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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and other injuries to the head among adults age 65 and older. While these injuries are often the result of accidents, the elderly residents in nursing homes are also particularly vulnerable to head injuries from abuse and neglect.
If you suspect that your loved one suffered a head injury caused by the negligence or intentional abuse of someone – or multiple parties – in their nursing care facility, you have the right to hold them responsible.
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we are here to help guide you through the process from start to finish. We believe that your family has been hurt enough because of your loved one’s injuries. You should not receive further losses by an accident caused by someone else’s negligent behavior.
Our team is here to help. For a free evaluation of your case or to have us get to work right away, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at.
Causes of Head Injuries in Nursing Homes
As mentioned above, falls are the most common cause of head injuries in adults over the age of 65. Patients in nursing care facilities can sustain a head injury in a number of different situations, though, including:
- While in or getting out of the shower or bathtub
- While being moved to or from a bed or wheelchair
- Slipping or tripping and falling on uneven sidewalks or slippery floors on the nursing home property
- While seeing to their personal needs without the assistance of the nursing home staff
While falling accidents can be just that, accidents, sometimes they are caused by the negligence or even physical abuse of the staff. In some cases, brain injuries are caused not by falls, but by actions like overmedicating the patient, or positioning them improperly and impacting the brain’s ability to receive proper oxygen.
Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) and Other Head Injuries
The symptoms of head injuries can be wide-ranging and appear either right away or days or even weeks after the injury. Some symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Changes in sleep habits
- Unusual and unexplained loss of balance
- Temporary loss of consciousness
- Being confused or disoriented
- Sensitivity to sound or light
- Unexplained changes in mood
Signs that your loved one has sustained a moderate or severe TBI are:
- Lengthy loss of consciousness
- Clear fluids draining from the ears
- Unexplained loss of coordination
- Extreme and unexplained confusion
- Unusually combative behavior
- Slurred speech
These symptoms can be difficult to diagnose, as they can be mistaken for the normal signs of deteriorating physical and mental health. That is why it is important to talk to your loved one if you notice their behavior change and to get them immediate medical attention if you believe they suffered from a TBI or other head injury.
If your loved one does have a TBI or head injury that you believe was caused by the negligence or abuse of the nursing home staff, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for a free review of your claim.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 842-6336
Signs of Physical Abuse
There are a number of signs of abuse and neglect, including:
- Unexplained burns, bruising, and scars
- An appearance that is messy, with dirty clothes and unwashed hair
- Unexplained agitation or aggressive behavior
- Withdrawing from activities and people they used to enjoy
- Unexplained changes in their sleep pattern
- Depression or confusion
- Sudden and unusual weight loss
- Bedsores and other preventable conditions
Recoverable Awards After a Head Injury in a Nursing Home
If your loved one suffered a head injury in a nursing home caused by abuse or neglect, there are a number of awards you may be able to recover. They include:
- Medical expenses, like ambulance rides, hospital stays, surgical procedures, medication, doctor’s examinations, and therapy
- Loss of quality of life
- Pain and suffering
If your loved one died because of their injuries, you may be entitled to awards that are unique to a wrongful death claim, including:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of companionship
- Out-of-pocket costs related to the care of the deceased before death
- Lost wages due to time away from work caring for your loved one before their death
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How a Nursing Home Lawyer Can Help
We have worked on cases like these before and can understand the pain and anger you are experiencing right now after learning that your loved one did not receive the care you believed they were getting.
We understand the desire to seek justice for your loved one, especially if they did not survive their injuries.
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm is here to help. We can investigate your loved one’s accident to determine what happened. This investigation includes gathering evidence like witness statements, video surveillance, and medical records. We will also gather bills, receipts, and other documents detailing the extent of your financial losses. This evidence will help us calculate the total value of your claim and allow us to determine a fair settlement for your case.
We are here to guide you through the process from start to finish, including negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf, or taking your case to trial if all parties cannot reach a settlement.
You do not need to worry about how you are going to pay for our services. We work on a contingency fee, which means you pay nothing upfront. We take our fee from the settlement you receive, which means that if you get nothing, we get nothing.
For a free evaluation of your claim or to have our team get to work right away, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm.
Call or text (800) 842-6336 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form