Finding out your loved one in a nursing home broke or fractured a bone as a result of a fall can be heartbreaking. When you trust nursing home staff members with the care of your elderly parent or spouse, you should expect compassionate, safe, and loving care.
While older people are more prone to injuries like broken and fractured bones from simple incidents, they are usually preventable with adequate foresight and safety precautions. You might feel lost in the fight for your parent or spouse, but know that you have legal options. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to help defend your loved one’s rights and get the settlement you deserve.
Older Populations and Injury Rates
You do not have to be in a nursing home to suffer more serious injuries from what doctors would call standard broken bones. People as young as 50 can experience more pain and longer healing time than younger people with similar bone injuries. Of course, the risk of prolonged pain and suffering increases with age, according to Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University. It is plain to see why you should be seriously concerned about any fracture your loved one experiences, no matter the extent of the injury.
There are ways to prevent bone loss, but even preventative measures do not guarantee anyone a complete and timely recovery from a broken bone or fracture. As people age, they become more likely to develop chronic, incurable diseases like osteoporosis. Truthfully, progressive aging happens to everyone. It is safe to assume that anyone in need of the services a nursing home provides needs special care and a safe environment with minimal risks of injury.
If your loved one recently suffered a broken bone as a result of the negligence of someone else, it is important to hold that person accountable for the damage done. A Stickney bone fractures and breaks lawyer with the Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help.
Legal Options for Nursing Home Abuse Cases
It is important to act quickly if you think you may have a case, so our lawyers can begin helping you right away.
Your case is unique, and it will be evaluated by our legal professionals. You should be aware of the statutes of limitations for taking legal action. You generally have two years to file a lawsuit for both personal injury and medical malpractice.
When you call our law firm for a free consultation, a Stickney bone fractures attorney can work with you to determine what approaches are best advised.
Small Changes With Big Consequences
To prove a case of negligence in a nursing home, you will need to show a vested interest in the care of your loved one. One of the easiest ways to do this is by establishing lines of communication, then maintaining records of your communication with the nursing home.
Of course, you may suspect something like physical abuse or neglect, which unfortunately is all too common, according to the Illinois Department on Aging. When you notice small changes in your loved one’s behavior, it could be a sign of something serious. In some cases, these small changes in a nursing home could bolster evidence for a case of negligence. Not all the following changes indicate signs of bad care, but these warning signs could be clues:
- Physical changes: Sudden weight loss, bruises, or skin abrasions.
- Overworked staff: When nursing home staff are overworked, they are more likely to have bad attitudes and give worse care to patients. High staff turnover can also be an indication of a staff that is stretched thin.
- Voicing anxiety, fear, or discomfort: If your loved one is apprehensive to work with any of the nursing home staff, take note of it and investigate.
- Signs of malnourishment, dehydration, or absence of basic care: Any of these conditions violate the rights that every nursing home resident has.
- Lack of maintenance in a nursing home: This can be reflective of the quality of care patients receive.
Do not worry about collecting all this evidence on your own. Our Stickney bone fractures and breaks lawyers are aware of Illinois elder abuse laws and want to work to defend your loved one. We work on a contingency basis, so we do not receive payment until you get the settlement you deserve.
Reporting Elder Abuse
There are different ways of reporting elder abuse directly to the state, in addition to working with a lawyer. Each nursing home resident is assigned a Long-Term Care Ombudsman, who works to hold negligent facilities accountable. It is important to use these resources, but they may not fulfill all of your needs.
For a free legal consultation with a Bone Fractures and Breaks Lawyer serving Stickney, call (800) 794-0444
Consult a Stickney Bone Fractures and Breaks Lawyer
When you work with our lawyers, you could have a stronger case against the abuse and neglect of your loved one. You should not have to worry about basic care and safety for your loved one, regardless of his or her history with bone breaks and fractures.
When you work with us, your legal rights and needs are considered first. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to begin working on your case today.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
