Many families make the difficult decision to put a loved one in a nursing home simply because they can no longer provide them with the compassionate care and around-the-clock surveillance they need and deserve. They often find it challenging to choose a nursing home they can trust.
In many cases, deciding is a leap of faith. Finding out later that nursing home staff did not adequately provide for their loved ones, which caused them to develop serious medical conditions such as bedsores, may make them eligible for financial recovery.
If you discovered that your spouse, parent, or other family member developed bedsores because of staff negligence in their nursing home, a Columbus bedsores lawyer could help determine if you can hold the facility accountable for the harm it caused. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 842-6336 for your free case evaluation with our legal team.
How Bedsores Occur
The Mayo Clinic describes bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, as injuries to the skin and the tissue underneath, resulting from prolonged pressure on the area. Bedsores frequently occur in bony areas that come into regular contact with surfaces, such as ankles, tailbone, shoulder blades, hips, and heels.
People who have limited mobility, including bedridden nursing home residents, have the greatest chance of suffering from bedsores, particularly if their care team does not routinely help them change position to avoid the development of the condition.
Potential Complications of Bedsores
Bedsores can develop within hours, and they vary in severity, depending on how long the individual has had them without receiving treatment. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, doctors categorize bedsores into four stages.
- Stage 1: The skin may appear red or purplish and feel warm, and the patient may complain that it hurts or itches.
- Stage 2: The area may now have an open wound or blister that causes the patient more severe pain.
- Stage 3: The sore has reached the layers of tissue underneath the skin and caused a crater-like opening.
- Stage 4: The sore has developed into a large wound that may involve muscles and bones.
The more severe the bedsores are, the greater the risk of infection, which can make it harder for them to heal. Some take months or even years to fully resolve, and some never do. Other complications of bedsores include cellulitis, bone infections, cancer, and sepsis, which can lead to death.
For a free legal consultation with a Bedsores Lawyer serving Columbus, call (800) 842-6336
Bedsores May Result from Nursing Home Negligence
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care defines nursing home neglect as failing to care for a person in a way that would help them avoid harm and pain. The organization also says neglect can involve failing to react to a situation that could cause a person harm. This includes incorrect positioning of the body in beds or chairs, which can cause the resident to experience pain and develop bedsores.
A lack of assistance, in general, can also contribute to this condition, particularly for those with limited mobility.
Despite federal and state laws that establish minimum requirements for nursing home staffing, many facilities still run understaffed, which means they do not have enough people who can give the attentive care facility residents need. Shortages such as these could lead to a staff member not noticing a resident’s bedsores.
If your loved one developed bedsores due to nursing home neglect, contact the legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for a free consultation.
Columbus Bedsores Lawyer Near Me (800) 842-6336
A Columbus Bedsores Lawyer Can Help You Pursue Compensation
The consequences of nursing home neglect can lead to physical, mental, emotional, and financial distress. Families often work hard to provide pay for nursing home care. When the facility does not abide by care standards set forth by the law, they may have the opportunity to seek financial recovery for their losses. Awards in nursing home abuse cases may include compensation for:
- Medical bills, including medical equipment, transportation to and from appointments, medications, testing, and procedures
- Pain and suffering, such as mental anguish or loss of consortium
- Funeral and burial costs if the resident lost their life because of the condition
A lawyer can assess the value of your damages and pursue fair compensation on your behalf.
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Ohio’s Statutes of Limitations in Nursing Home Abuse Cases
If you discovered that your loved one developed bedsores at a nursing home as a direct result of negligence, you might have the option to file a lawsuit against the facility to recover financial losses. However, you have a limited time to do so, and the allotted period depends on the circumstances of your case.
In most civil cases, Ohio law considers nursing home abuse a form of medical malpractice, as outlined in Ohio Revised Code (ORC) §2305.113. The statute of limitations, or time during which you can pursue a lawsuit against the liable party, allows nursing home residents and their families only one year from the date they learned of the medical condition to seek financial awards.
If the resident lost their life because of their bedsores, the family could file a wrongful death lawsuit against the nursing home within two years of the date of their loved one’s passing, as explained in ORC §2125.02.
If you do not file within the statute of limitations, you likely will miss your opportunity to seek compensation for the injury or loss of your loved one. A Columbus bedsores lawyer can help you get started right away.
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Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for Help Today
Nursing homes have a legal obligation to maintain high standards of care for every resident and meet all their needs with dignity and respect. If your loved one experienced neglect in a Columbus nursing home that led to bedsores, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm could help you seek just compensation. Call us today at (800) 842-6336 to talk to our legal team about your case.
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