Why Do Nursing Home Residents Suffer Broken Necks?

Nursing home residents never expect to suffer an injury that is as severe and life-threatening as a broken neck. Unfortunately, there are many dangerous hazards in nursing homes including broken steps, missing handrails, and even staff members who abuse the residents in their care. If someone you love has broken their neck while in a long-term care facility, it is important to know your legal options. Below, our Tampa nursing home abuse attorney explains what those are.

How Do Broken Necks Happen in Long-Term Care Facilities? 

The spinal column is a complicated part of the body and it is also one of the most important. The spinal cord is surrounded by delicate nerves, and it is responsible for sending messages from the brain to other parts of the body. Even the smallest injury to the spine could cause the spine to break. Blunt force, hyperextension of the neck, and being hit in the head are three of the most common causes of broken necks in nursing homes. Other causes of broken necks in nursing homes are as follows:

• Dropping a resident while transferring them
• Trip, slip, and fall accidents
• Elopement or wandering of a resident
• Failure to supervise residents
• Diabetes, osteoporosis, and other medical disorders
• Dehydration or malnutrition
• Over-the-counter and prescription drugs that cause dizziness or vertigo
• Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and other neuropsychiatric and mental health disorders
• Violent acts or physical abuse
• Seizures or fainting

The majority of broken neck injuries in nursing homes are caused by negligence. Negligence occurs when someone, usually a staff member in these cases, fails to act with the standard of care owed to residents. When a nursing home resident suffers a broken neck due to negligence, they or their loved ones may be able to file a personal injury claim.

Is Filing a Personal Injury Claim for a Broken Neck an Option? 

If someone else’s negligence caused your loved one to suffer a broken neck, this is grounds to file a lawsuit. Negligence is the main reason people file lawsuits after a nursing home injury. The second most common is when abuse has caused a nursing home resident to suffer a broken neck. In either case, you will have to prove your case to obtain the damages your loved one deserves.

To prove your case, an attorney will conduct a full investigation and collect evidence to prove your case. The strongest evidence includes surveillance footage, photographs, medical records, eyewitness accounts, and expert testimony. An attorney can also subpoena the records of the nursing home to determine if they engaged in negligent hiring or training practices.

Our Lack of Care Attorney in Tampa Can Help You Claim Full Damages 

If your loved one has suffered any injury within a nursing home and you believe negligence or abuse was involved, our Tampa lack of care attorney can help you obtain the justice you deserve. At Kohn Law, our experienced attorney will prove the nursing home facility is to blame for the harm your loved one suffered, so you can obtain the full and fair settlement they are entitled to. Call us now at 813-428-8504 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help.

Sources:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html

law.cornell.edu/wex/negligence