Nursing Home Broken Hip

Hip fractures can be one of the most painful and life-affecting injuries a resident can experience while in a nursing home.

Fractured hips often require long-term care and recovery, and many injured victims may never fully regain their mobility. The patient typically has to undergo surgery and spend several months in a long-term care facility. Patients with a fractured hip are at a higher risk of fatality.

Broken hips in nursing homes are often preventable and due to poor care. If your loved one suffered a broken hip while in the care of a nursing home, you have legal rights. A personal injury lawsuit can help you and your family collect the necessary funds for recovery. 

Alarming Statistics on Hip Fractures in Nursing Homes

Hip fractures are far too common in nursing home settings. Here are a few statistics to know about broken hip rates:

• About 350,000 hip fractures happen nationwide annually [1] 
• Insomnia and depression are among the top risk factors for falling in nursing homes [2]
• About 1800 patients in nursing homes die yearly from falls [3]
• About 20% of fatalities from falls are nursing home residents [3]
• Nursing home residents unable to walk make up about 35% of reported falls [3]
• Up to 27% of falls in these facilities are because of hazards in the nursing home [3]
• Up to 6% of nursing home falls will result in a fracture [3] 

Research on broken hips in a nursing home setting is not common. Experts have begun to recognize the increased risk of nursing home residents suffering a broken hip. Since hip fractures can seriously debilitate the resident and result in costly health care needs, the need for additional research has been recognized.

Serious Consequences of Hip Fractures for Nursing Home Residents

A hip fracture is a major injury that can temporarily or permanently disable a resident. It often causes severe pain and limited mobility. Complications, including infections, pneumonia, and blood clots, are also possible with a broken hip. Broken hips in a nursing home setting have been shown to increase the risk of mortality.

Additionally, nursing home residents who suffer a fall are more likely to experience additional falls, which can worsen their outcomes.

Common Causes of Hip Fractures

Understanding the most common causes and risk factors of broken hips is essential to keep your loved one safe. Pinpointing the exact cause of broken hips in nursing homes isn’t always clear, but negligence is a common factor.

Falls

Suffering a fall is the most common cause of a broken hip in a long-term care facility. A nursing home resident may experience a fall due to neglect. Nursing homes that fail to staff or maintain a safe environment free of hazards may be considered negligent. Every skilled nursing facility should have fall prevention protocols to protect residents.

Nursing homes are designed to assist older adults, many of whom have multiple medical conditions and long-term care needs. Individualized fall prevention plans are important in protecting elderly individuals in a nursing home environment.

Transfers & Mobility Assistance

Dangerous falls can also happen when transferring a nursing home resident from one location to another. Staff members who use improper techniques when assisting residents could result in the elderly resident falling. The inadequate use of assistive devices could also make the nursing home liable for negligence.

Preventing broken hips in nursing homes requires regular maintenance, ongoing training, and a priority on a safe facility.

Holding Nursing Homes Accountable

Families usually make the difficult decision to move a loved one to a nursing home to provide them with better-skilled care and supervision. Many nursing home residents have limited mobility and extra care needs, and the facility must be prepared to accommodate them. Nursing homes should be held accountable when they are negligent in their duty of care.

Negligence Claims

Understaffing, failing to maintain a safe environment, neglect, and lacking training can all be considered negligent. If your loved one suffered a hip fracture in a nursing home, the facility or staff may be liable for your and your family’s damages. Legal assistance from a personal injury lawyer can help build your case.

Compensation for Damages

This doesn’t include physical therapy rehabilitation, supervision during the recovery process, or pain and suffering. A nursing home abuse lawyer can help injured nursing home victims recover the following damages:

• Medical Expenses: Broken hips are serious injuries that often require hip surgery, pain medications, and long-term care rehabilitation, leading to expensive medical bills. Nursing homes should also be responsible for future medical bills and required surgery needs.
• Pain and Suffering: A broken hip can cause significant physical pain and suffering. The resident may also experience anxiety due to a fear of future falls.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Broken hips can cause senior citizens to become temporarily or permanently disabled, limiting their independence. This can lead to an overall loss of enjoyment of life, which also deserves compensation.
• Wrongful Death: Broken hip injuries can be life-threatening. The victim’s family members may be subject to compensation through a wrongful death claim.

No two nursing home neglect cases are the same. Experienced legal representation ensures you receive a fair evaluation of your case’s value.

Taking Action After a Nursing Home Hip Fracture

A hip fracture is a severe injury that requires immediate care. Taking specific steps following broken hip injuries could also protect your family’s legal rights to compensation.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Broken hips will often require prompt hip surgery. Ensure your family member receives immediate medical attention following any type of broken bones. If necessary, call 911 to have them transported to the nearest hospital.

Report the Incident

A broken bone in a nursing home is often preventable, making it necessary to report the injury immediately. Whether you believe your loved one suffered a fractured hip due to nursing home abuse or neglect, it’s essential to file a report. Doing so may help your case.

Gather Evidence

A personal injury case requires that you and your lawyer prove negligence. It’s never too soon to gather evidence, especially items that may be time-sensitive. 

Request a copy of the report, gather your family members’ medical and surgery documents, and, when possible, photograph the dangerous facility. You should collect the contact information of witnesses who can attest to the incident.

Consult with an Experienced Attorney

Nursing homes owe it to senior citizens to keep them safe, which includes fall prevention plans to prevent falls and prompt emergency response protocols to minimize the injury outcome. Nursing home abuse and neglect law firms can help you and your family seek justice following a fractured hip injury.

What an Attorney Can Do for Your Broken Hip Claim

Some nursing homes may try to minimize your loved one’s injury or deny fault. However, when broken hips occur in nursing homes, it’s at least worth investigating. The Nursing Home Law Center offers residents and their families a free consultation to explore their legal options.

If you have a broken hip case, your legal team will investigate the details and find out what happened. This may include talking with nursing staff, reviewing your loved one’s medical records, and evaluating photograph or video evidence. Our legal team works closely with expert resources to help build a strong case.

Insurance companies or nursing facilities sometimes attempt to settle claims outside of court, offering many cost-effective benefits. Your legal team will help you and your family review any settlement offers you might receive. If you disagree that an offer appropriately covers your damages, your legal team will represent you in court.

Statute of Limitations for Hip Fracture Claims

The health and surgery needs of your loved ones should be a priority following a broken hip incident. However, it’s essential also to consider your legal options as soon as possible to stay within your state’s statute of limitations. 

Injured victims and their families have a limited amount of time to seek compensation and justice from long-term care facilities. Building a solid case against a negligent nursing home can take time, so beginning the process as soon as possible is crucial.

Consult an Experienced Nursing Home Broken Hip Lawyer

Nursing homes should provide expert, around-the-clock care for your loved one. When nursing home staff members fail to care for their residents properly, they may be liable for negligence.

Many broken hips in nursing home settings are preventable, so if your loved one suffered a life-changing injury, it may be worth it to contact an experienced lawyer. A lawsuit can help you recover funds to pay for medical bills, the services of experienced physical therapists, and pain and suffering.

The Nursing Home Law Center is here to help you and your family navigate the legal process after hip fracture surgery. Contact us today for a free consultation at (800) 926-7565, or fill out our online form to have a lawyer contact you.

Resources: [1] Johns Hopkins [2] Help Guide [3] Market Us Statistics