As your loved one ages, they may develop age-related diseases and disorders that require round-the-clock care. For this reason, entrusting your loved one to a nursing home may seem like a viable option when it comes to securing the care that they need. Unfortunately, many nursing homes do not uphold their duty of care to elderly residents. The likelihood of accidents and injuries increase exponentially when a nursing home provides substandard care.
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we believe that no one deserves to suffer at the hands of a negligent nursing home. A Nashville nursing home accident lawyer stands ready to help you and your loved ones recover compensation for your associated expenses. A Nashville nursing home lawyer can review the facility’s history for any previous allegations of abuse, speak with your loved one’s health care providers, and build a course of action on your behalf.
Call us today at (800) 842-6336 for a free case evaluation.
Common Accidents in Nursing Homes
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) reminds us of how important a senior’s living conditions are. The organization reports that seniors who face elder abuse or neglect have shorter lifespans than their peers who do not.
Some scenarios that may have led to your loved one’s injuries or passing include:
Falls
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of brain injuries, hip fractures, and broken bones in seniors.
The cause of falls in nursing homes is often multifactorial, involving many different elements.
Some causes of your loved one’s fall may include:
- A decline in physical strength. As adults age, they may suffer from muscle weakness, decreased bone mass, loss of coordination, and reduced flexibility. Their lessened physical strength and agility may make them susceptible to slip and fall accidents.
- Impaired vision. Nursing home residents with impaired vision may not easily detect fall hazards such as steps, puddles, and thresholds. It then becomes the responsibility of their caregiver to ensure a resident’s safety and wellbeing. Nursing home residents––especially those with impaired vision––should never be unsupervised.
- Medications. Some medications may have serious side effects that may cause drowsiness, dizziness, and low blood pressure. These side effects may contribute to an accident.
- Environmental hazards. Your loved one’s fall may have been due to environmental hazards such as poor lighting, clutter, loose carpets, slick floors, and a lack of safety equipment.
You may not see the cause of your loved one’s fall listed above. A lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may investigate the details of your loved one’s living conditions to learn more about their accident.
Fire and Burns
Residents in a nursing home can suffer serious burns in several different ways. For instance, residents with smoking habits can easily burn themselves, especially if they suffer from cognitive impairments. Caregivers must supervise these activities to prevent an accident from happening. Additionally, electrical appliances in residents’ rooms can overheat and start a fire in the facility.
In other instances, residents may suffer burns from hot water. If your loved one bathes or showers unsupervised, this may have happened in your nursing home accident case. Nursing home facilities have a responsibility to install anti-scald devices on sinks, showers, and bathtubs to eliminate the risk of burn injuries.
Choking
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), choking is among the leading causes of accidental deaths throughout the country. Elderly adults with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other cognitive impairments cannot eat safely on their own. These residents depend on nursing home personnel to prevent such an incident from occurring.
While incidences of choking may seem accidental, this does not absolve nursing homes of liability. If this happened in your situation, your Nashville nursing home accident lawyer could take action accordingly.
Negligence Is a Common Cause of Nursing Home Accidents
The root cause of many nursing home accidents is inadequate supervision. Some facilities do not have enough staff members to monitor the facility and care for elderly residents. In some cases, nursing home facilities will deliberately hire fewer employees to minimize staffing expenses and maximize profits. This can be dangerous, especially if your loved one depends on continual care.
Failure to monitor and supervise nursing home residents may make seniors attempt to move around without assistance. For instance, a resident may decide to head to the bathroom by themselves if their caregiver takes too long to arrive. An elderly resident may suffer life-threatening injuries as a result.
Every nursing home facility has an obligation to take reasonable precautions to protect residents.
This includes:
- Properly vetting and training staff
- Having a sufficient amount of staff members
- Assessing residents’ care needs
- Regularly bathing residents
- Continually monitoring the premises for any potential hazards
- Promptly addressing instances of suspected abuse or neglect
- Providing assistive devices to residents with limited mobility
- Having alarms, locks, and other security measures to prevent residents from leaving the premises
We encourage you to call the legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today. Together, we can recover compensation for your losses.
For a free legal consultation with a Nashville Nursing Home Accidents Lawyer serving Nashville, call (800) 842-6336
Liability in a Nashville Nursing Home Accident Case
If your loved one suffered injuries in a nursing home accident, our legal team might be able to identify all potentially at-fault and liable parties.
These parties may include:
Nurses and Caregivers
Nurses and caregivers must monitor elderly residents and provide medical attention, dietary assistance, and general supervision and care. Failing in these responsibilities may cause nursing home accidents in which residents may suffer serious and life-threatening injuries. The care staff responsible for your loved one’s safety may be liable for your damages.
The Facility’s Maintenance Staff
The maintenance staff in a nursing home is required to keep the premises free of potential hazards that could cause harm to residents. This includes cleaning up spills and debris to prevent slip and fall accidents.
Nashville Nashville Nursing Home Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 842-6336
Learn About Working with a Nashville Nursing Home Accident Lawyer
If your loved one suffered injuries from a nursing home accident, a Nashville nursing home accident lawyer could help your family seek justice. We will work hard to pursue fair compensation for your family. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 842-6336 for a free case evaluation.
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