Nursing home residents may be more prone to bone fractures and breaks than the general population due to their ages and their overall health conditions. While accidents do happen, nursing homes are supposed to take care of residents, not allowing them to suffer injuries. If a loved one suffers injuries while in a nursing home, you may want to consult with a Fort Worth bone fractures and breaks lawyer for advice.
Dealing with the realization that your loved one has suffered abuse while in a nursing home can be devastating. You are likely unfamiliar with your legal rights in a situation like this and may not know where to turn first. At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we are here to guide you through the often-complex process of filing claims against a nursing home for its failure to protect a loved one. We also can assist you in filing complaints against the facility with the state agency that governs nursing homes. Call (800) 842-6336 and take the first step toward getting justice for your loved one today.
Nursing Home Abuse
Despite state and federal regulations that govern nursing home operations and minimum standards, a study by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) showed in 2014 that Texas nursing homes ranked 49th out of the 50 states in terms of quality of care and quality of life for residents. One of the major factors that contributed to this poor ranking was the high rate of staff turnover.
Various factors can lead to nursing home abuse. Understaffing, lack of proper training, failing to properly screen applicants, and high staff turnover rates all can lead to nursing home abuse. One form of physical abuse that may occur to a nursing home resident is broken or fractured bones. In some cases, staff members may purposely push, trip, shove, or grab residents out of anger or frustration and cause them to suffer broken bones. In other cases, nursing home staff may fail to properly monitor and respond to the needs of residents, which can lead to preventable falls and other incidents that result in broken bones. In situations such as these, a Fort Worth bone fractures and breaks lawyer may be able to help.
Negligence in Nursing Home Abuse Claims
Although nursing home abuse can be a criminal act in some cases, it also can result in civil liability for the parties responsible for the abuse, including nursing homes. These civil claims primarily rest on a finding of negligence or careless or reckless disregard for the safety of nursing home residents. When nursing staff or administrators fail to protect residents from suffering bone fractures and breaks, the injured resident may have grounds to hold them liable for compensation in a civil suit.
When you admit a loved one to a nursing home, you are contracting with the nursing home to provide them with an adequate, quality level of medical, personal, and social care. As a result, nursing homes have a contractual duty to furnish residents with appropriate care, but they also have duties under state and federal law to offer quality care to residents.
Nursing home staff may breach their duty of care in various ways, many of which could result in broken and fractured bones for residents. For instance, if high staff turnover rates result in poor training for staff members, then the staff members may cause the residents to unnecessarily fall or suffer injuries when transferring in and out of beds, chairs, and vehicles.
Likewise, chronic understaffing may lead to nursing home residents experiencing neglect and being left alone for long periods; as a result, nursing home residents may try to move locations on their own, which can result in broken bones. Understaffing also can lead to high levels of frustration in staff members, which can cause staff to treat residents in an abusive or rough manner.
If nursing home residents suffer harm because of the negligent or reckless actions of nursing home staff members, the injured residents may have a valid legal claim for compensation. In this situation, residents and their families may be able to seek various forms of compensation from the nursing homes that allowed their abuse to occur.
For a free legal consultation with a Bone Fractures and Breaks Lawyer serving Texas, call (800) 842-6336
Compensation for Nursing Home Abuse
Civil claims in Texas based on nursing home abuse can lead to a settlement or award of many different types of compensation or damages. The amount and type of damages vary according to the circumstances of each case. However, one of the most common types of damages includes medical expenses related to the treatment of the broken or fractured bones, along with any other physical injuries that the residents have suffered.
Other potential forms of compensation in a nursing home abuse claim include pain and suffering, mental trauma, permanent physical or mental impairment, and the costs of transfer to a new facility. Expenses for physical rehabilitation and therapy and medical assistive devices, such as walkers or wheelchairs, also may be available.
Texas Bone Fractures and Breaks Lawyer Near Me (800) 842-6336
Seek Justice for Your Loved One Through a Nursing Home Abuse Claim
After you have discovered that loved ones have suffered nursing home abuse in the form of broken or fractured bones or other injuries, your first priority likely will be to get medical treatment for your loved ones and ensure their safety. When you have ensured that your loved one is safe, you may want to find a way to hold the nursing accountable for causing injuries to your loved ones. One way to seek justice for your loved one is to file a nursing home abuse claim with the help of a Fort Worth bone fractures and breaks lawyer.
We want to support you throughout the civil claims process. As a result, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm will take your case on contingency. This means that you will not have to worry about paying any money to us upfront. We can get started on your case right away. We will collect our legal fees only after you receive compensation for your injuries. Call (800) 842-6336 today for a free case review.
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