Slip and Fall Accidents in Nursing Homes – What Can Be Done? Slip and falls are the accidents that occur the most throughout the United States; these civil lawsuits that are most prevalent in personal injury cases. A slip and fall can occur during any activity and at any place. However, slip and falls tend to be dominant in elderly people. With the prevalence that slip and falls have on the elderly, assisted living facilities have to ensure that they take the right measures and actions to prevent their resident from slipping and falling.
Slip and Fall Accidents in Nursing Homes
Today’s guest blog is by the Percy Martinez Law Firm in Miami Florida.
Slip and falls occur a lot in nursing homes. In fact, it is the most common type of accident that happens in these facilities. Along with the frequency of these accidents, slip and falls can be grave in nature, especially for an elderly person. So, even a minor fall can have great effects on an elderly person. Typically, older people have weak bones and muscle and can experience severe injuries like broken hips and head injuries.
A slip and fall could be accidental, but it also could have been caused by a negligent nursing home. When the nursing home does not try to prevent an older person from falling, they could be responsible for that omission. They are required to also provide reasonable care and safety for their residents. Below will be described some reasons why slip and falls tend to occur a lot in nursing homes.
Slip and Fall Accidents in Nursing Homes
Factors Behind Slip and Fall
With so many residents dying and being injured due to slip and fall accidents in nursing homes, more preventative measures need to be taken. It has been reported that slip and fall accidents kill about 1,800 residents every year.
Here are some reasons for recurring slip and falls in rest homes:
- Floors that are wet
- A lack of lighting
- Height of the bed incorrectly positioned
- Wheelchairs that are not well maintained
- Weakness in the muscles
- Different types of medication
- Lack of foot care
- Shoes that don’t fit well
- Lack of supervision
- Poorly maintained floors
- Debris on the floor
In addition, high-risk residents should be well supervised and once the medication has been given to the residents, the nursing staff must be vigilant, especially with sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs. Many of these incidences also could have been prevented if more attention was placed on the environment in which the resident is living in.
Slip and Fall Lawyers Working to Help Nursing Home Residents
Slip and fall accidents are extremely common in nursing homes. But, nursing homes can take certain preventative measure to ensure that their residents do not fall. A slip and fall for an older person can be deadly. If the nursing home was negligent in not preventing the fall, they can be held responsible for the accident. The Percy Martinez Law Firm and his slip and fall professional lawyers represent these victims who slip and fell due to negligence. Nursing homes must do more to prevent these injuries.
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