Placing a loved one in a nursing home is a difficult decision, made with the expectation that they will receive the care, compassion, and respect they deserve. When that trust is shattered by neglect, resulting in a serious fracture, the consequences can be profound and life-altering. Such injuries often lead to complications like invasive surgeries, severe infections, and dangerous blood clots. The journey to recovery, regaining mobility, and restoring independence is frequently prolonged and challenging.
At Crowe Arnold & Majors, LLP, our Dallas nursing home fracture lawyers handle these sensitive cases on a contingency fee basis and have the resources to prove whether neglect or intentional abuse occurred. If a relative or loved one has suffered a fracture and answers aren’t forthcoming, it’s in your best interest to consult with our law firm as soon as possible. For more than six decades, the legal team at Crowe Arnold & Majors has been bringing negligent parties to justice, helping families in North Texas achieve fair compensation.
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Why Are Residents at a Higher Risk for Broken Bones?
For many elderly individuals, the physical changes accompanying aging increase their vulnerability to falls and fractures. For example, with osteoporosis, bones become more fragile and brittle. Mobility challenges caused by arthritis, muscle weakness, or balance issues related to medications significantly raise the risk of residents losing their footing and falling. In addition, a decline in vision, slower reflexes, and cognitive impairments from diseases like Parkinson’s or dementia increase the risk of falling.
Why Nursing Home Neglect Often Leads to Broken Bones
Nursing home neglect contributes to risk factors for falling by failing to address the specific needs of vulnerable residents. For instance, neglecting to provide mobility aids, monitor high-risk individuals, or maintain a hazard-free environment can result in preventable accidents.
Additionally, inadequate staffing and poor training leave residents without the support they require, compounding their risk of falls and fractures.
Examples of neglect leading to fractures and broken bones include the following:
- Improper lifting or transfers due to inadequately trained staff
- Lack of supervision
- Unsafe environments, e.g., slippery floors, poor lighting, clutter, lack of proper handrails
- Failure to monitor health conditions that impact mobility
- Medication errors (e.g., wrong dosage or incorrect prescriptions) may cause dizziness or disorientation in residents
While age-related health conditions increase the risk of bone fractures in residents, it isn’t the only reason for broken bones in older adults. Nursing home staff who neglect their residents can be held accountable for their actions.
Why Is Nursing Home Neglect So Common?
Nursing home neglect in Texas has reached alarming levels, endangering the well-being of countless elderly residents. Inadequate staffing, particularly in for-profit facilities, has significantly contributed to this crisis. Since 2015, Texas has reported over 1,800 serious deficiencies to federal regulators, more than any other state. These deficiencies often involve neglect, leading to injuries and deaths among residents. For example, in 2017, an El Paso nursing home resident suffered fatal injuries due to improper transfer procedures, highlighting the consequences of insufficient care.
Despite the prevalence of neglect, enforcement actions against offending facilities have been limited. Investigations reveal that the majority of senior living facilities in Texas with confirmed abuse cases often face minimal or no penalties. This lack of accountability allows substandard care to persist, leaving residents vulnerable to harm. Advocates are calling for increased transparency, stricter regulations, and better staffing standards to address this ongoing crisis and ensure the safety and dignity of nursing home residents across the state.
Legal Rights of Residents
In Texas, nursing home residents are entitled to comprehensive rights to protect their dignity, health, and well-being. These rights include living in safe, clean conditions, being free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and receiving adequate and appropriate medical care. When a resident suffers a broken bone due to neglect, these fundamental rights have been violated, and the resident is entitled to seek justice. This can involve filing a civil lawsuit to recover damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other related costs.
Additionally, residents or their families can report the neglect to state authorities, such as the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services or the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which oversee nursing home regulations and can impose penalties on facilities that fail to meet required standards.
No Fees Unless We Win!
Why Crowe Arnold & Majors is the Right Law Firm to Win Your Case
Our qualified attorneys can improve your family’s chances of recovering maximum compensation and holding negligent nursing homes accountable for their wrongdoing. A lawsuit can seek compensation for a variety of damages for nursing home neglect, including:
- Medical expenses to treat broken bones and associated complications
- Costs of physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Emotional anguish
- Punitive damages to punish the defendant, if appropriate
The prevalence of neglect in nursing homes is disheartening, and, as noted above, data indicates that many cases go unreported. If an investigation reveals that your loved one’s broken bone injury stems from inadequate fall prevention measures, understaffing, unsafe premises, or physical abuse, we can help.
Contact Crowe Arnold & Majors for a Free Consultation Today
If you suspect your loved one has suffered a broken bone or serious injury due to neglect or abuse in a nursing home, we can help you recover compensation for your family member’s losses and damages. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. Since we work on a contingency fee basis, you will not pay attorney’s fees unless we win compensation for your injuries.
