Falls in Connecticut Nursing Homes

Falls are among the most significant threats to elderly residents in Connecticut nursing homes. When a loved one suffers a severe injury from a fall at their care facility, families often discover that the injuries happened due to a lack of proper safety protocols or adequate supervision. These preventable incidents can lead to life-threatening injuries, permanent disabilities, or even death.

If your family member has been seriously injured in a nursing home fall, contact D’Amico Pettinicchi today for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your legal options.

Why Choose Our Law Firm for Your Nursing Home Fall Injury Lawsuit?

Since 1990, D’Amico Pettinicchi has been a leader in lawsuits involving nursing home neglect and abuse in Connecticut. With more than 100 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys have earned a hard-earned 35-plus-year reputation for securing justice for accident victims when insurance companies and nursing home corporations refuse to offer fair compensation.

Our law firm brings several advantages to your nursing home fall injury case, including the following:

• National and Statewide Recognition – Our team has received extensive recognition in personal injury law, including being ranked among the Top 10 Connecticut personal injury attorneys by Super Lawyers for 10 years running.
• Dual Board Certification – We hold certification in civil trial advocacy and civil pretrial practice by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, demonstrating our proven courtroom acumen.
• Big-Firm Resources with Small-Firm Attention – We can provide the investigative resources and expert witnesses needed for complex cases while maintaining personal attention to our clients first and foremost.
• Trust from the Legal Community – Other lawyers regularly refer their most complex and challenging nursing home cases to us because they know we can handle complex lawsuits and achieve successful outcomes.
• Proven Track Record – We have recovered millions of dollars at trial and through settlements for families affected by nursing home negligence.

When It’s Time to Fight the Good Fight℠, our experienced attorneys will work tirelessly to hold negligent nursing homes accountable for the harm they have caused your loved one.

Why Do Falls Occur More Often in Nursing Homes?

Nursing home residents face a significantly higher risk of falling than elderly individuals living independently. This increased risk is due in part to institutional factors. Staff turnover and inadequate training can lead to inconsistent care, while understaffing may result in residents not receiving the necessary supervision and assistance.

Environmental factors can also contribute to falls. Poor lighting, wet floors, obstacles in walkways, improperly maintained equipment, and inadequate safety features all create hazardous conditions that responsible facilities should eliminate.

How Serious Are Falls in Nursing Homes?

Falls among residents in nursing homes often have far more serious consequences than falls experienced by younger, healthier individuals. The combination of frail health, brittle bones, and slower healing processes makes even seemingly minor falls potentially life-threatening events.

According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, 411 older adults died from falls in one recent year, while 36,534 required hospital care. Many nursing home residents never fully recover their previous level of mobility and independence, leading to a significant decline in their quality of life. Residents taking blood-thinning medications face even greater risks, as internal bleeding can be difficult to control and may require emergency surgery.

How Can Nursing Homes Be Held Accountable for Negligence After a Fall?

Are nursing homes liable for falls? Nursing homes have a legal duty to provide reasonable care to their residents and to take appropriate steps to prevent foreseeable injuries like falls. When a facility fails to meet this standard of care, they can be held liable for the resulting injuries through a negligence lawsuit.

The evidence in nursing home fall cases often centers on the facility’s care planning, supervision, and safety protocols. Nursing homes must conduct comprehensive assessments of each resident’s fall risk and implement individualized care plans that address identified risks. Facilities may be found negligent when they fail to properly assess fall risks or ignore assessment recommendations.

In proving nursing home negligence, our legal team will thoroughly investigate all aspects of your loved one’s care, including the following:

We will use this evidence to build a compelling case demonstrating how the facility’s negligence contributed to your loved one’s fall.

Potential Compensation for Injuries from a Fall in a Nursing Home

Families affected by nursing home fall injuries may be entitled to compensation for the following:

• Medical expenses related to treating fall injuries, including emergency room visits, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care
• Costs for additional care needs, medical equipment, home modifications, or alternative living arrangements necessitated by the fall injuries
• The pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life that result from serious fall injuries

Punitive damages may be available in cases involving particularly egregious negligence or when a nursing home has a pattern of safety violations.

When a nursing home fall results in death, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for their loss. This can include funeral expenses, lost companionship, and the emotional pain of losing their loved one due to preventable negligence.

How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit for a Nursing Home Fall Injury in Connecticut?

Generally, personal injury claims in Connecticut must be filed within two years of the date when the injury occurred. For wrongful death cases involving nursing home falls, the statutory deadline is also typically two years from the date of death.

However, it’s crucial to contact an experienced nursing home negligence attorney as soon as possible after a serious fall injury. Early legal intervention allows us at D’Amico Pettinicchi to preserve crucial evidence, interview witnesses while memories are fresh, and ensure we meet all filing deadlines. Waiting too long can result in the loss of important evidence and may ultimately prevent you from seeking justice for your loved one.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Nursing Home Falls?

While some falls may be unavoidable due to medical conditions, many causes of falls in nursing homes stem from preventable facility failures, such as the following:

• Supervision Failures – Residents who require assistance with mobility may attempt to walk or transfer independently when staff members are not available to help.
• Environmental Hazards – These include wet floors without warning signs, obstacles or debris in walkways, poor lighting in corridors and resident rooms, broken or missing handrails, and improperly maintained mobility equipment.
• Medication-Related Factors – Side effects from certain medications can cause dizziness, confusion, low blood pressure, or changes in balance and coordination. When nursing homes fail to properly monitor medication effects or adjust dosages appropriately, residents face increased fall risks.
• Inadequate Care Planning and Assessment Failures – Nursing homes must regularly evaluate each resident’s fall risk factors and update care plans accordingly to avoid dangerous conditions.
• Equipment Failures and Improper Use of Assistive Devices – This includes malfunctioning Hoyer lifts, improperly secured wheelchairs, broken bed rails, and failure to provide appropriate mobility aids when needed.

What Are Common Injuries from Falls in Nursing Homes?

The combination of advanced age, medical conditions, and medication use makes nursing home residents particularly vulnerable to severe fall-related injuries. Common injuries caused by falls at nursing homes include the following:

• Hip Fractures – These injuries often require surgical intervention and extensive rehabilitation, and many residents never regain their previous level of mobility.
• Head Injuries – Even seemingly minor head trauma can be dangerous for elderly residents, particularly those taking blood-thinning medications. More severe head injuries may require emergency surgery.
• Spinal Cord Injuries – Falls are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries among older adults, and these injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, chronic pain, and significant changes in a resident’s care needs and quality of life.
• Broken Bones – Wrist fractures, arm fractures, and compression fractures of the spine can all result from falls and may heal slowly due to age-related changes in bone density and healing capacity.

How Can Falls Among the Elderly in Nursing Homes Be Prevented?

The Connecticut Department of Public Health emphasizes that many falls can be prevented through a combination of measures that address individual risk factors and environmental hazards. These include the following:

• Regular Fall Risk Assessments – These assessments should consider medical conditions, the effects of medication, mobility limitations, cognitive status, and a history of previous falls.
• Environmental Safety Measures – This includes ensuring adequate lighting throughout the facility, eliminating tripping hazards from walkways, installing and maintaining handrails and grab bars, keeping floors clean and dry, and ensuring that resident rooms are free from obstacles.
• Appropriate Supervision and Assistance – This includes responding promptly to call lights and bed alarms, providing assistance with transfers and ambulation, implementing regular toileting schedules, and ensuring that residents use prescribed mobility aids correctly and safely.
• Medication Management – Healthcare providers should regularly review all medications for potential interactions or side effects that could increase fall risk. When medications that affect balance or cognition are necessary, additional safety precautions should be implemented.
• Physical Therapy and Exercise Programs – The Connecticut Department of Public Health specifically recommends regular exercise programs that enhance balance, strength, and flexibility as an important measure for fall prevention.

Contact Our Connecticut Nursing Home Physical Abuse Attorneys Today

When a loved one suffers serious injuries from a preventable fall in a Connecticut nursing home, you need experienced legal advocates who will fight tirelessly for justice and accountability. The attorneys at D’Amico Pettinicchi will work to secure the compensation your injured loved one deserves. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. You pay nothing unless we successfully resolve your nursing home abuse case.