A lot of those who live in nursing homes are confined to wheelchairs. A wheelchair allows residents to avoid falling and the serious, possibly life-threatening injuries that a fall can cause. However, many nursing homes do not have enough staff. Thus, staff members are usually careless with residents, especially those in wheelchairs. They may not carefully transfer these residents into or out of their wheelchairs or leave them in their wheelchairs for so long that they sustain pressure sores.
Usually, residents lose patience as they wait for help, so they try to transfer themselves into or out of the wheelchair on their own. However, this can result in serious injuries. If such injuries happen, nursing home staff members may be held liable for the resulting damages. An experienced nursing home abuse attorney can help injured victims and their families seek compensation for damages. If your loved one is one of these victims, click here to get the legal assistance you need.
How Wheelchair Injuries Occur
Wheelchair injuries usually happen when a resident transfers into and out of a wheelchair without help. For instance, they may fall as they move from their bed into a wheelchair, or vice versa. Also, residents can fall as they transfer out of a wheelchair into a shower stall.
In addition, accidents can take place while a nursing home staff member pushes the wheelchair of a resident. For instance, the chair’s smaller front wheel can hit something and get stuck, stopping the chair. If the staff member continues to push the chair, the resident can fall out of the wheelchair.
Wheelchair falls can lead to serious injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and head injuries. Seniors have brittle bones that are prone to breakage. Also, muscle weakness can cause a senior resident to fall rapidly without the ability to break the fall with their arms. This can lead to a brain injury.
Liability for Wheelchair Injuries
A nursing home can be held liable for wheelchair injuries when a staff member fails to keep a resident safe and causes the injury of a loved one. Also, if a nursing home fails to take steps to prevent wheelchair injuries, this may constitute negligence. Such failure can be due to understaffing, failure to monitor residents, and poor staff training. If your loved one sustained an injury due to a wheelchair accident, you should consult with an attorney to know your legal options.
