Anyone can suffer a serious injury by losing their footing when they’re not expecting to and falling onto a hard surface or from a very high height. However, older adults are more likely to get severely hurt from slipping and tripping accidents. This is because they may have a harder time catching themselves on the way down, and they often have weaker bones and tendons that are more likely to get damaged in a fall.
Falls in Allentown nursing homes can be very serious and even life-threatening matters. The people who work in and own these facilities have a legal obligation to reduce the risk that an accident like this will happen as much as possible. If you believe your loved one was injured because their nursing home didn’t do enough to prevent them from falling, our nursing home neglect attorneys at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers may be able to file a lawsuit for you.
Common Causes of Nursing Home Falls
One unfortunate but important thing to know about falls inside nursing homes is that they’re much more common than you might imagine. A significant number of nursing home residents suffer a serious fall more than once per year on average. In many situations, nursing home residents have some kind of medical condition that makes them more likely to fall by accident and more likely to suffer an injury from a fall. Certain medications like antidepressants and sedatives can increase the risk of this type of accident occurring, too.
Just like they could anywhere else, though, every day slipping and tripping hazards can cause accidental falls in Allentown nursing homes, including things like:
- Lack of proper lighting
- Clutter or trash in hallways
- Unstable beds or other furniture
- Unmarked spills, puddles, or wet spots in walking areas
- Loose or broken carpeting, floor tiles, or floorboards
- Lack of handrails, especially in areas where people with physical disabilities often travel
An experienced attorney at our firm can discuss whether a particular hazard that leads to a slip and fall might be a valid cause for a nursing home neglect lawsuit.
When Are Nursing Homes Legally Responsible for Fall Injuries?
Not every fall inside an Allentown nursing home will justify a civil lawsuit, even one resulting in a serious injury. However, if you can show that nursing home staff members or administrators should’ve done more to prevent your family member from falling or to help them after a fall, that might be a different story.
For example, say someone who uses a walker to get around loses their grip on that walker, falls, and breaks their hip. The fall alone might not be something an individual nursing home staff member could prevent. However, they still have a duty to supervise all their residents, help them move around when necessary, and make sure they have a clear path to take that walker—which should be in good working condition. A failure to do any of these things might qualify as legal “negligence,” which you might be able to use as grounds to seek compensation for the harm your loved one suffered.
An Allentown Attorney Can Help Take Legal Action Over a Nursing Home Fall
Slips and falls inside nursing homes aren’t rare, but they shouldn’t be taken lightly. There’s also a lot that a responsibly operated nursing home can do to reduce the risk of accidental falls and injuries. Any facility that doesn’t do this should be held responsible for any harm their misconduct leads to.
If you have questions about your legal rights following a fall in an Allentown nursing home, our winning nursing home abuse lawyers can give you the answers and information you need. Call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today to discuss your possible claim.