Important Information from our Portland Nursing Home Malpractice Lawyers: What are Bedrail Injuries?
Bedrail injuries can be very serious and even deadly. However, most people probably have never heard of bedrail injuries. In fact, most people probably have never even considered it before. But most people have used bedrails for children or even have been in bedrails as a child or in a hospital during a transport. Bedrails can be an important part of safety. However, bedrails can also be very dangerous. This is particularly true in nursing homes. Victims who are injured in bedrail accidents could suffer catastrophic head injuries or spinal cord injuries. Therefore, understanding what are bedrail injuries is the first step to protecting the rights of a loved one.
Our Portland nursing home malpractice lawyers want you to know what are bedrail injuries and how they could be caused by Oregon medical malpractice and nursing home abuse and neglect. This is a very serious and devastating type of personal injury that a resident could sustain. Especially at a nursing home, assisted living facility, or rehabilitation center where residents are already frail and susceptible to injury. Learn more about bedrail injuries in Oregon here.
What are Bedrails?
Bedrails are a type of railing that goes on the sides of a bed. The reason why they go on the sides of a bed are to keep residents in a bed from rolling off or from getting up. Thus, bedrails help prevent against two forms of conduct—inadvertent mistakes and intentional actions.
There are several different types of bedrails. They could be metal pipes or rubber, sometimes hardened plastic. Bedrails could also be rigid or they could be soft. Bedrails could also be low or high.
How do Bedrails Cause Injuries?
There are two general ways that bedrails could cause serious personal injuries. The first is by cutting, lacerating, or otherwise hurting a resident. Sometimes a bedrail is defective. It could have damage which is sharp. Victims could suffer a cut or laceration from a bedrail that is not well-maintained. This means that a victim could suffer serious personal injuries and even be wrongfully killed if a bedrail causes a cut on a vulnerable part of a resident. Considering that elderly residents have softer skin, bedrail lacerations are very serious—especially to the leg or wrist.
The second way is by a resident trying to climb over the bedrail. This could be when a resident attempts to hurdle over the bedrail. It could be caused when a nursing home staff member fails to respond to the calls of a resident. It could also be due to the fact that a nursing home resident needs more one-on-one supervision to prevent wandering or elopement. Residents that try to climb over a bedrail could fall off of the top of it and sustain serious personal injury or even wrongful death. Therefore, hitting one’s head could be devastating and catastrophic.
Ask Our Portland Nursing Home Malpractice Lawyers Any Questions About What Are Bedrails to Know What Your Rights Are Under Oregon Law
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.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
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.
