Nursing Home Falls

One of the most common reasons families decide to place a loved one in a nursing home is the risk of falls. An elderly person may not be able to live independently if they have mobility issues or other health concerns that lead to frequent falls because some medical conditions leave seniors unable to get up on their own after a fall or make them more vulnerable to serious fractures, including skull fractures and hip fractures.

Nursing homes should have the staff and processes in place to prevent falls and keep residents safe, and when they fail to take reasonable precautions they can be held liable. At The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we have handled personal injury matters for almost 40 years, and we understand how devastating a nursing home fall can be.

Families turn to our firm because of the personal connection we form with our clients, and everyone receives the same commitment to communication—we return calls and emails within 24 business hours, and often the same day. When a nursing home causes harm through neglect, we are here to help your family seek accountability. We provide a free consultation if you or a family member have been injured, so schedule your free consultation today.

Why Nursing Home Falls Happen

Nursing homes are required to create personalized care plans for each resident and update them as physical or cognitive conditions change. These plans must address fall risks, which are extremely common among elderly individuals. When facilities cut corners, serious injuries often follow. The most common causes of preventable nursing home falls include:

• Understaffing or inadequate supervision: Many facilities fail to maintain enough trained staff to assist residents who need help walking or washing.
• Ignoring mobility limitations: Residents with dementia or mobility issues require close monitoring. When nursing homes fail to assess these needs, falls occur.
• Lack of assistive devices: Missing or improperly used walkers, canes, bed alarms, or handrails significantly increase risk.
• Wet floors or unsafe walkways: Poor housekeeping and unsafe flooring conditions create dangerous slip hazards.
• Medication errors: Drugs that cause dizziness, fatigue, or confusion can heighten fall risk if not monitored correctly. Residents who take medications that can lead to falls should be getting additional monitoring and assistance.
• Failure to respond quickly to call bells: Many residents fall while trying to get up unassisted because no one responds when they request help.

New York law requires facilities to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable injuries. When a nursing home allows a fall to happen due to neglect, families may have a right to pursue a personal injury claim.

Types of Injuries Caused by Nursing Home Falls

Elderly individuals often have medical conditions that can make any fall potentially life-altering. Some of the injuries we frequently see include:

• Hip fractures.
• Wrist, shoulder, or femur fractures.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
• Subdural hematomas.
• Spinal injuries.
• Lacerations requiring stitches.
• Internal bleeding.
• Long-term decline in mobility or cognition.

Falls that can cause just a little embarrassment can cause serious injuries that can prove fatal for an elderly person. A senior with osteoporosis, for example, may be more likely to suffer a serious fracture in a fall and that injury will take longer to heal than in might for a younger adult. Seniors may be more likely to suffer head injuries or hip fractures in a fall. Pre-existing conditions can make it harder for seniors to recover from these conditions, which can cause complications and fatalities.

These injuries can decrease quality of life for seniors or can lead to long-term health declines. Many victims require rehabilitation, lengthy hospital stays, or permanent changes in their level of care.

How The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel Investigates Nursing Home Falls

Nursing home negligence cases require a thorough, strategic approach. Nursing homes often dismiss these incidents as just “accidents” or may even blame a senior’s pre-existing conditions for a fall. Our law firm responds by:

Reviewing medical records and care plans: We analyze the resident’s medical chart, fall-risk assessments, and staff notes to determine whether the facility complied with required standards and adapted their care for a resident’s specific needs.

Examining staffing levels and facility practices: Falls often occur when staff members are stretched too thin or poorly trained. We look at scheduling records, hiring reports, shift logs, and prior inspection reports that may reveal systemic problems.

Interviewing witnesses: Witnesses may provide crucial insight into how and why the fall occurred. We secure interviews with staff, residents, visitors, and other relevant witnesses.

Consulting experts: We work with experienced professionals who can explain how the nursing home’s failures contributed to the injury. Depending on the case, we may consult with medical professionals, expert witnesses, private investigators, and other professionals.

Preserving evidence early: Security footage, internal reports, and incident logs can vanish quickly. Early intervention is key, and we guide families through these crucial first steps.

We provide a free consultation to discuss your potential matter in greater detail and help you understand what to expect.

What To Do if Your Loved One Has Fallen in a Nursing Home

When a loved one has suffered a fall in a nursing home or any care facility, here is what you will want to do next:

1. Request immediate medical attention: Falls often cause injuries that are not obvious right away. Your loved one should be evaluated by a physician to rule out a head injury or other serious injury, even if they have no symptoms.
2. Document everything: Photograph injuries, unsafe conditions, or surroundings relevant to the fall.
3. Ask for copies of medical records and incident reports: Facilities must provide access with proper authorization. If they fail to do so, contact a nursing home abuse attorney for assistance.
4. Write down what staff members say: Inconsistencies in explanations may reveal neglect. Keeping a record of who you spoke with can also help your attorney build a case.
5. Contact a nursing home negligence attorney: Early legal involvement can help preserve evidence and prevent the facility from shifting responsibility.

The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel provides a free consultation so you can explore your options right away.

How Compensation Is Crucial in Nursing Home Fall Cases

Falls often lead to expensive medical bills and long-term consequences. If you have a legal claim, seeking fair compensation can help pay for these medical bills and can ensure that you or your loved one can get the medical care, therapy, personal support, and other help needed.

Every case is different, which is why individualized analysis is essential. We provide a free consultation so you can get answers.

Choosing the Right Attorney After a Nursing Home Fall

Families facing nursing home neglect often feel stressed, and few people know how to choose the right attorney. All law firms have some experience, so how can you know which one is the right fit for you? Here is what we recommend you look for:

• Experience: Mark A. Siesel has nearly 40 years of experience with nursing home abuse and personal injury cases. This meanshe understands what it takes to build a strong case and how to win at the negotiation table and in court.  
• Approach: When you are already stressed about your family’s wellbeing, working with a lawyer should make things easier for you, not harder. Some law firms have so many clients and such a large number of staff that you may end up feeling lost in shuffle. That’s never the case at The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel. We have purposely kept our law firm small and are selective about the cases we take on. That allows us to ensure we can reply to you within 24 business hours. It also means that Mark A. Siesel will personally oversee your case. Your case will be treated with the care you deserve.
• Results: Avoid law firms that only seek settlements. While settlements are often a great option, you want an attorney who is willing to go to court if that is the best way to get justice and fair compensation. At The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we have been featured in the news and have secured large verdicts and settlements for clients. Our goal is always to do what is best for your case because we are not just chasing more billable hours.
• Location: You want a lawyer who is nearby so you can visit the law firm and so you can stay in touch. The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel has offices in White Plains and Peekskill, serving Westchester County and surrounding areas.

When a nursing home causes preventable harm, families deserve answers and residents deserve better care. Our goal is not only to pursue compensation but also to bring attention to unsafe practices, such as:

• Chronic understaffing
• Poor training
• Inadequate supervision
• Failure to update care plans
• Ignoring fall-risk assessments
• Neglecting to assist residents with mobility limitations

If your loved one suffered a fall in a nursing home, you deserve answers. Contact The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel for a free consultation to start getting those answers.