The decision to place a family member or others loved in a nursing home or assisted living facility can be difficult. When you take this step because your loved one is no longer able to live on their own, you expect that the facility will tend to their needs and provide a safe, clean environment. If a nursing home or its staff fails in their legal duty of care, residents may suffer severe injuries from abuse or neglect.
Not all infections in Stamford nursing homes indicate that abuse is taking place. However, these types of illnesses can also stem from clear legal violations by facilities or staff. If you believe that nursing home negligence led to your loved one’s infection, a nursing home negligence attorney can review the situation and take prompt legal action to protect your loved one’s interests.
If a nursing home fails in its duty of care to a patient and that failure leads to an infection, the facility and its staff could be liable in a lawsuit. Commonly reported infections resulting from negligence in nursing homes include:
The age of Stamford nursing home residents as well as general proclivity to certain illnesses and ailments, can lead to infections. When a resident contracts an infection, it may not be linked to any wrongdoing on the part of the facility or its staff. However, nursing homes have certain legal obligations as required by state law to ensure the care and well-being of patients.
For example, facilities need to utilize proper hygiene and sanitary practices, keep patients bathed, and ensure that patients who are known to have a contagious disease are properly isolated to protect other residents. Nursing homes must also ensure staff are cleaning and changing linens and sheets regularly and moving residents to prevent common sources of infection like pressure ulcers. Patients who are incontinent or are suffering from other issues that lead to the inability to properly control bodily functions should be cleaned and attended to regularly.
When a loved one develops a preventable infection in a Stamford nursing home, it may be possible to file a lawsuit on their behalf. Facilities that do not take steps to prevent patients from developing infections or fail to address the signs of infections to prevent them from worsening may be legally liable for monetary damages in a civil lawsuit.
An individual who abused a resident may be held liable for gross negligence in a civil suit. The facility and other staff members such as doctors or nurses may also bear legal liability, depending on the facts and circumstances of the individual case.
Through this type of personal injury claim, an injured nursing home resident can pursue multiple forms of compensation. This could include payments for pain, suffering, medical bills, future medical care, and even the cost of moving to a new facility.
Filing a lawsuit for infections in Stamford nursing homes can be a complex task. These nursing facilities often have large insurance companies behind them that will often try to minimize or avoid paying out a settlement.
Our experienced attorneys can aggressively advocate for your loved one’s rights. We will treat your family with understanding and compassion in this challenging time while seeking out the damages your family deserves. Reach out to Berkowitz Hanna today to set up your free initial consultation.
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