While many nursing homes provide residents with the level of care they deserve, others fall short of legal expectations, which can result in serious illness or injury. A nursing home staff has the responsibility to provide individualized care to ensure their residents have their needs taken care of. Without these measures, residents often suffer the consequences. One area a nursing home has to be especially diligent about is what medications your loved one requires.
If someone you love suffered an illness or injury as a result of a nursing home staff’s failure to provide a correct medication, a Dallas medication errors lawyer can help you pursue compensation for the losses your loved one incurred. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 842-6336 to speak with our team about your case.
Medication Errors in Nursing Homes
According to the Mayo Clinic, medication errors injure thousands of people annually in the United States. When patients have the opportunity to take a proactive role in their healthcare plans and decisions, they can help minimize the risk of medication mistakes. Nursing home settings, however, may make this more challenging, as staff often dispenses medication. Additionally, because of cognitive difficulties, not all residents have the capacity to advocate for themselves.
The Prevalence of Medication Errors
An article in the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) summarized a study on the issue, which found that medical errors involved between 16% and 27% of the older adult nursing home residents in the study. Although most cases involving medication errors did not result in substantial consequences, some medication errors caused physical injury and emotional trauma.
The article emphasizes the potential that some reporting methods have simply not caught the impact with accuracy. It states that a different study found that medical errors, including those that involve medication, contributed to so many deaths that the CDC should consider changing their reporting methods for more accurate statistics.
Repeated Medication Errors
Not only do medication errors occur frequently, but nursing home staff often repeat the errors multiple times with the same resident. A study in the American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy found that of the more than 15,000 errors reported by nearly 300 nursing homes, 37% occurred more than once with an average repetition of 10 instances. Wrong dosages accounted for the most common repeated medication error.
If someone you love became a victim of a medication error injury as a resident of a Dallas nursing home, our lawyers can help you pursue financial awards. Contact the legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Our team will speak with you about your case and advise you on your legal options. To ease the burden you may be feeling at this time, know that we work on a contingency basis and do not collect a fee unless you are successful in a settlement.
A Dallas Medication Errors Lawyer Can Establish Liability in Your Case
You can hold negligent nursing homes accountable for the harm they caused your loved one, and a lawyer can help you determine fault by demonstrating that the facility’s staff had a duty of care to keep your loved one safe from preventable injury, the staff breached their duty of care by committing a medication error, their medication error caused an injury, and the injury resulted in significant damages.
Gathering Evidence
Certain types of evidence can help prove the negligence of the nursing home staff and strengthen your claim. A Dallas medication errors lawyer can help gather evidence, such as:
- Medical charts
- Staff logs
- Video footage
- Witness testimony
Once your lawyer has collected documentation, statements, and other items to build your case, they can estimate your damages resulting from the injury and file a claim for adequate financial recovery.
Handling Negotiations with the Insurance Company
Insurance companies typically provide payment for injuries resulting from nursing home abuse or negligence. However, despite that liability claims exist to benefit victims, insurance companies may not be prone to offer fair compensation. They may make an offer that does not sufficiently cover the losses of a medication error injury.
Insurance companies also have corporate legal teams that you may find difficult to deal with on your own. If an adjuster contacts you with a cash settlement offer, know that it may not cover the full amount of your losses, and you have a right to reject that offer and contact a Dallas medication errors lawyer for help with your case. They can handle all communication and negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf to help you seek just compensation for your loved one.
For a free legal consultation with a Dallas Medication Errors Lawyer serving Dallas, call (800) 794-0444
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today to Get Started
Families often struggle to choose a nursing home for their loved one, as trusting others with their care can present a challenge. When they later discover that the facility has caused their loved one to suffer illness or injury as a result of a medication error, they may feel unsure about the next step to take to hold the nursing home accountable.
If someone you love suffered a medical injury as the result of a medication error in a Dallas nursing home, the lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you seek the financial awards your loved one deserves. We regularly handle tough cases, and we do not charge you anything unless we achieve compensation for you. Contact our legal team today at (800) 842-6336 for your free case evaluation.
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