Rockford, IL Nursing Home Falls Attorneys

Personal Injury Attorneys for Elderly Nursing Home Patients

When nursing facility residents are not closely monitored, there is an increased likelihood of falls with serious injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control, falls are the leading cause of injury and death from injury among older Americans. In addition, more than 1,800 nursing home residents die from fall-related injuries each year. If you or a loved one has suffered severe injury or wrongful death after falling in a nursing home, you may have the right to compensation.

For over two decades, Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of KJS has successfully represented residents who have fallen in nursing homes and other victims of nursing home neglect and abuse in Rockford, Chicago, and throughout Illinois. Our attorneys have in-depth knowledge of this area of the law and what it takes to ensure that those responsible for neglecting and abusing our honored elders are held fully accountable. We understand the outrage family members feel when an aging loved one suffers a fall due to neglect or abuse in a facility they entrusted to look after their day-to-day needs. We have the experience, resources, and dedication to provide the skilled and personalized representation nursing home fall victims deserve.

Frequent Causes of Falls in Illinois Nursing Facilities

Nursing home employees play a major role in ensuring the safety of all facility residents. Due to aging demographics, increased numbers of residents, and staffing shortages, many nursing facilities do not have enough staff to properly monitor residents.

Nursing home residents are typically more frail and susceptible to falling than members of the general public. Some of the most common reasons falls occur in nursing facilities include:

• Mobility Problems: Residents who have difficulty walking, shoes that do not fit properly, incorrect walking aids, and similar issues.
• Malnutrition and Dehydration: Residents who are malnourished often become weakened, and their bones become more brittle, thus increasing their risk of falling.
• Nursing Home Hazards: Loose wiring, poor lighting, wet floors, and other dangers throughout the facility can cause residents to slip and fall.
• Medication Errors: Improper medication mixtures and over/under dosages can cause adverse reactions, which sometimes results in a resident falling down.
• Wandering and Elopement: When residents are not watched carefully enough, they may tend to wander throughout the facility or even leave campus, exposing themselves to numerous hazards and a greater risk of falls.
• Physical Abuse: In the most egregious cases, residents may suffer a fall while being physically abused by a staff member or other resident.

Nursing home fall cases are different from typical slip and fall premises liability cases. Because facility residents are more susceptible to falling, nursing facilities are required to conduct ongoing risk assessments for each resident and develop an adequate plan to prevent falls. They are also required to keep facilities free of hazards that could lead to serious injuries.

Contact a Seasoned Freeport Nursing Home Falls Lawyer

Although some nursing home falls are unavoidable, more often, they are totally preventable and a sign of negligence on the part of the facility. At Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of KJS, we have handled numerous nursing home neglect and abuse cases, and we know what factors to look for (when examining the facility records) that are strong indicators that the facility is responsible for the fall. We also frequently call on top national and international health professionals to provide expert testimony that helps support our findings.

If you or someone close to you has experienced a serious fall in a nursing home, contact us today at 815-215-7561 for a free consultation. We serve clients in Rockford, Winnebago County, Freeport, Belvidere, Winnebago, Loves Park, Byron, Rochelle, Oregon, Boone County, Stephenson County, Ogle County, and throughout Illinois.