As the average life expectancy continues to increase, so does the need for nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, and housing designed for older adults who often face mobility issues and other health-related challenges. Currently, there are about 1,200 nursing homes in California, with more sure to be opened in the coming years. While some who live in these facilities are just past retirement age, the majority of the residents are age 75 or over, and most have at least a few health issues, even if none are significant or life-threatening.
According to a recent report by U.S. News & World Report, there are many reliable and well-respected nursing homes in the state. To assist those searching for a nursing home for a loved one or to move into themselves, the report included a list of some of the best facilities in the state, which include:
- ACC Care Center 7801 Rush River Dr., Sacramento, CA
- Jerold Phelps Community Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility
- Nursing Home Community 733 Cedar St., Garberville, CA
- Balboa Nursing & Rehabilitation Center 3520 Fourth Ave., San Diego, CA
- Southern California Hospital at Culver City Skilled Nursing Facility 3828 Delmas Terr., Culver City, CA
- Advanced Health Care of Sacramento 1411 Expo Pkwy., North Sacramento, CA
- Buena Park Nursing Center 8520 Western Ave., Buena Park, CA
- Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center 375 Laguna Honda Blvd, San Francisco, CA
- Alameda Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility 2070 Clinton Ave., Alameda, CA
- Carmel Mountain Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center 11895 Ave. of Industry, San Diego, CA
- Del Amo Gardens Convalescent 22419 Kent Ave., Torrance, CA
- All Saints Maubert 15731 Maubert Ave., San Leandro, CA
While this information is a start, there is a great deal that must be considered and evaluated when selecting a nursing home. Even some that are reported to be the best in the state are known as facilities that report a number of injury incidents involving residents. The accident injuries are very worrisome to anyone who is seeking a facility for a loved one or could be moving there themselves because it speaks to a lack of proper care for the elderly who are living there and need expert care to ensure their safety.
If you or a loved one have recently suffered nursing home injuries, please know that you are not alone. In addition, you can contact the expert legal team at Normandie Law Firm to learn more about the rights of personal injury victims, how our staff and the legal system can protect you, and what can be done to hold the nursing home accountable for any negligence that caused you harm. Our office staff can be reached 24/7 and are also happy to assist you in booking your free consultation with a skilled Normandie Law Firm nursing home injuries lawyer.
At your free consultation, you will relate the details of your nursing home injuries and the incident that caused them and answer any other questions your lawyer has to ensure they understand the full scope of the incident. With a clear picture of your nursing home accident and injuries, they will explain the legal merit of the case and if you have grounds for a nursing home injuries lawsuit. With that knowledge, you will be ready to make well-informed choices about the action you will pursue in the future to secure help covering medical expenses and other costs caused by the injuries you suffered in a nursing home.
But please also understand that even after speaking to a Normandie Law Firm nursing home injuries lawyer and receiving legal guidance and information regarding your case, you are never required to file a lawsuit against the nursing home, nor are you obligated to hire Normandie Law Firm if you choose to pursue legal action. Our only purpose in providing this valuable help is to ensure that all personal injury victims have the resources needed to act in a manner they feel will best meet their immediate and long-term needs. But we do ask you to reach out to our office staff swiftly, as there is a time limit for you to file a lawsuit related to your nursing home injuries.
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Common Nursing Home Safety Hazards
As a care facility that focuses on services for the elderly, you would expect nursing homes to be very dedicated to safety and meticulous in addressing the details that ensure the space is safe for residents and their guests. However, that is not always what happens, as there are countless hazards and points of concern noted on inspections of nursing homes across the state, such as:
- Food or drinks spilled on the floor and not quickly cleaned up
- Hoses and pipes leaking onto the floor
- Clogged drains backing up and flooding floors
- Hoses or electrical cords on floors near hallways and walkways
- Loose or damaged flooring surfaces, broken or missing safety handrails
- Damaged or worn-out steps
- Poorly marked or unmarked transitions from one elevation to another, such as ramps or steps
- Uneven or damaged concrete or pavement in parking lots and along sidewalks
- Low-hanging trees or overgrown landscape blocking sidewalks
- Wet areas on sidewalks and in parking areas that hold water and promote moss or algae growth
- Poorly equipped showers and bathtubs with no seats, safety rails, or textured floors
- Overly hot water heater settings
These issues are just some of the ones that combine to cause thousands of very preventable slip and fall, trip and fall, burn, or falling object injuries in nursing homes around the state each year.
Nursing Home Injuries Suffered By Residents
When a young person slips and falls or trips and falls, they have a good chance of walking away from the incident with only minor injuries or just a bruise. However, when an elderly resident of a nursing home suffers a similar incident, the results can be catastrophic. Brittle bones, decreased muscle, and more delicate skin all contribute to the severity of the harm caused by even a minor incident. When the elderly adult is involved in a more serious fall or incident, the results can be much more serious and include harm such as:
- Broken or shattered bones
- Back, neck, and spinal cord damage
- Complete joint dislocations and damage to the soft connective tissue of the joint
- Severe lacerations and puncture wounds
- Damage to internal organs and internal bleeding
- Compound fractures
- Compression injuries from impact
- Severe burns
- Injuries to soft tissue and the destruction of nerves
- Facial injuries to the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and the delicate skin on the face
- Head injuries ranging from a skull fracture or severe concussion to a brain bleed or other traumatic brain injuries
When Is The Nursing Home To Blame For Your Harm?
All public and private structures must comply with premises liability laws that were created to keep guests and occupants of these buildings safe. In addition, when a building is purpose-built, such as a nursing home that will cater to the elderly and those with mobility or health issues, there are added precautions that should be taken for more robust safety features for these users. Additionally, the staff working in these specialty facilities must be more focused on providing the added care needed in certain settings to ensure the safety of residents.
When a property and the staff are not prepared to handle the added needs of a segment of the population, such as the elderly, the risk of these people suffering harm significantly increases. In the case of a nursing home that specializes in care for older folks, they are obligated to provide the added care and attention needed to keep their residents safe. If they fail to meet this added responsibility, they can be deemed negligent in their duty of care. In addition, when that negligence causes or contributes to the harm of an elderly resident, the facility can be held liable for the costs incurred by the victim.
What Is My Nursing Home Injuries Lawsuit Worth?
As a personal injury victim, your lawsuit compensation will be based on the actual losses and expenses created by the injuries you suffered due to nursing home staff negligence. Working with your Normandie Law Firm nursing home injuries lawyer, you will gather all documentation to confirm your allowable expenses used in the lawsuit valuation process. The expenses most often include the following:
- The cost of all medical care related to the nursing home injuries and any therapy or counseling to address the trauma of the incident
- Your legal costs associated with preparing, filing, and litigating your nursing home injuries lawsuit
- The replacement cost of any personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the nursing home injuries incident
While it is not likely to apply to most nursing home injury victims, personal injury lawsuits can also include compensation for lost wages when the harm caused by the incident prevents the victim from working at their regular job until they are fully healed. It is also possible for victims who suffer severe harm and require a lengthy recovery time to seek added compensation for their pain and suffering. If this applies to your case, your legal team will help you select a fair and reasonable amount for this aspect of the compensation as it is not a verified amount, such as a medical bill or legal fee.
The Time Limit To File Your Lawsuit
Personal injury victims have two years from the date of their injury incident to file a lawsuit with the court; if the case is not filed when the time limit expires, the victim loses the right to seek compensation for the losses and expenses created by that incident. Few exceptions would provide added time to file a claim once the time limit has expired, so please reach out to Normandie Law Firm today to discuss the time remaining to take legal action.
No Added Financial Hardships
When you hire Normandie Law Firm to handle your nursing home injuries lawsuit, our firm never requires any upfront payments. Instead, we only get paid when the case is resolved, and you have the compensation that includes funds to cover your legal costs and other expenses. In addition, if your Normandie Law Firm nursing home injuries lawyer fails to win your lawsuit and deliver the compensation you need and deserve, you owe the firm nothing for the time and monetary investment made to build your case. Please reach out to our caring staff today to learn more about this viable solution to the expenses created when you were hurt at a nursing home due to staff negligence.
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