Slip and Fall
Nursing homes are intended to protect elderly residents from injuries, although the frailty that comes with age makes a slip and fall an ongoing concern. But it is up to the nursing home to make sure the setup is conducive to safety. Slip and falls are not always the fault of the nursing home, although there are plenty of instances when they could have been avoided. If you or a loved one experienced a nursing home slip and fall in Columbia, SC, an attorney at LEIP Law is here to stand up for your rights.
Nursing Home Slip And Fall Accidents
The design of a nursing home is supposed to have the safety of its residents in mind. That also applies to the upkeep of the nursing home. Over time, wear and tear causes things to break down and they could become hindrances if left unattended. Here is a look at some of the physical reasons that could cause a nursing home slip and fall.
- Poor lighting
- Slippery floor
- Tears in carpets
- Cluttered floors
- Uneven surface
- Lack of handrails
Those are all issues that can be alleviated with some simple repair and upkeep. However, there are also instances when staff members are at fault for a slip and fall. Nursing homes are required to provide residents with trained and reliable caretakers. An absence of reliability in that regard could lead to the following causes of a slip and fall:
- Absence of supervision
- Overmedication
- Inappropriate activities
- Undermedication
- Unsecured areas
The issue with slip and falls in nursing homes is that many residents already have brittle bones. Recovery times are extended and being bedridden during that recovery could complicate matters. A broken hip may not result in death, but the consequences of that break could lead to a fast deterioration in health. Unfortunately, that could result in death shortly after the slip and fall.
Experienced & Professional Attorneys
When a nursing home slip and fall could be avoided, you have the option of suing for negligence. The task of your attorney is to prove that the slip and fall would not have occurred had the facility been compliant with providing a safe environment. LEIP Law can build a case on your behalf based on evidence surrounding the slip and fall. We can then file a claim and go through the negotiation and litigation phase if necessary. We can provide you with an experienced Columbia, SC nursing home injury attorney.
Nursing Home Liability for Falls
It is the duty of a nursing home to provide a safe environment for its residents. It should also be noted that not every slip and fall among nursing home residents is preventable. However, when these instances can be prevented, the nursing home may be held accountable. This also applies to instances when residents are moved. In order to prove nursing home negligence, there must be proof that one of the staff members failed to meet a legal obligation to keep residents safe. This could include improper lifting or moving patients in the facility. Nursing homes must also adhere to safety policies, and when any portion of that is violated, there may be cause to hire a nursing home accident attorney to file a slip and fall claim.
It is also important to acknowledge the extent of a slip and fall injury. Slipping on a wet floor and sustaining a minor bruise is likely not enough to warrant a slip and fall accident lawsuit. The individual who suffered the fall must exhibit some kind of injury that is either debilitating or long-lasting. A nursing home abuse lawyer at LEIP Law can advise you on whether your slip and fall is serious enough to warrant a claim.
Experienced nursing home slip and fall lawyer
At LEIP Law, we are qualified to handle your slip and fall claim. This stems from years of collective experience handling a wide-array of nursing home abuse cases. We staff a team of attorneys that will work tirelessly to get the justice and compensation you and your loved ones deserve.
Protecting rights of nursing home residents
Residents of nursing homes have federal rights established by the Nursing Home Reform Act. There are also state laws that exist for the protection of nursing home residents, and they differ on a state to state basis. The most basic right of residents is a healthy and safe living environment. This involves the staffing as well as cleanliness of the facility. Residents are also granted the right to live their lives without having to deal with neglect. Slip and falls in a nursing home are often the result of neglect by the staff. Residents should also be unafraid to voice grievances in regards to a slip and fall or any other type of neglect. If you or a loved one experienced a slip and fall in a nursing home, contact LEIP Law today and let us get started on your claim.
