Spinal cord injuries can be devastating for anyone. However, when it happens to a senior, the complications can be devastating. If your loved one is suffering from a spinal cord injury as a result of a fall or some other event that you believe was avoidable, you or your loved one may be entitled to compensation for your losses.
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm is here to help. We understand that nursing home abuse can shorten the lives of elderly adults and believe it is important to hold abusive or negligent nursing care facilities responsible for their staffs’ actions.
To find out what options you have for recovering compensation for your loved one’s spinal cord injury, contact us for a free, no-risk consultation. You pay nothing upfront and nothing out of pocket if you are eligible. We only get paid if you do. Call now at (800) 842-6336.
Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
There are a number of possible causes of spinal cord injuries among seniors, including:
- Falling Accidents: Falls account for 60% of all cases of spinal cord injuries
- Transportation Accidents: Transportation accidents are the cause of 24% of spinal cord injuries
- Medically or surgically-related problems: 12% of spinal cord injuries are caused by medically- or surgically-related complications
- Non-traumatic spinal injuries: While most injuries to the spinal cord are sustained traumatically, they are sometimes caused by infections, tumors, medications, or by other means
Types of Spinal Injuries
There are different types of spinal injuries in nursing homes that can occur, they include:
Herniated Discs
A herniated disc occurs when one of the discs in your spine pushes through the exterior casing. Disc material begins to degenerate as we age, which means that twisting movements or minor strains can rupture discs. This type of injury can cause significant pain and make it difficult to stand, impairing an individual’s quality of life.
Spinal Stenosis
This condition occurs when the spaces within your spine become narrower, applying more pressure to the nerves throughout your spine. It may be caused by herniated disks as well as spinal injuries, like those you may sustain in a fall.
Compression Fractures
This type of injury usually occurs because of a natural weakening of the bones in the spine, which causes them to crumble. This condition most commonly occurs because of osteoporosis, although it can be caused by the trauma that comes from a fall, especially among seniors whose bones are already fragile.
If someone you love has been hurt or lost their life because of the abuse or neglect they received in a nursing home, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now at (800) 842-6336 for a no-risk review of your case.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 842-6336
Proving Nursing Home Liability
In order to file a lawsuit pursuing compensation for the injuries that your loved one sustained, we must prove that the nursing home was negligent or abusive. In order to do this, the four elements of negligence must exist. They are:
- Duty: The defendant owed a duty to uphold a reasonable standard of care
- Breach of duty: The defendant breached their duty by behaving in an abusive or negligent manner
- Causation: The negligent behavior of the defendant caused the accident
- Damages: Your loved one sustained an injury as a result of the accident
The most challenging part of these cases can be proving negligence. We must prove that the defendant did not behave in the manner that a reasonable person would.
Pursuing Compensation in a Nursing Home Injury Claim
You may be entitled to a financial award if your loved one is suffering because of nursing home abuse or neglect. Every case is different and we cannot estimate your compensation without first reviewing the details of your particular case. Possible compensation covers:
- Medical costs, such as ambulance rides, hospital stays, surgical procedures, doctor’s examinations, and therapies
- Disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
If your loved one passed away as a result of the seriousness of their injuries, you may be entitled to compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit. Possible compensation specific to wrongful death claims include:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Out-of-pocket costs related to the victim’s injuries or death
- Lost wages from time away from work
These are just a few examples of recoverable damages for spinal injuries in nursing homes. You may be awarded these as well as others if you qualify.
Punitive Damages
While these are rare, in some cases, the court will award punitive damages to punish the defendant for reprehensive behavior. These awards can often be sizable to discourage the defendant or others from behaving in that way ever again.
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How Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Can Help
If your loved one has been hurt or lost his or her life because of spinal cord injuries sustained because of the negligence or abuse of a nursing home staff member, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm is here to help.
We can investigate the details of the nursing home accident to determine liability. We will gather evidence such as eyewitness statements, video surveillance, and medical records to determine what caused the accident. We also obtain bills, receipts, and other documentation that shows the extent of your financial losses. We will use this information to calculate the total value of your case. This helps us determine what a fair settlement looks like and helps us build a strong case for negotiating with the insurance company.
To find out what options you have for recovering compensation after your loved one’s spinal injuries in a nursing home, contact the team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 842-6336.
Call or text (800) 842-6336 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form