Baltimore Nursing Home Fall Lawyer
All too often, nursing home residents in Maryland are injured due to unexpected falls. These accidents may not seem like a significant problem, but the reality is that senior citizens often experience serious harm because of their fragile health. If someone close to you has been hurt after a fall in a nursing home, you may be able to take legal action. At Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, our knowledgeable Baltimore nursing home neglect lawyers can protect the rights of Baltimore residents harmed by careless conduct at licensed care facilities. We can review the facts of your case and come up with a legal strategy to seek the compensation you deserve.
Pursuing Compensation from Negligent Nursing Homes
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that falls among nursing home residents occur frequently. According to the CDC, approximately 1,800 Americans die each year from these types of accidents. Those who survive often sustain serious injuries that result in long-term or even permanent disabilities.
Falls are frequently preventable. Nursing homes have an obligation to develop and follow plans of care for residents based on their needs. For example, a person with poor eyesight or unsteady balance may be more likely to fall. In such an instance, the nursing home needs to take that condition into account and take steps accordingly. If the facility fails to develop a reasonable plan for the care of residents, it may be liable for resulting injuries.
Lawsuits against nursing homes are rooted in the theory of negligence, which is the failure to use the level of care that would be appropriate in a certain situation. When a facility fails to follow the customary and accepted standard of care that the ordinary facility would use in a similar situation, it may be liable for any resulting harm. Nursing home negligence is usually categorized in one of three ways: abuse, neglect, or medical malpractice. Nursing home falls typically are placed in the category of neglect.
It is important to note that nursing home negligence claims must be filed within a certain time period, known as the statute of limitations. Under Maryland law, a nursing home negligence lawsuit must be filed within three years from when the harm was discovered, or from when it reasonably should have been discovered.
Individuals who have been injured in a nursing home fall may be entitled to compensation for their harm if they can draw a direct causal link from the conduct that fell below the standard of care to their injuries. The amount of compensation that a victim may receive is contingent on the nature and severity of the specific accident. Typically, however, people who are hurt because of nursing home negligence can pursue damages for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, physical therapy, and any other economic or non-economic forms of harm arising from their injuries.
Contact a Prince George’s County Lawyer to Discuss Your Accident Claim
Choosing a qualified attorney is an important decision and can make all the difference in your case. At Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, our nursing home neglect attorneys can guide individuals in Prince George’s County and beyond through wrongful death claims or other lawsuits arising from negligence. We proudly serve individuals and families throughout Maryland.
For more information, contact us online or call us at 410-998-3600.