Chicago Nursing Home Fall Lawyers

Protecting the rights of victims of nursing home falls

Falls are a leading cause of injury for people of all ages in the United States, but especially for those over 65 years of age. When you entrust a nursing home with the care of an elderly loved one, you expect the staff to assist them at all times to help prevent fall accidents. Sadly, many nursing home patients fall down and seriously injure themselves every year. Occasionally, falls are even fatal.

At Ferrell Young, LLC, our legal team is passionate about standing up for the rights of seniors injured or killed by falls in Illinois nursing homes due to nursing home neglect. Our Chicago fall attorneys have years of experience doing exactly that, both in and out of the courtroom. If you believe that your loved one’s fall was caused due to a lack of supervision, poor nursing home infrastructure, or another form of elder care negligence, you may be able to receive compensation for your medical expenses and other related losses.

Contact us now to learn more about your legal rights and options during a free, no obligation case evaluation with an attorney. Se habla Español.

How common are fall accidents in nursing homes?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 3 million people aged 65 and older are treated in emergency rooms for falls each year. In fact, falls are the second leading cause of accidental death not only in the U.S. but worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Other facts about falls include:

• Falls are the number one cause of injury-related death among adults aged 65 and up.
• More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling. Each year at least 300,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures.
• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in people of all ages.

Why are people over 65 more at risk of falling?

As we mentioned above, falls are a common injury among people of all ages, but seniors are the most at-risk demographic. This is because many risk factors that increase the likelihood of falling tend to be more common among the elderly. These include:

• Lower body weakness
• Use of medications that affect balance
• Vision problems
• Vitamin D deficiencies

Falls can be prevented in numerous ways. One way to ensure your loved one is safe is to make sure the nursing home facility has access to handrails and grab bars and is free of tripping hazards such as uneven flooring and poor lighting. Strength and balance exercises, such as tai chi, and regular visits to the eye doctor can also help decrease the risk of falling.

Injuries caused by falls

Fortunately, not all falls lead to injury—although, approximately one of every five falls results in a serious injury that needs to be treated, according to the CDC. Even a fall that doesn’t lead to physical injuries, however, can still cause a fear of falling or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Falls most often lead to one or more of the following injuries:

• Broken bones
• Sprains and/or strains
• Hip, wrist, ankle, and other fractures
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Back and spinal cord injury
• Wrongful death

Are nursing homes required to report slip & fall injuries?

If a nursing home resident sustained a serious injury in a slip and fall accident, the nursing home should report the injury. Unfortunately, some nursing homes don’t see things that way. Instead, they don’t report serious injuries due to a fall. Nursing homes sometimes don’t even keep a record of such injuries themselves. That way, they can deny any wrongdoing later.

This is why it’s important that your loved one’s nursing home slip and fall injury is documented. If the nursing home refuses to do so, take them to see a doctor right away. That way, there will be a medical record of what happened. Injured nursing home residents should also receive medical care right away. And when in doubt, simply contact us. Our Chicago nursing home injury lawyers can help.

Who investigates nursing home fall injuries?

If a loved one sustained a serious injury due to a slip and fall accident in a nursing home in Illinois, the state agency responsible for investigating your accident is the Illinois Department of Public Health.

It’s also important to have an attorney conduct an independent investigation of your injury accident as soon as possible. Evidence needed to build a strong case can disappear or be destroyed if you wait too long to contact a lawyer. And without evidence, you might not get the money you deserve for your injury-related expenses.

Can I sue a nursing home for a fall injury?

Yes. If you believe a nursing home acted in a negligent or reckless manner, you have the right to file a nursing home neglect lawsuit seeking damages.

But you need to act fast. As explained above, evidence can be lost or disappear if you wait too long to take legal action. There’s also a deadline (known as the statute of limitations) for filing a nursing home neglect lawsuit in Illinois. That deadline is two years from the date of your injury, according to Illinois Compiled Statutes Chapter 210, Section 45 – but it can vary depending on the circumstances, so you need to talk to an attorney as soon as possible.

Is a nursing home liable for falls?

A nursing home may be held legally responsible for a fall if the fall was caused by negligence on the part of the nursing home. For example, if your loved one falls and hurts themselves while unsupervised, the nursing home could be held liable. Additionally, nursing homes that have fall hazards present, such as debris in the walkway, or that lack proper safety measures may also be at fault.

If you bring a claim against a nursing home, you and/or your loved one may be entitled to damages for:

• Medical expenses related to the fall
• Pain and suffering endured
• Wrongful death
• Legal fees
• Other expenses related to the accident

Demand justice. Contact our Chicago law firm

The legal team at Ferrell Young, LLC can help you determine who is at fault for your injury or your loved one’s injuries, calculate the maximum compensation you are entitled to, and build a strong legal case that will set you up for success.

Don’t wait to get the legal counsel and representation you deserve—call us or contact us online to set up your free consultation with a Chicago nursing home neglect lawyer who will stand up for your rights. Se habla Español.