Accidental falls are a common cause of personal injuries in the United States, especially in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other places dedicated to the unique physical needs of the elderly. Unfortunately, many of the falls that occur in these facilities could have been prevented if the owners, managers, and individual staff members had been more diligent about protecting the well-being of their residents.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a fall in a New Haven nursing home, you may be able to seek civil restitution from anyone who played a role in allowing the accident to happen. To improve your chances of getting an optimal case result, consider seeking the help of a seasoned nursing home neglect lawyer from Berkowitz and Hanna LLC. We have handled countless cases like yours and are prepared to fight for what your family deserves.
It should be emphasized that fall injuries are still fairly common among nursing home residents, even in facilities that are well-managed, well-equipped, and staffed by qualified and compassionate employees. That said, nursing home owners and administrators are still expected to take reasonable precautions in order to minimize the risk of such accidents occurring, specifically by doing things like:
If a failure to establish and enforce a specific safety feature leads directly to a fall, that failure may qualify as legally actionable “negligence.” As a New Haven attorney can further explain, it is only possible to sue over a nursing home fall if it causes an injury serious enough to require professional medical care.
A successful lawsuit or settlement over a fall injury sustained in a New Haven nursing home can seek compensation for every negative effect the accident will have on the injured person. Financially, this can mean recovering both short-term and long-term medical expenses, as well as personal property damage and the costs of new assistive equipment made necessary by an injury.
Non-economic recovery typically focuses on physical pain and suffering, but it can also involve things like emotional distress, psychological trauma, and a decline in overall quality of life. Regardless of how long the losses caused by a fall will last, there are strict filing time limits set by Connecticut state law, making it vital to contact legal counsel as soon as possible after an accident.
While nursing home residents are more prone to suffering serious injuries in falls than most people are, nursing home administrators can still be held legally liable for failing to prevent injuries. In fact, falls in New Haven nursing homes can often serve as very strong grounds for civil litigation—that is, if you understand what rights you have under state law and how best to go about enforcing those rights. Help is available in this regard and many others from the capable nursing home abuse lawyers at Berkowitz and Hanna LLC. Call our office today to set up your free case consultation.
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