursing home facilities is time-critical. Contact the expert team at Dalli & Marino for your nursing home abuse, neglect, misinformation or other case today.
ANALYSIS: NEGLIGENT NURSING HOME CARE
Nursing home abuse often manifests itself in unexplained injuries that can ultimately be traced to falls or other negligent nursing home care. The causes of these falls require investigation, a study of medical records, and plenty of question-asking. How will you know whether your loved one’s injury was caused by negligent nursing home care? Often the first indication comes from an unexplained fracture, hematoma or other injury. An unexpected visit to the emergency room is also cause to suspect negligent nursing home care. Ask questions. What caused the injury? Was there a fall? Where and when did this happen? In the case of Abby’s Mom depicted below, she may have needed to go to the bathroom and nobody answered her call for help. Or, she may have been so medicated she could not walk properly.
Or she may have fallen out of bed or a wheelchair because the nursing home was not monitoring her properly due to inadequate and short staffing.
Ask questions. What caused the fall? Where and when did this happen? If your loved one has suffered unexplained injuries while under the care of a nursing home, you and your loved one may have legal recourse.
Focus
A firm must be experienced in the particulars of nursing home operations and applicable state and federal law to be (persuasively) successful at trial. Dalli & Marino, LLP is that law firm.
Evidence Gathering
Gathering evidence in today’s environment requires a clear understanding of the rules, plus the possible role of electronic medical records/electronic health records (EMR/EHR) and expert witnesses.
Do you suspect
nursing home abuse?
If you believe you or your loved one is suffering from bedsores, inadequate care, or abuse at a nursing home in New York, it’s time to contact the nursing home abuse lawyers at Dalli & Marino.