For elderly individuals and those in poor health, falling down can be extremely dangerous and lead to serious injuries or even death. If a nursing home fails to prevent falls or respond properly when a resident suffers a fall, the facility may be liable for damages.
Examples of Negligence That Can Lead to an Avoidable Fall
Fall accidents can lead to traumatic brain injuries, broken hips and other broken bones, spine injuries, and other severe injuries. For nursing home residents, falling can be life-threatening. Nursing homes have a legal duty to use reasonable care to avoid injuries and deaths caused by fall accidents.
A nursing home may be considered negligent if the facility:
- Failed to take proper precautions to prevent a fall accident – Nursing home residents should be evaluated for fall risk factors. Reduced mobility, medications that cause dizziness, and a tendency to wander are just some of the factors that can increase the risk of a resident falling. If a resident is at high risk for fall accidents, staff should take extra precautions to ensure the resident’s safety. This may include ensuring that the resident uses a walker or wheelchair and supervising the resident closely.
- Allowed hazardous conditions to exist – Inadequate lighting, wet floors, unsecured electrical cords, cluttered floors, and other hazards increase the likelihood of a fall accident.
- Failed to respond quickly and appropriately when a fall accident occurs – When nursing home staff are not supervising residents or do not have adequate training, they can mishandle a fall accident and make the situation much worse than it otherwise would have been. Nursing home negligence may lead to a resident suffering in pain for hours before the staff find them.
Is My Loved One’s Fall Actionable?
A nursing home injury claim against the facility can hold a negligent nursing home accountable for a resident’s injury or death. However, it can be hard to know when negligence has occurred. You may be able to successfully sue the nursing home if the nursing home failed to meet the medical standard of care or violated Illinois law. The best way to know whether you may be able to sue a nursing home for your loved one’s fall injury is to speak with an experienced nursing home neglect and abuse lawyer.
Contact our Peoria Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers
At Nursing Home Injury Center, we recognize just how dangerous fall accidents are for vulnerable nursing home residents and seek to hold negligent nursing homes accountable. If your loved one was seriously injured or died because of a fall in a nursing home, contact our Peoria nursing home negligence attorneys to discuss your legal options. Call 309-524-6900 today and set up a free case assessment.
Source:
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=1225&ChapterID=21
