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Oregon Falls and Fractures in Nursing Homes Lawyers - Bend/Portland, OR

At first glance, nursing home falls may appear to be the fault of the residents.  After all, many residents are frail, may have compromised mobility, and may have some cognitive dysfunction which all make them more prone to falling.  This is why nursing home falls resulting in fractures may appear to be the fault of residents.  In fact, nursing homes and healthcare facilities will even try to argue that it was an unavoidable fall that they could not be prevented.  While sometimes that may be the case, many times nursing homes contribute or actually cause the resident’s fall and try to blame the resident to get away with their negligence.  Our Oregon falls and fractures in nursing home lawyers know that healthcare facilities will do everything in their power to blame the residents for their injuries to escape liable.   But we won’t let them.  There are several general reasons why nursing home falls and fractures occur when it may be the negligence of the healthcare facility and not the fault of the resident.  Some of the general reasons include the following:
  • Failing to identify, guard, or mitigate risks to fall risk patients;
  • Poor faculty design and upkeep (i.e., tripping hazards);
  • Improper supervision or inadequate supervision;
  • Malpractice including abuse, neglect, and pure negligent; and
  • Other common causes.
Causes of Nursing Home Falls and Fractures Within those four common and general reasons for Oregon nursing home falls, there are many specific causes which may result in resident falls and fractures.  Even though nursing home staff will try to pass blame on the residents, many of the common causes are directly related to the negligent actions or omissions of healthcare providers.  Some of the most common causes of Oregon nursing home falls and fractures include the following:
  • Inadequate staffing and understaffing;
  • Lack of training, improper hiring, and inexperienced staffing;
  • Failing to identify fall risk residents an enact certain precautions for them like lowering the bed, using bedrails (where appropriate), increased monitoring, pads on the floor, and other mitigation efforts;
  • Negligent supervision which causes residents to wander or elope;
  • Poor facility maintenance such as wet, slippery, dirty, or otherwise more hazardous floor conditions that could result in trips and falls or slips and falls;
  • Old carpets, stairs, or floors which could be tripping hazards;
  • Neglecting residents for so long that they trip to get up by themselves;
  • Wheelchair accidents, including improper transfers and failing to use the brakes;
  • Failing to properly assist during bath or shower time; and
  • Many other causes.
Residents of nursing homes who have suffered a fall and fracture due to any of the above causes may be able to prove liability.  This is because the mistakes above are likely due to the reckless, careless, and substandard of care efforts by nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, and other care facilities.  Victims may be entitled to serious compensation if a loved one’s fracture caused catastrophic, permanent, or wrongful death. Dangers of Falls and Fractures in Nursing Homes When a resident at a nursing home falls, there is a high probability there may be permanent and serious personal injuries.  This is because nursing home residents are already weaker and more vulnerable to any type of injury.  Falls can be particularly devastating, especially if they occur on or near stairs, outside where no one can find the downed resident, or in areas with furniture or other objects that could cause secondary injuries on the way down.  Falls simply pose grave dangers to residents and injuries after a fall may become a downward spiral for a resident’s overall health.  It is common for a particularly catastrophic or injurious fall to lead to the wrongful death of a resident within months or a year of the fall. Falls can cause an array of injuries to a resident.  All of the injuries are dangerous, but fractures may be debilitating and require surgery or physical therapy to correct or help heal.  Some of the most common fractures due to Oregon nursing home falls include the following:
  • Hip fractures;
  • Leg fractures;
  • Pelvic fractures;
  • Wrist fractures;
  • Arm fractures;
  • Vertebra fractures;
  • Rib fractures;
  • Orbital blowout fractures (face and eye socket); and
  • Many other fractures.
Bend/Portland, Oregon Falls and Fractures in Nursing Homes Lawyers If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect contact the Oregon Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.   We handle cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, and Hillsboro.   We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take Nursing Home Abuse cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.   Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law. 

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For more information on Medical Malpractice and Nursing Home Abuse, please also visit – StoppingMedicalMistakes.com

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