Northampton County Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
As people live longer, more and more seniors are being admitted to nursing homes in Northampton County. Although most homes treat residents well, there are still far too many instances where staff members fail to provide residents with even the minimum care standards required by state and federal law. When facilities don’t perform their basic duties, the result can be devastating personal injury or even wrongful death.
If your loved one was injured or passed away because of abuse or negligent care, attorney Brent Wieand can help. As creator of The Nursing Home Injury Help Center, Brent is committed to helping seniors and their family members recover maximum compensation for the hardships they have been through. Brent has a track record of obtaining awards and favorable verdicts, and was selected as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers “Rising Star” for 2013, 2014, and 2015. Our legal team will work relentlessly on your behalf, consulting with industry experts and sorting through medical evidence to get to the bottom of your claim.
To schedule a completely free and confidential case evaluation, call our nursing home abuse attorneys at (215) 666-7777 today.
Types of Legal Claims We Handle
There are many different kinds of abuse and neglect, and therefore, many different injuries and problems which can result. Our legal team recognizes that no two cases are exactly alike, so we handle a wide variety of claims including but not limited to:
- Falls
- Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers)
- Amputations
- Dosage Errors
- Overmedication
- Neglect
- Bone Fractures
- Infections
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Under-Staffing
- Poor Wound Care
- Sexual Abuse
- Financial Exploitation
- Wandering (Elopement)
If someone you love has been hurt by any of the above problems, or was a victim of wrongful death, Brent can investigate your claim to determine whether the facility or its staff members may have been fault. Even if you aren’t sure about your issue, it’s always worthwhile to consult with an attorney to help you get started.
Common Nursing Home Injuries: Falls and Bedsores
By far, the most common claims come from injuries caused by falls. Seniors are susceptible to falling due to balance issues, age-related muscle weakness, and in some cases, cognitive deficits like Alzheimer’s or dementia. As a result, care facilities must determine whether a given patient is a “fall risk” upon admission to the home, with periodic check-ins over time.
If a resident is determined to be a high risk for falling, the home must implement appropriate safety measures to protect the senior from harm. This might involve supplying canes and walkers, or simply supervising residents when they walk. If a facility fails to take these basic safety measures, it may be held liable when patients are injured from falls.
Falls are a major concern because of the debilitating health problems they so often lead to. While a fall might be a minor inconvenience for a young, healthy person, diminished bone density means elderly people often experience hip fractures and other long-term injuries. These injuries often require costly, invasive, traumatic surgical procedures to be corrected, further exposing the patient to risk of infection and even death. The CDC reports that in addition to being responsible for over 95% of all hip fractures, falls are also the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers or decubitis ulcers, are also a very common issue. Bedsores commonly form when facility staff do not regularly change the position of a bed-bound patient. As a result, certain areas of the skin and underlying tissue do not receive adequate blood flow, causing painful open wounds.
If a bedsore is not properly treated, it may require surgery, lead to the amputation of a limb, or become septic. Septic shock is a potentially fatal condition involving very low blood pressure caused by an infection.
Remember: in most cases when proper care is given, bedsores should not occur! If you believe a loved one has suffered a debilitating bedsore because of neglectful care or under-staffing issues, call an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer immediately!
Contact Our Lawyers for a Free Legal Consultation
It’s extremely important to take immediate action if you suspect elder abuse or neglect. Under a law called the statute of limitations, Pennsylvania plaintiffs must bring a legal claim within two years of the incident, or the case could be barred forever. But even more importantly, you want to get your loved one out of a harmful situation as soon as possible.
If you think you might have a claim against a Northampton County nursing home facility, don’t hesitate to speak up. To schedule a private legal consultation completely free of charge, call Brent at (215) 666-7777 right away.
Disclosure: Attorney Brent Wieand’s office is located in Philadelphia, PA. We happily serve clients throughout all of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
