Nursing home accidents such as fall accidents are very common and often result in liability. Nursing home residents are often injured in the following types of fall accidents:
- falls from a bed,
- falls in a bathroom,
- falls in a hallway, and
- falls in a dining room.
Under Pennsylvania negligence law, nursing homes may be held liable and may be ordered to pay damages (i.e., fair and reasonable financial compensation) for an injured nursing home resident’s injuries due to a fall accident. Over the last few years, nursing home negligence and nursing home accident cases have risen, due in large part to the increase in nursing home placement and care of the elderly.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), falls among older adults (aged 65 and older) cost $30 billion dollars per year in medical costs. The CDC also estimates that 1 in 3 older adults fall each year, and older adults are hospitalized for fall-related injuries 5 times more often than they are with injuries from other causes. Also, with the increase in the aging population, the number of nursing home fall accidents will continue to increase.
Injuries in Fall Accidents of Elderly Patients
Elderly victims of fall accidents are likely to suffer serious injuries, such as fractures and brain/head injuries. Hip fractures are quite common for older adults who have fall accidents. Fractures can lead to medical complications and ultimately, earlier deaths. Brain injuries for elderly patients in nursing homes can also lead to medical complications.
Filing a Lawsuit Against a Nursing Home for a Fall Accident Case in Pennsylvania or New Jersey
Pennsylvania and New Jersey law recognizes the right of a nursing home resident, or if the resident is deceased, his or her surviving family members (estate), to take the nursing home to court to recover for the injuries caused by the accident. This means filing a negligence lawsuit against the nursing home.
For example, a nursing home resident at a facility in Philadelphia falls from her bed because a nursing home employee failed to put the bed rails up properly. The nursing home resident suffers a broken hip. Therefore, the resident may be able to bring a lawsuit against the nursing home for negligence, i.e., failing to put up the bed rails. The resident may be able to recover medical bills and pain and suffering damages.
Pennsylvania & New Jersey Nursing Home Accident & Abuse Lawyers
If you or a loved one was injured in a fall accident at a nursing home or other care facility in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, please call our nursing home accident lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation. (215) 985-0777
Our lawyers are skilled at handling nursing home negligence, abuse and assault cases in the Pennsylvania area, including Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Delaware County, and Bucks County. Our lawyers also handle nursing home accident cases in the New Jersey area.
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