Falls, even those from ground level, can cause severe and fatal injuries, especially in older adults. If your loved one suffered a fall injury while in a nursing home, it could signify more serious issues regarding their care. Falls can indicate nursing home abuse and neglect.
If your loved one sustained a fracture during a fall at their nursing home, a Germantown falls and fractures in nursing homes attorney with Brown & Barron can investigate conditions at their care facility.
If your family member’s injury stemmed from abuse, wrongdoing, or neglect, we could hold the liable party financially responsible for your loved one’s medical care and other damages.
Get in touch with a falls and fractures lawyer serving Germantown, 410-547-0202 for a free case evaluation.
Older Adults Are At Risk for Falls and Fractures
According to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 3 million people aged 65 and older seek emergency room treatment every year for falls in the United States. Furthermore, about one in five falls results in a serious injury, such as a broken bone.
Common fall injuries for older adults include:
- Broken arms and legs
- Broken wrist
- Broken ankle
- Broken fingers and toes
- Hip fractures
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Severe bruising
Nursing home facility staff should know the general fall risks for seniors (and certain patients in particular). Staff should make every effort to protect residents from falls, and failure to do so could be a sign of negligent care.
Fractured Hips Can Be Especially Dangerous
Hip fractures, in particular, pose a severe health risk for adults aged 65 and older. According toActa Ortopédica Mexicana, about half of elderly hip fracture patients die within six months of their injury. In addition, hip fractures can significantly affect an older adult physically, mentally, and socially, and many who recover from a hip fracture never return to their baseline level of functioning and independence.
Nursing Home Falls Can Signal Abuse or Neglect
Falls and fractures can be a sign of nursing home abuse or neglect. Falls can indicate a lack of patient supervision, mobility assistance, and help with day-to-day activities, such as toileting. Falls can also be a side effect of medication errors, malnourishment, and dehydration. Sadly, in some situations, falls can result from intentional physical violence.
If your loved one suffered a fall, you might want to investigate conditions at their nursing home, especially if you notice any other warning signs of abuse or neglect, including:
- Poor hygiene, such as dirty clothes, nails, or hair
- Indications of malnourishment or dehydration, such as sunken eyes and cheeks, unexplained weight loss, and dizziness
- Lack of dental or vision care
- Scars, cuts, bruising, or other physical injuries
- Changes in your loved one’s behavior, such as becoming withdrawn, agitated, or violent
- Bedsores
- Unclean living facilities
- Untrained staff
- Understaffing
What Should I Do If My Loved One Is Suffering Abuse or Neglect in Their Nursing Home?
If you suspect your loved one is experiencing nursing home abuse or neglect, you should report the facility. According to the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, you can contact the Maryland Department of Health / Office of Health Care Quality at 1-877-402-8219 or the Montgomery County Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 240-777-3369.
To report psychological or physical abuse, sexual abuse, resident isolation, unauthorized or inappropriate use of restraints, or violation of a resident’s civil rights, call the Office of Health Care Quality at 410-402-8100.
For more immediate assistance, contact the Montgomery County Department of Police at 301-279-8000. If the situation is an emergency, call 911.
Contact Brown & Barron onlinetoday to schedule a free case review with a with a falls and fractures lawyer serving Germantown.
Our Nursing Home Lawyers Can Seek Justice for Your Loved One
You deserve financial compensation if your loved one’s fall or fracture resulted from abuse or neglect. Your loved one should get the medical care they need, and it should not have to come at the expense of your family’s financial security.
Our attorneys can help you recover:
- Current and future medical expenses – We can recover the cost of your loved one’s medical bills and the estimated value of their expected future medical needs. This may include doctor and hospital bills, medications, medical devices, rehabilitation, in-home health care, and hospice.
- Nursing home fees – You should not have to pay for substandard nursing home care. If the facility is responsible for your loved one’s injury, we may be able to recover fees paid to the nursing home and the cost of relocating your loved one to another residence.
- Lost income – If caring for your injured loved one requires that you miss work, take a lower-paying job, or quit your job, we can seek compensation for your back pay and lost wages, benefits, and earnings.
- Pain and suffering damages – A fracture can drastically reduce an older adult’s quality of life. We can seek awards for your loved one’s physical pain, stress, anxiety, depression, loss of sleep, loss of mobility, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Wrongful death compensation – If your loved one suffered a fatal fall or fracture, you might qualify for wrongful death awards, including compensation for mental pain and suffering caused by their passing.
About Our Law Firm
Our firm only handles medical malpractice and nursing home abuse and neglect cases, so we know what it takes to get justice for those harmed by negligent and abusive facilities. Furthermore, when you work with us, we worry about the details of your insurance claim or lawsuit, so you can care for your loved one.
Our Germantown falls and fractures in nursing homes lawyers will:
- Collect evidence, including medical records, witness statements, and nursing home employment records
- Calculate your losses
- File an insurance claim or lawsuit against the negligent care provider or nursing home
- Handle communications with the insurance company or opposing counsel
- Negotiate to secure the maximum amount of compensation possible for your loved one
If we must take your case to civil court, per Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code § 5-109, you have the sooner of either five years after your injury, or three years after the discovery of your injury, to file. If your loved one sustained a fatal injury, you have three years to file a wrongful death lawsuit, according toMd. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-904.
Discuss Your Case with a Falls and Fractures in Nursing Homes Lawyer Today
To find out more about how a Germantown falls and fractures in nursing homes attorney from Brown & Barron can serve you; call our offices for a free case review.