Orland Park, IL Bedsore Injury Lawyers

Attorneys for Bedsores Caused by Nursing Home Neglect in Orland Park, Illinois

Many people who reside in nursing homes are in frail health. They may suffer from illnesses, disabilities, or other conditions that prevent them from getting up and moving around regularly. Unfortunately, those who are bedridden or who need to spend long periods of time laying or sitting down may be at risk of bedsores, which can develop when parts of the body remain in contact with a surface for an extended period of time. Bedsores can be painful, and they can develop into serious wounds that may lead to additional health issues or even threaten a person's life.

It is completely unacceptable for a person to develop bedsores while under the care of a nursing home. These injuries are often caused by nursing home negligence, and issues such as understaffing or lack of supervision can put the health of patients at risk. At Schwartz Injury Law, we can help families determine what steps to take to address bedsores and related injuries. We can help identify negligence that caused residents to suffer harm, and we will work to ensure that a facility will be held liable for the damages suffered by victims of neglect. Our attorneys are committed to protecting the rights of vulnerable nursing home residents. We work hard to secure financial compensation for families who have been affected by negligence, ensuring that a victim will be able to recover from these injuries and receive all necessary care in the future.

Bedsore Injuries and Resulting Complications

When proper care and attention is provided, bedsores are entirely preventable. Also called decubitus ulcers or pressure ulcers, bedsores can develop when a nursing home resident is in the same position for an extended amount of time. Despite their name, bedsores are not limited to bedridden patients, and they can develop while a person is in a wheelchair, on a couch or chair, or in any other sedentary position. The constant contact between body parts such as the buttocks, shoulder blades, or the back of the head and the surfaces of beds or chairs can damage the skin and cause wounds to develop. If these wounds are left untreated, they may affect deeper layers of the skin or even cause damage to underlying muscles and other tissues. They can also lead to life-threatening infections and other serious health issues.

Nursing home staff members should make sure residents can move and change positions on a regular basis. For those who cannot move on their own, staff members or orderlies should make sure to reposition them at regular intervals. Failure to do so may lead to serious bedsores, and these sores will become worse if a person continues to remain in the same position.

Addressing Injuries Caused by Elder Neglect in Nursing Homes

At Schwartz Injury Law, our skilled attorneys have obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients, including victims who developed bedsores as the result of abuse or negligence. We realize that the appearance or worsening of bedsores is often an indication of neglect by a nursing home or its staff. This issue is often the result of understaffing, since nurses or other staff members may be unable to provide the necessary care for large numbers of patients when they are overworked. Inadequate training of staff members may also be an issue that could lead to bedsores, or general neglect of patients may be to blame.

Too often, if one patient in a particular facility is suffering from bedsores, others may be as well. Neglect is frequently a systemic issue, and a nursing home that does not take the proper measures to ensure that all patients receive the proper care may be responsible for multiple types of injuries. Our law firm can conduct a full investigation into the facility in question, looking for any and all evidence that could be used to support a claim of negligence. We can gather medical records and document the injuries that a person has suffered so that the responsible parties can be brought to justice.

Contact Our Orland Park Nursing Home Bedsores Attorneys

When bedsores and other complications have occurred as a result of nursing home negligence, families can work with Schwartz Injury Law to protect the rights of an elderly loved one and recover compensation for the harm that has been done. Contact our Orland Park, IL bedsores lawyers at 708-888-2160 to set up a free, confidential consultation with our attorneys today. We are dedicated to protecting the rights of our clients, even in the most difficult and complex cases, and we will help you address the injuries your loved one has suffered and make sure they will be properly cared for going forward.