Clearwater Nursing Home Fall Injuries

Whenever we place a loved one in a nursing home, we expect they will be safe. These facilities should all have dedicated maintenance teams that work to keep the premises in good repair and free of hazards. Still, with so many people living and eating in a relatively small area, spills and slippery spots happen.

The nursing home has the responsibility to keep all residents are safe from foreseeable harm. Despite this, Clearwater nursing home fall injuries are relatively common. A distinguished nursing home accident lawyer could help the residents and their families to hold the nursing homes responsible for their injuries.

How Can a Fall Happen in an Assisted Living Home?

Anyone is vulnerable for falls that are not our fault. Wet sidewalks, spills, or broken stairs can cause even the more surefooted of us to lose control and fall. Residents in nursing homes are especially vulnerable. Many of these people have limited mobility to begin with. They are even less able to adapt to unstable footing situations. Even with the aid of walkers, railings, or staff, the slightest change in traction can cause a fall.

Impact of a Fall in Clearwater

Falls can cause catastrophic injuries. While it may seem that a fall of only five to six feet it not enough distance to cause significant force, an awkward fall will place a torque on joints. It is not uncommon for a fall to cause dislocated joints, broken bones, concussions, or even spinal cord injuries. Of course, the potential injuries are only magnified when the injured person is already in a fragile state of health.

Older people’s bones are more brittle and more liable to break than younger people’s. As a result, the breaks can be more severe, even to the point of completely shattering. As a rule, a negligent nursing home is responsible for Clearwater nursing home fall injuries caused by their staff or maintenance crew. It is the responsibility of the plaintiff in a personal injury case to prove that the nursing home’s negligence caused the accident.

When is the Nursing Home At-Fault?

For a resident or their family to collect compensation they need to prove that the nursing home’s negligence caused the fall. All nursing homes have a responsibility, or duty, to protect their residents. This duty is imparted on all employees of that nursing home. Therefore, if a janitor has the job of properly mopping the floors, but leaves a wet spot, and a resident slips and breaks an arm, the nursing home is liable for the damage.

Key pieces of evidence in these cases include:

• Maintenance logs
• Security camera footage
• Witness statements
• Disciplinary records for staff

How a Nursing Home Injury Attorney Can Help

All residents in Florida nursing homes have rights. Among these rights is the right to remain free from environmental hazards. Whenever a hazard causes a fall that results in injury, the nursing home may be legally liable.

An attorney who has experience working in Clearwater nursing home fall injuries can work with residents to understand their rights and to press claims against negligent nursing homes. Contact a lawyer today to see how they can help.