Chicago Nursing Home Life-Threatening Injuries Lawyer

Experienced Legal Help for Life-Threatening Injuries in Chicago Nursing Homes

Serious injuries in nursing homes are often the result of negligence, abuse, or medical errors. Assisted living facilities have a legal duty to keep residents safe and prevent avoidable harm. When they fail to do so, families have the right to pursue legal action to seek justice and compensation.

A Chicago nursing home injury lawyer can help you seek justice and compensation for your loved one.

Successful Nursing Home Injuries Settlements 

Successful settlements demonstrate the accountability senior living homes and staff members must face when they fail to provide proper care. Here are a few examples of settlements that helped victims of nursing home negligence recover compensation:

• $1,200,000 Settlement – Awarded to a disabled woman injured in a nursing home van accident.
• $1,700,000 Settlement – Recovery for a nursing home fall claim involving a subdural hematoma and hip fracture.
• $735,000 Settlement – Secured for a resident who sustained a broken leg and compression fractures to her lumbar and cervical spine after falling from an unattended wheelchair.

These settlements show the serious consequences that nursing home negligence can pay when causing life-threatening injuries. If your loved one has suffered due to improper care, legal action holds those perpetrators accountable. Contact us today to discuss your case and explore your legal options to get the compensation your family deserves.

Common Nursing Home Injuries That Can Be Life-Threatening

Many common nursing home injuries result from nursing home negligence, hurting elderly residents. These injuries can arise from factors such as inadequate staff training, poor supervision, or medical errors. 

Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers

Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable to bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, which can lead to severe infections.

Falls and Impact Injuries

Patients are also more prone to falls, which can cause head trauma, fractures, or internal bleeding, often resulting in life-threatening injuries.

Clogged Breathing Tubes

Medication errors, such as overdoses or toxic reactions and respiratory distress due to clogged breathing tubes, are also common causes of life-threatening injuries caused by nursing home negligence.

Other Injuries from Neglect

Nursing home residents typically need more supervision to avoid choking. Similar neglect can lead to malnutrition and dehydration, while untreated infections can lead to sepsis. 

How Negligence in Chicago Nursing Homes Leads to Life-Threatening Injuries

Negligence comes in many forms and can lead to serious injuries with life-threatening consequences. Understaffing is a major issue, leading to inadequate supervision and care for residents. 

A lack of proper training can result in medical errors or improper patient handling. Also, failing to monitor residents with preexisting medical conditions, ignoring signs of distress, or not seeking emergency medical care in a timely manner can exacerbate injuries or illness.

Family Members’ Rights to Take Legal Action

If a loved one suffers a life-threatening injury due to staff members’ negligence, family members have the right to take legal action. They can request an investigation into the nursing home’s actions, obtain medical records and reports from the facility, report the incident to the Illinois Department of Public Health, and pursue financial compensation through legal channels.

In addition to pursuing legal action for financial compensation, loved ones can advocate for changes within the facility. Holding the long-term living facility accountable helps prevent the same negligence from happening to other patients. 

Reporting incidents and working with attorneys can also result in facility-wide safety changes, which can prevent future injuries for vulnerable residents.

Legal Protections Under the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act

The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act (210 ILCS 45) mandates that assisted living homes must provide residents with appropriate care to prevent injuries caused by neglect or abuse. 

Facilities are required to train staff to provide safe and appropriate care, monitor residents for medical emergencies, and act swiftly when necessary. Failure to meet these obligations can result in liability for the facility.

Additional Illinois laws that protect patients include: 

• The Illinois Adult Protective Services Act: Requires facilities to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elderly residents to the Illinois Department on Aging.
• The Illinois Abused and Neglected Long-Term Care Facility Residents Reporting Act: Mandates that all cases of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation in long-term care facilities be reported to the appropriate authorities.
• Illinois Medical Patient Rights Law: Protects patients’ rights to appropriate and respectful care and allows them to seek compensation for neglect or abuse.

Federal laws that further protect injury victims include:

• The Federal Nursing Home Reform Act (OBRA 1987) establishes requirements for facilities to maintain a safe and effective environment, including monitoring for medical emergencies and maintaining standards for care.
• The Nursing Home Quality Initiative is a federal program aimed at improving the quality of care in facilities, making certain that residents’ health and safety are prioritized.
• The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes provisions for improving long-term care facilities and holding them accountable for patient safety.

These protections under Illinois law and federal regulations make certain that residents are safeguarded from life-threatening injuries. If a facility fails to meet these standards, victims and their families can pursue financial compensation for the harm caused. 

Compensation for Nursing Home Life-Threatening Injuries

If your loved one has suffered life-threatening injuries due to staff members’ negligence, they may be entitled to compensation. 

This compensation can cover various costs, including medical expenses, rehabilitation, and long-term care needed as a result of the injuries. Beyond financial support, compensation can also address the pain and suffering caused by the incident, including emotional distress for both the injured resident and their families.

In cases where the injury results in wrongful death, relatives may also pursue damages related to funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and other related costs. In addition to financial compensation, legal action holds the facility accountable for its negligence. 

In some situations, punitive damages may be awarded if the nursing home’s actions were especially egregious. These damages aim to prevent future carelessness, improving the care standards at facilities.

How a Chicago Nursing Home Lawyer Can Help

Working with a skilled Chicago lawyer helps you get the best compensation. Your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation into the facility’s negligence by gathering key evidence such as medical records, witness statements, and facility logs. 

We work with medical professionals to assess if inadequate care contributed to the injury. This collaboration helps establish whether the injury resulted from medication errors, improper supervision, or unsafe conditions.

Once the facts are gathered, we will guide the family and injury victims on the best legal options, such as pursuing a settlement or taking the case to trial.

Throughout the process, we will provide support, helping families understand their rights while managing the legal complexities. By handling all aspects of the case, your lawyer allows families to focus on their loved one’s recovery.

Contact Our Chicago Law Firm for a Free Consultation

If your loved one has suffered nursing home injuries, legal action may be necessary to prevent further harm. Contact our Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys today for a free consultation to discuss your case and explore your legal options. Our experienced attorneys are ready to guide you through the process and help hold facilities accountable for their negligence.

Call (800) 926-7565 or fill out our online form.