If your loved one developed bedsores while staying at a nursing home, he or she likely wasn’t taken care of properly. Staff members may not have repositioned your family member frequently enough or did other things to cause the bedsores. If bedsores were due to negligence, the nursing home could be held legally responsible.
Bedsores generally occur when there is too much pressure of the weight of the body on the skin. They rarely develop if a patient is frequently repositioned and monitored carefully by hospital staff.
If your family member was unable to reposition his or her body in the nursing home and developed bedsores, you may be able to sue the nursing home for damages. These days, there are many effective ways to prevent bedsores, like lift devices and medical beds that are programmed to reposition patients. That is why nursing home staff will have difficulty defending themselves.
However, medical malpractice lawsuits can be very tricky to navigate. They also come with a statute of limitations, which can be less than one year. Once the statute of limitations has passed, you can no longer sue for damages. It is important to pursue a claim as soon as possible to avoid missing the chance of getting compensation.
A minor bedsore probably won’t be considered medical malpractice if is discovered soon enough and treated. If a bedsore is more severe, a medical malpractice case could arise. More severe bedsores may lead to infections and call for special wound care. If bedsores advanced to this level, it’s likely that nursing staff didn’t properly take care of the patient.
If a person says no to care and develops a bedsore because of it, he or she may not have legal grounds to pursue a medical malpractice claim. It’s important for all patients to listen to medical staffs’ instructions. If they don’t, they may be the ones responsible for their bedsores and other injuries.
If your loved one suffered a bedsore while staying at a nursing home, you should talk to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible such as the personal injury lawyer Minneapolis MN locals turn to. He or she can review the case for free and determine if the claim is viable. A personal injury lawyer can help you gather important evidence and communicate with insurance companies. If you hire an experienced personal injury lawyer, your family member is more likely to obtain the compensation he or she deserves.
Thanks to authors at Johnston Martineau LLP for their insight into Personal Injury Law .