Many families rely on nursing homes to provide a safe and healthy environment for elderly loved ones who can no longer fully care for themselves. While many nursing homes provide quality care, there are some facilities that do not meet these standards, and residents may suffer harm due to nursing home neglect or abuse. Of the different types of injuries that can affect nursing home patients, falls are among the most common, and in many cases, they are preventable. Family members will want to determine whether a fall injury that affected their loved one was caused by nursing home negligence, and by working with an attorney, they can take action to hold a negligent facility responsible.
Liability for Nursing Home Fall Injuries
Elderly or disabled nursing home residents can suffer multiple types of injuries in falls. These may include broken bones, such as hips or wrists, as well as traumatic brain injuries. Because a person may already be in a vulnerable physical condition, fall injuries can have drastic effects on their long-term health and well-being. A nursing home may be liable for fall injuries that occurred because of negligence, which may include:
-
Improper supervision - If a nursing home is understaffed, a resident may not receive assistance when needed. This may cause a person to fall when attempting to get into or out of bed or perform other activities on their own.
...