Nursing Home Falls Lawyer in Orange County
A fall can leave an older adult with a broken hip, head injury, loss of mobility, or complications that permanently change their quality of life. While not every nursing home fall is preventable, some happen because a facility failed to recognize a resident's risk, follow a care plan, provide needed assistance, or respond properly after an incident.
If your loved one was injured, our nursing home falls lawyer in Orange County has over two decades of experience helping families investigate whether inadequate care or unsafe conditions contributed to what happened.
Travis Siegel has an exclusive focus on elder abuse and nursing home abuse cases. We were founded in 2002 and represent seniors and their families when negligent care causes serious harm.
Call (562) 414-5294 today to schedule a free consultation.
When a Nursing Home Fall May Be Preventable
A fall alone does not establish neglect under California law. The circumstances surrounding it matter. Examples of these circumstances include:
Was Your Loved One at Risk of Falling?
Residents with mobility limitations, previous falls, weakness, cognitive impairment, medication-related dizziness, or a need for assistance with transfers may need additional precautions. Nursing homes use resident assessments and care planning to identify needs and develop interventions.
Our legal investigation may therefore examine whether staff knew about the resident's risk and whether that information was reflected in the care plan.
Were Fall-Prevention Measures in Place?
Appropriate measures may include assistance with walking or transfers, mobility aids, accessible call buttons, adequate lighting, clear pathways, proper footwear, or other interventions identified in the care plan.
Federal regulations require nursing facilities to keep residents free from accident hazards and provide sufficient supervision and assistance devices when necessary to prevent accidents. Severe understaffing or consistently delayed responses to call buttons may also become relevant if they leave a high-risk resident without necessary assistance.
Medication management can matter as well. Sedatives, psychotropic medications, muscle relaxants, and medications that affect blood pressure or balance may increase fall risk, making monitoring and individualized precautions important.
Our FAQ
Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 562-414-5294 today!
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Choosing the right nursing home for your loved ones is a personal (and tough) decision. It is something you must decide on your own, or with the rest of your family. With that in mind, however, there are a few resources you can use to help with the decision.
The Health Facilities Consumer Information System provided by the state of California lets you search for different types of health facilities, including nursing homes. The Medicare website also provides a tool for finding nursing homes.
The Health Facilities Consumer Information System also lets you search for complaints against said facilities. You can use this tool to check on any homes you might be considering and see if complaints have been filed against them.
Remember, if you suspect any form of elderly abuse or negligence has occurred, trust your instincts and call us at Siegel Law. 562-414-5294
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Pressure sores, also called bed sores and pressure ulcers, are a common sign of nursing home abuse or neglect. They are caused by unrelieved pressure on the skin. Bed sores typically appear near areas where the bones are close to the skin: the hips, back, elbows, and ankles. When pressure sores first show up, they’re just skin irritation. With prompt treatment, they typically have no lasting effects. When not treated quickly, however, later stages can result in serious damage not only to the skin but also to muscle and bone.
The greatest tragedy of pressure sores is that they are relatively easy to prevent. Regular movement of a person restricted to a bed or wheelchair can help avoid pressure sores. Someone who must remain in bed should be moved about every two hours. The use of a pressure-reducing mattress can help. A proper diet, cleanliness, and daily exercise all help prevent pressure sores and eliminate the serious harm that can accompany them.
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The answer is no. Siegel Law takes all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that our clients owe the firm nothing for expenses unless they are awarded a monetary settlement or we receive a favorable verdict at trial. All expenses will be deducted from the settlement or jury verdict. Not a dime will be taken out of your pocket.
