Hyattsville, MD Nursing Home Falls Lawyer

Aggressive Attorney for Fall Injuries Due to Nursing Home Negligence in Hyattsville, Maryland

Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injuries and wrongful death among elderly nursing home residents. In many cases, fall injuries are the result of neglect, unsafe conditions, or inadequate care and supervision by nursing home staff. Elderly nursing home residents may experience severe complications after suffering fall injuries due to weakened bones, limited mobility, and pre-existing medical conditions.

When a fall injury has occurred because a nursing home has failed to protect the safety of residents, a family will need to understand their legal options. Kisner Law provides assistance with these cases, working with family members to determine the causes of a fall and address the damages a person has suffered due to nursing home negligence. Attorney Jason Kisner has the skills and experience needed to address injuries caused by nursing home neglect or abuse. Through his aggressive legal representation, he will work to hold a negligent facility responsible for the harm suffered by a resident.

Why Falls Happen in Nursing Homes

Nursing home residents rely on caregivers for assistance with daily activities. They may need help getting into or out of bed or moving around in a nursing home. When the proper care and supervision is not provided, the risk of falls becomes much higher. Common causes of fall injuries due to nursing home negligence include:

• Inadequate Supervision: Residents who are left unsupervised while walking or moving between a bed and a bathroom may fall. Elderly or disabled residents with cognitive impairments or mobility challenges often face a higher level of risk, and a lack of supervision and assistance can result in serious injuries.
• Improper Use of Mobility Aids: Failing to provide walkers, canes, or wheelchairs when necessary or failing to ensure that these devices are used correctly can lead to fall accidents.
• Unsafe Environmental Conditions: Wet floors, poor lighting, cluttered walkways, and a lack of handrails are common hazards that can contribute to falls in nursing homes.
• Medication Errors: Certain medications may cause dizziness, confusion, or loss of balance, and these issues can become more serious if patients are provided with the incorrect doses. Failure to administer medications correctly or failure to monitor patients who may experience these issues can lead to serious fall injuries.
• Failure to Develop or Follow Care Plans: Each resident should have an individualized fall-prevention plan. When staff members fail to implement or follow these plans, the likelihood of fall injuries can increase.
• Understaffing: When facilities do not have enough caregivers on staff to provide the proper supervision, assistance, and care, residents may attempt to move around on their own, and they will be more likely to be injured in fall accidents.
• Physical Abuse: Rough handling or deliberate pushing by staff members may lead to a fall that can result in serious bodily harm.

Injuries and Complications Resulting From Falls

For elderly nursing home residents, a fall can lead to multiple types of physical and emotional harm. Common injuries in fall accidents include:

• Fractures: Hip fractures are especially common among elderly people who fall. These injuries may require surgery, and they can significantly limit a person's mobility. Other broken bones, such as wrists, arms, and ribs, may also occur in fall accidents.
• Head Injuries: Even a seemingly minor fall can result in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). These injuries can affect a nursing home resident's health and well-being in many ways, leading to issues such as memory loss, confusion, and difficulty communicating.
• Spinal Injuries: Damage to the spine when a person falls to the ground can lead to partial or complete paralysis, chronic pain, loss of mobility, and loss of independence.
• Internal Bleeding: Some falls may cause damage to internal organs or blood vessels. These issues can be life-threatening if they are not diagnosed and treated promptly.
• Emotional Trauma: Residents who experience falls may develop fear and anxiety. This may lead to social withdrawal, further diminishing their quality of life.
• Infections and Complications From Immobility: A fall may lead to hospitalization or extended bed rest. This can increase the risks of bedsores, pneumonia, and other complications.

Sadly, many elderly residents never fully recover from fall injuries, and some falls may even result in premature death. In these situations, the emotional effects of a fall injury on family members can be immense, especially if the injury could have been prevented with the proper care and supervision.

Contact Our Hyattsville Nursing Home Fall Injury Attorney

When neglect or abuse has led to a fall injury at a nursing home, a family can take steps to address the harm suffered by a loved one. The team Kisner Law provides legal help to families in these situations, and we can make sure that proper steps are taken to hold a nursing home responsible for injuries that have been caused by negligence. To set up a free consultation and learn how we can help recover compensation for a nursing home fall injury, contact our office at 240-459-0097.