We have mentioned before on our Chicago medical malpractice law blog that nursing home residents need to be carefully monitored, especially those who have trouble walking and getting out of bed on their own. Elderly nursing home patients may suffer broken bones or head injuries when they fall. They may also suffer additional health complications from falls and frequent falls. Not all falls in nursing homes can be prevented, but when patients are properly monitored, these accidents may occur less often and result in fewer injuries.
When nursing home neglect does contribute to a patient’s serious or fatal injuries from a fall, victims and their families may be able to obtain compensation for their pain and suffering, medical expenses, and other damages. Just last month, a Chicago nursing home resident was awarded more than $840,000 for injuries she suffered after falling at her facility.
The amount of the patient’s award illustrates just how damaging and serious these types of preventable accidents can be. The woman fell while she was living at a nursing home in Chicago in 2008. The patient was 87 years old at the time and suffered a broken hip. The woman will not be able to fully recover from her injuries; her mobility has been significantly limited since the fall.
After falling and breaking her hip, the nursing home resident filed a lawsuit against the facility. According to the lawsuit, the woman had fallen on several other occasions prior to breaking her hip. After listening to arguments in the case from the plaintiff and the nursing home, a Cook County jury concluded that the nursing home was negligent and failed to properly care for the patient who had a history of falling. The jury awarded the victim more than $840,000 last month. The award includes compensation for non-economic damages and medical expenses.
Source: The Associated Press, “Jury awards $843,000 for senior’s hip fracture,” March 22, 2013