California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
Sonoma County and other regions of the Bay Area have a somewhat lower fall rate among older adults than other states in the country, according to recently released data, yet falls remain a leading cause of injury among the elderly in California. Whether a fall occurs in a nursing home or assisted-living facility in the Bay Area, how do these falls happen, and who is responsible for any injuries that result from the falls?
Our Sonoma County nursing home negligence lawyers can tell you more about the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and we can also provide you with more information about determining liability when an elderly loved one suffers injuries in a fall at a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility for the elderly in our state.
Who is Responsible When an Elderly Resident Falls?
Falls happen in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities for a range of reasons, including but not limited to:
- Inadequate assistance with certain activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, or traveling to a dining area or common room;
- Inadequate lighting in a room or common area that results in tripping;
- Cluttered areas where tripping can occur;
- Uneven flooring or damaged flooring that can lead to tripping;
- Unattended liquid spills that pose slipping hazards;
- Intentional removal or withholding of mobility aids; or
- Physical abuse, such as pushing or shoving or tripping.
Whether a nursing home or assisted-living facility resident falls because of a sincere accident or as a result of another party’s intentional conduct (whether that is a staff member or another resident), the facility can be liable for negligence. In other words, your family may be able to file a lawsuit to hold the facility accountable for injuries that resulted from the fall.
How Often Do Older Adults Fall in California?
How common are falls? As we noted above, they are the leading cause of unintentional injury among the elderly. Approximately 37 percent of older adults who fall every year sustain an injury that requires medical attention.
Even in California, falls occur less often than in many other states across the country, yet millions of older adults nonetheless fall in preventable incidents and require medical treatment. In fact, according to CDC data, California has one of the lowest rates of elderly falls in the country, yet more than 27 percent of seniors fell in the most recently reported data year — in other words, nearly one-third of older adults. More than half a million had to receive medical treatment for the injuries they sustained, and many died as a result of their fall-related injuries.
Contact a Sonoma County Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Today to Seek Help with a Claim After Your Elderly Loved One’s Fall in Northern California
Was your parent or other elderly loved one recently injured in a fall in the nursing home or assisted-living facility where they reside in Northern California? Even if the fall was an accident, as we have discussed, the facility may be liable for your loved one’s injuries. To find out more about filing a nursing home negligence claim in California, you should get in touch with one of the Sonoma County nursing home neglect attorneys at our firm. Contact the Nursing Home Law Group today for more information about the services we provide to nursing home residents and their families in the Bay Area.
See Related Blog Posts:
Polypharmacy and Nursing Home Injuries in Berkeley
