The Chicago nursing home fractures lawyer at our firm can fight to make your voice heard as you seek justice and compensation for nursing home abuse.
When nursing home abuse victims want help with their legal claims, The Rooth Law Firm’s Chicago nursing home fractures lawyer is proud to provide it. If your loved one suffered a hip fracture or other bone fracture due to nursing home negligence, you have the right to compensation to pay for your expenses.
Our Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer has over 40 years of experience providing robust representation to clients, and we can fight to do the same for you. Call for a free evaluation of your case today.
Protecting Your Loved One’s Rights After a Preventable Hip Fracture
The Rooth Law Firm’s nursing home fractures lawyer in Chicago helps victims and their families seek compensation for the harms and losses they suffered because of nursing home negligence. If your loved one sustained a fall or fracture while in the care of a nursing home, we encourage you to speak with us right away so we can:
- Tell you about your case’s merits and your legal options for free
- Collect evidence that shows your loved one was seriously hurt and that the nursing home is responsible for their suffering
- Provide the information and advice you need to make important legal decisions throughout your case
- Fight for the financial compensation your family deserves, whether that means negotiating a settlement or going to trial
Why Take Legal Action After a Hip Fracture?
Because of the breach of trust that injury represents.
Families often make the difficult decision of placing elderly family members in nursing homes so they can receive specialized attention and treatment. When loved ones are left in the care of a nursing home or assisted living facility, we expect that they will receive the very best care.
Unfortunately, elderly adults sometimes suffer abuse and neglect in the nursing homes that their families trusted. Claims and lawsuits allow the nursing home victims and their families to hold the home accountable for the abuse endured:
- A nursing home abuse claim could allow you to recover compensation without going to court; our legal team would instead work with the home and their insurer to secure a pretrial settlement.
- A nursing home abuse lawsuit may require us to present your case before a judge and jury at Cook County Law Division, or the simple act of filing the suit may convince the facility to start or restart negotiations instead.
Contact The Rooth Law Firm to get your case started today. We know that your family has been wronged, and we want to make sure the people responsible for your suffering are held accountable.
Compensation That Our Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Can Fight For
Bone fractures, also called broken bones, can cause significant losses for both the nursing home resident and their family:
- Hip fractures and other bone fractures can cause significant physical pain and suffering.
- The resident may also experience mental trauma, including a fear of suffering additional fractures that prevents them from truly enjoying their life.
- Depending on how serious the fracture is and your loved one’s overall health, they might never regain their prior level of independence and quality of life.
- The medical cost of treating a broken bone and restoring your loved one’s health can be very high.
- If you choose to move your loved one to a different long-term care facility, the cost of relocation can create an additional financial burden.
- If your loved one passes away from the injury, you could recover wrongful death damages for final medical expenses, burial and funeral costs, and loss of companionship.
Depending on the severity of the negligence surrounding the victim’s fall and/or fracture, they may also be entitled to punitive damages. Punitive damages do not compensate you for any particular loss; rather, they are intended purely as a punishment for the negligent party.
Punitive damages are rare, but we still take the time to determine whether or not our clients are eligible for them. We take our responsibility to our clients very seriously and leave no avenue unexplored when it comes to seeking compensation.
Who Can Sue the Nursing Home?
The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act grants nursing home residents legal rights and protections from any type of neglect and abuse. When falls and fractures or other signs of nursing home abuse appear, the victim and their family have the legal right to file a lawsuit against the negligent facility.
This does not, however, mean you have to take legal action all by yourself. In fact, doing so could harm your case, as nursing homes and insurance companies are typically large corporate entities with much more legal experience than the average person.
Our nursing home abuse attorney can champion your right to recover damages like those listed above. With our firm on your side, you would be able to stay focused on tending to your loved one while still exercising your right to recover compensation.
How Fractures Happen and How to Prevent Them
Falls are by far the most common cause of hip fractures among older adults, including nursing home residents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, of the nearly 319,000 older adults who are hospitalized for hip fractures every year, 88 percent of those fractures were caused by falls.
Most nursing home falls are caused by environmental hazards, inadequate staffing, unsafe equipment, unsafe personal care items, medication side effects, chronic and acute diseases, effects of aging on gait, and a facility’s failure to create a comprehensive fall prevention care plan.
Nursing homes can reduce the risk of hip fractures and other injuries by:
- Ensuring there is always a sufficient number of staff members on hand to attend to residents’ needs
- Training staff in how to assist residents into and out of chairs, beds, and bathtubs in a safe and careful manner
- Employing fall prevention procedures that include proper placement and installation of bed alarms, chair alarm systems, fall mats, lighting, and medication reassessments
- Regularly assessing the resident’s risk of falling or suffering fractures, which may increase over time due to medication changes, bone diseases like osteoarthritis, and cognitive changes
- Providing treatments and routines that can improve residents’ balance and health, such as doctor-approved physical therapy and exercise
It is vital for every nursing home to take appropriate measures to prevent fractures because such injuries so often have serious consequences, especially for those who are frail. Nursing home falls commonly result in serious injuries, hip fractures, and an increased risk of death.
At The Rooth Law Firm, our Chicago nursing home fractures attorney recognizes that you are angry and in search of answers. Our team cannot undo the suffering your family has experienced, but we can provide advice and practical solutions to guide you through the legal process.
Our Chicago Attorney Fights for Justice for All Clients
Anyone who wants dedicated legal assistance in their fractured hip case is encouraged to contact The Rooth Law Firm’s Chicago nursing home fractures lawyer. We will assess your case at no cost or obligation and charge no attorneys’ fees unless and until you win. This way, everyone who wants legal support can afford it. Call now to begin.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Home Fractures
What Are the Potential Consequences of a Hip Fracture?
Unfortunately, nursing home residents who break their hip are at an increased risk of mortality within one year of the injury. This is due to the severity of the injury itself, as well as the risks involved in necessary treatments like surgery. Even residents who recover can suffer chronic pain or psychological effects.
Should You Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer After a Broken Bone Injury?
Hiring an attorney can be very helpful when you have no legal experience of your own and are overwhelmed trying to provide for your loved one’s needs.
Once hired, The Rooth Law Firm will begin an immediate investigation into your loved one’s injury, determine who is legally responsible, and hold them accountable. If the home or their insurer tries to deny responsibility or underpay your claim, we are ready to fight back. Robert J. Rooth is an accomplished trial attorney, so we are not afraid to go to court when necessary.
What Are Common Signs of Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse?
Family members should watch out for the four common tell-tale signs of nursing home abuse. These are:
- Physical injuries – unexplained bruises, cuts, fractures, or other injuries.
- Medical complications – sudden weight loss, dehydration, poor nutrition, and the appearance of being over-medicated or fatigued.
- Behavioral changes – sudden angry or withdrawn behavior.
- Staffing issues – medication errors, behavior changes in front of staff, unclean or unsafe environments, and residents who appear unkempt or habitually dressed in the same clothing.
Unfortunately, these signs often go undetected, allowing the abuse and neglect to continue.