In Texas, nursing home abuse can directly lead to broken bones through physical assault or rough handling by caregivers or through spills, lack of mobility devices, or cluttered walkways. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) reported over 50,000 cases of elder abuse in 2022, encompassing various forms of mistreatment, including physical abuse that can result in fractures.
When assisted living facilities are understaffed or fail to follow proper standards of care, residents are more prone to suffering needless and potentially life-altering injuries. The law affords remedies if you believe your loved one’s broken bones were caused by abuse. For experienced legal counsel from Dallas nursing home abuse lawyers, reach out to Crowe Arnold & Majors, LLP today. We offer free initial consultations and provide results-focused representation without upfront legal fees.
No Fees Unless We Win!
Leading Causes of Nursing Home Falls and Fractures
The older people get, the more susceptible they are to suffering broken bones after a fall. For a nursing home resident, even a seemingly minor fall can have serious physical and emotional consequences—and many are often preventable.
Some of the leading ways negligence contributes to nursing home falls include:
- Lack of supervision: Shortages in staffing, as well as inattentive and poorly trained staff members, increase the risk of falls. With fewer caregivers available, residents may be left unattended for extended periods, increasing the likelihood of falls, especially for those requiring mobility assistance. Inattentive care may also result in a resident wandering away from the controlled environment and subsequently suffering a fall.
- Medication errors: Over-medicated residents can result in dizziness or fainting that leads to falls and fractures.
- Improper use of equipment: Failure to use mobility aids, bed rails, and other equipment places residents at risk of dangerous falls.
- Hazardous conditions: Wet floors, poor lighting, obstacles in hallways, and other hazards can place anyone at risk of a fall. Nursing home residents who may already have mobility and cognitive challenges are at increased risk.
- Aggressive caregivers: A caregiver intentionally slapping or hitting a resident is a clear act of abuse that can have severe consequences. These actions not only violate the resident’s dignity and safety but can also result in falls and serious injuries, such as broken bones, particularly in elderly individuals with fragile health.
While injuries to residents may be purely accidental, there are other times when gross negligence, understaffing, and caregiver abuse may be to blame. So, when a loved one is suffering, our Dallas nursing home fracture & broken bone lawyers will investigate the circumstances and fight tirelessly to secure rightful compensation for victims and their families.·
The Physical and Emotional Consequences of Broken Bones
Broken bones can result in significant pain and suffering, diminished mobility, and other physical hardships that may last for months or even prove permanent. A broken hip or other serious fracture can mark the beginning of a downward spiral that results in blood clots, infections, and an elevated risk of death.
As hard as the physical effects can be on an elderly nursing home resident, the emotional toll can prove even more damaging. The trauma of the event can result in anxiety and fear of further falls. Decreased mobility might mean they can no longer get around and engage in activities that once brought light into their days. Social isolation, depression, and a sense of hopelessness may follow.
In handling a nursing home neglect claim, our lawyers carefully analyze all of how a broken bone or other injury has impacted the quality of life of a nursing home resident.
Steps to Take If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
If you suspect a family member is being subject to nursing home abuse or neglect, consider the following steps:
- Recognize the Signs. Look for physical, emotional, or behavioral changes in your loved one. This may include unexplained fractures, bruises, cuts, or other injuries, as well as sudden withdrawal, fearfulness, or signs of neglect like poor hygiene or malnutrition.
- Document Your Observations. Take detailed notes of any incidents, injuries, or behavioral changes. Include dates, times, photos, or videos to preserve and document evidence of potential abuse.
- Speak with Your Loved One. Have a private and supportive conversation with your family member to understand how they were injured. Be patient and empathetic, as they may feel fearful it will happen again.
- Report Your Concerns to the Facility. Notify the nursing home management or administrator about your concerns. Request an explanation and follow up in writing to ensure a formal record is created.
- Contact State Authorities. File a complaint with the Office of Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman or the Texas Attorney General in the Medicaid Fraud Unit Control Unit.
- Seek Medical Attention. If your loved one has sustained injuries, ensure they receive proper medical care and obtain documentation of their condition from healthcare professionals.
Legal Help When You Need It Most
Nursing home neglect cases are complex legal matters, especially when they involve severe fractures, patterns of neglect or abuse, and the pain and suffering of your family member. Our firm is prepared to leverage our substantial resources, including access to private investigators, nursing experts, geriatricians, economists, and long-term care administrators who help us find the facts and build compelling cases on behalf of our clients.
Nursing homes (and their insurance providers) do everything they can to limit damages in neglect and abuse cases. We can thoroughly assess damages, uncover crucial evidence, and take other steps to help maximize the financial recovery of plaintiffs.
With 65 collective years of experience and hundreds of millions of dollars obtained on behalf of our clients, our legal team has the experience to fight for your right to recover compensation for your loved one’s nursing home injury.
No Fees Unless We Win!
The Statute of Limitations
In Texas, the statute of limitations for nursing home neglect and abuse cases is generally two years. However, it’s wise to consult a lawyer as soon as possible, as important evidence can disappear over time.
Your Fight for Justice Starts Here – Schedule a Free Consultation
Legal damages may be available if an investigation reveals that your loved one’s broken bone injury stems from inadequate fall-prevention measures, understaffing, unsafe premises, or physical abuse. A qualified personal injury attorney at Crowe Arnold & Majors can start investigating and get to the bottom of what happened. Don’t delay in scheduling a free consultation with our Dallas attorneys today.
