Can You Sue a Nursing Home if Your Parent Falls?

 Posted on November 14, 2024 in Nursing Home Neglect

When you place a loved one in a nursing home, you expect the facility to provide competent and careful care, safe and clean surroundings, and supervision if necessary. Unfortunately, falls are common in nursing homes, causing around 65,000 hip fractures annually, along with other serious injuries.

If your parent falls in a nursing home, can you sue the facility? What compensation is available? A knowledgeable Schaumburg, IL personal injury lawyer can answer your questions during your free consultation.

Why Are Falls Dangerous for Nursing Home Residents?

As we age, our bones become more brittle, muscles weaken, and walking often becomes unsteady. A fall that may have been minor in younger years can result in broken bones and other serious injuries. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, around half of the nation’s 1.6 million nursing home residents fall at least once yearly, and some of those experience multiple falls. The bruises, fractures, and other injuries that result from a fall can have various impacts on the patient’s quality of life, such as:

• Increased risk of infection, illness, and death

• Decreased ability to care for herself

• Increased fear of another fall, which can cause residents to be less mobile and uninterested in activities

• Depression and anxiety

While some falls are unavoidable, many could be prevented. Determining what happened during your parent’s fall is critical to whether you can sue.

Can I Sue the Nursing Facility if My Parent Falls?

Nursing homes have safety regulations to follow, along with other patient care obligations. Some residents have mobility issues when they first come to a facility, while others experience a decline during their stay. To reduce the risks of falls, nursing homes should:

• Adequately supervise and assist patients with limited mobility

• Provide appropriate equipment, such as wheelchairs or walkers

• Keep floors clean

• Keep walkways clear of trip hazards

Failing to meet these obligations can be considered negligence. If your parent’s fall was preventable had the facility taken proper care, you may qualify for compensation. Common reasons for nursing home negligence include:

• Not enough staff members

• Inadequately trained or supervised staff

• Disregard for patient welfare

If you believe your parent’s fall qualifies for compensation, call Grauer & Kriegel, LLC to discuss the situation. We can evaluate the information you provide and verify your eligibility.

What Compensation Is Available for a Preventable Nursing Home Fall?

Qualifying damages and their amounts differ depending on case-specific factors. However, you and your parent could receive damages for:

• Medical treatment and care expenses resulting from the fall

• Property damage

• Pain and suffering

• Lost ability to enjoy life

• Depression and anxiety

If your parent passes away because of her fall, you may be eligible for other damages through a wrongful death action.

Call Our Skilled DuPage County, IL Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer Today

If your parent fell due to nursing home neglect or abuse, Grauer & Kriegel, LLC can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call 847-240-9010 to schedule your free consultation with our dedicated Des Plaines, IL personal injury attorney.