If your loved one developed bedsores in a nursing home, the facility may be legally responsible. Bedsores often result from poor care, such as not repositioning residents regularly or failing to keep skin clean and dry. Nursing homes have a legal duty to prevent these injuries.
While liability usually falls on the nursing home, in some cases, individual staff members or medical providers could also be held accountable. If you suspect your loved one is a victim of neglect, it’s smart to speak with an attorney.
Our legal team has recovered millions for victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. Call today to schedule a free consultation and find out how our Atlanta bedsores lawyers can help you get the justice your loved one deserves.
When Is a Nursing Home Liable for Bedsores?
Bedsores are often avoidable with routine care. A nursing home may be held liable when it fails to follow proper care standards or medical guidelines designed to prevent these injuries.
This can include:
- Not turning or repositioning residents regularly
- Ignoring signs of early-stage pressure sores
- Failing to keep the skin clean and dry
If the facility knew or should have known that your loved one was at risk and didn’t act when they noticed bedsore warning signs, that’s potentially negligence. Our team can review medical records, staff reports, and inspection history to build a picture of what went wrong.
Are Bedsores Considered Abuse and Neglect?
Yes, bedsores can be a form of neglect and, in some cases, abuse. Bedsores don’t happen overnight. They usually develop because staff didn’t take basic steps to prevent them, like repositioning a resident or checking the skin regularly.
When a nursing home fails to provide this kind of care, it may be neglecting its duty. If the neglect is ongoing or intentional, it could even rise to the level of abuse. Either way, it’s a breach of your trust and worthy of investigation by the Georgia Department of Community Health.
Your loved one deserves to be treated with dignity, and bedsores often signal that they aren’t getting the medical care they need. Our attorneys can help determine whether what happened was neglect or abuse under the law and advise you on your legal options.
How Can You Prove the Nursing Home Is Liable?
A nursing home has a duty to provide care. To prove who is liable if your loved one developed bed sores in a nursing home, you must show the facility failed to meet that duty and caused harm as a result. This often means showing that the staff didn’t follow standard procedures.
Every case is different, but we may review medical records, care plans, and staff logs. We may also consult with medical experts who can explain how proper care would have prevented the injuries. Photos, timelines of treatment, and state inspection reports can also support your case.
Witnesses, such as other residents or staff, might provide additional insight. Your loved one shouldn’t have to suffer from preventable injuries. If the facility didn’t meet its legal responsibilities, we’ll help prove it and hold them accountable.
Can You Sue a Nursing Home for Bedsores?
Yes, you can sue a nursing home if your loved one developed bedsores due to neglect or poor care. Suing a nursing home for bedsores can recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses. It also sends a message that this kind of care isn’t acceptable.
Your lawsuit might be the catalyst for changing a culture where many residents are suffering. In some cases, large corporations own nursing homes, and a lawsuit can shine an unfavorable light, spurring leadership to take action.
Most nursing home lawsuits are settled out of court. However, it still accomplishes the goal of recovering compensation and attaining justice for your loved one, as well as revealing serious systemic problems.
Should You Get a Lawyer if Your Loved One Developed Bedsores in a Nursing Home?
If your loved one developed bedsores in a nursing home, there is a good chance the facility is liable. You have every right to speak up and take action if your loved one is suffering, especially if they are unable to speak for themselves. Consulting with a lawyer is a good first step.
An attorney who works with nursing home abuse law can help you hold the facility accountable. Nursing homes may deny wrongdoing or hide records, but an experienced lawyer knows how to investigate, gather evidence, and determine whether the nursing home broke the law.
Schenk Nursing Home Abuse Law is dedicated to standing up for nursing home residents and their families. Contact us today for a free consultation. You don’t have to go through this alone, and your loved one shouldn’t suffer because of someone else’s failure.
