Nursing Home Accident Lawyers
Fighting for injured nursing home residents and their families. Holding facilities accountable for preventable accidents. Over 40 years of experience.
The Nursing Home Accident Crisis
Preventable accidents injure thousands of nursing home residents every year
Most Nursing Home Accidents Are Preventable
With proper staffing, training, supervision, and safety protocols, the vast majority of nursing home accidents could be prevented. When facilities cut corners, residents suffer.
Common Nursing Home Accidents
Falls & Fall-Related Injuries
CriticalSlips, trips, wheelchair falls, bed falls. Leading cause of nursing home injuries.
Typical Injuries: Hip fractures, head trauma, broken bones, death
Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers)
SeverePreventable wounds from immobility and inadequate care. Sign of severe neglect.
Typical Injuries: Stages 1-4 ulcers, infections, sepsis, death
Medication Errors
CriticalWrong medication, wrong dose, missed medications, improper administration.
Typical Injuries: Adverse reactions, overdoses, worsening conditions
Choking & Aspiration
CriticalFood or liquid enters airways. Common in residents with swallowing difficulties.
Typical Injuries: Pneumonia, asphyxiation, death
Burns & Scalding
SevereHot food/beverages, bath water too hot, heating devices, smoking accidents.
Typical Injuries: First to third-degree burns, scarring
Wandering & Elopement
CriticalResidents with dementia leaving facility unsupervised. Exposure, traffic accidents.
Typical Injuries: Hypothermia, dehydration, pedestrian accidents
Wheelchair Accidents
SevereFalls from wheelchairs, tip-overs, entrapment, transportation accidents.
Typical Injuries: Falls, fractures, strangulation
Equipment Malfunction
SevereDefective beds, lifts, wheelchairs causing injuries. Poor maintenance.
Typical Injuries: Falls, crushing injuries, entrapment
Resident-to-Resident Altercations
SevereInadequate supervision allowing violent or aggressive residents to harm others.
Typical Injuries: Assaults, emotional trauma
Warning Signs of Nursing Home Accidents & Neglect
What families should look for during visits
Physical Warning Signs
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, or injuries
- Pressure sores or bedsores (redness, open wounds)
- Sudden weight loss or dehydration
- Poor hygiene (unwashed, soiled clothing or bedding)
- Unexplained fractures or broken bones
- Burns or scalding marks
- Signs of improper medication (drowsiness, agitation)
- Infections that won't heal
- Malnutrition or dehydration symptoms
Behavioral & Environmental Signs
- Sudden changes in behavior or mood
- Withdrawal, depression, or unusual fear
- Reluctance to speak in front of staff
- Facility understaffing or high staff turnover
- Strong odors (urine, feces, unwashed conditions)
- Unsafe living conditions (clutter, broken equipment)
- Lack of supervision in common areas
- Residents left unattended for long periods
- Facility avoids or delays your visits
- Staff unable to answer basic questions about care
Trust Your Instincts
If something doesn't feel right during your visits, it probably isn't. Document everything with photos, notes, and witness statements. Contact an attorney immediately if you suspect your loved one is being harmed.
New York Nursing Home Regulations
Federal and state laws require minimum standards of care
Required Standards of Care
- Adequate staffing levels at all times
- Proper training and supervision of staff
- Individualized care plans for each resident
- Fall prevention protocols and supervision
- Regular repositioning to prevent bedsores
- Proper medication administration procedures
- Safe environment free from hazards
- Regular monitoring of residents' conditions
- Prompt medical attention when needed
- Respect for residents' dignity and rights
NY Department of Health Oversight
The New York State Department of Health licenses and inspects all nursing homes. Facilities must maintain minimum standards or face citations, fines, and potential closure.
Common Violations Leading to Accidents:
- Insufficient nursing staff (nurse-to-patient ratios)
- Failure to develop/follow care plans
- Inadequate fall prevention measures
- Poor supervision of residents
- Medication administration errors
- Failure to maintain safe environment
- Inadequate training of staff
- Delayed response to call lights/alarms
- Failure to monitor at-risk residents
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Multiple parties may be responsible for nursing home accidents
Nursing Home Facility
Corporate owners and facility operators responsible for overall care and safety
Individual Staff Members
Nurses, aides, administrators who directly caused harm through negligence
Corporate Ownership Groups
Parent companies prioritizing profits over resident safety and care
Third-Party Contractors
Food service, maintenance, medical equipment providers contributing to accidents
Staffing Agencies
Agencies providing inadequately trained or unqualified temporary staff
Equipment Manufacturers
Defective beds, lifts, wheelchairs causing injuries
Medical Providers
Doctors, nurses providing substandard medical care
Security Companies
Failure to prevent wandering, elopement, or resident-to-resident violence
Nursing Home Accident Compensation
Full damages for injured residents and their families
Economic Damages
- Medical expenses (emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery)
- Long-term medical care and treatment
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Home healthcare or relocation to better facility
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Cost of moving to appropriate care facility
- Future medical expenses
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering of injured resident
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of quality of life
- Humiliation and indignity
- Fear and anxiety
- Loss of enjoyment of remaining years
- Family's emotional distress
- Punitive damages in cases of gross negligence
Holding Facilities Accountable
Nursing home accident lawsuits not only compensate injured residents and their families, but also hold facilities accountable and force improvements in care. We fight to protect your loved one and prevent future accidents.
What to Do If You Suspect a Nursing Home Accident
1. Ensure Immediate Safety & Medical Care
If your loved one is injured, get immediate medical attention. Document all injuries with photos.
2. Report to Facility Administration
File a written complaint with facility management. Request incident report and investigation.
3. Report to NY Department of Health
File complaint with NY DOH (1-888-201-4563). DOH will investigate and may cite facility.
4. Document Everything
Take photos of injuries, conditions, hazards. Keep all medical records, bills, incident reports.
5. Gather Witness Information
Get names and contact info of witnesses (other residents, families, staff who will talk).
6. Consider Moving Your Loved One
If safety is at risk, move to a better facility. We can help identify quality alternatives.
7. Preserve Evidence
Keep all clothing, bedding, equipment involved in accident. Do not let facility dispose of evidence.
8. Contact a Nursing Home Accident Attorney
An experienced attorney will investigate, preserve evidence, and fight for maximum compensation.
Protect Your Loved One. Hold the Facility Accountable.
If your loved one was injured in a nursing home due to neglect or inadequate care, you have legal rights. Our experienced nursing home accident attorneys will fight for justice and compensation. Free consultation.
Available 24/7 • No Fee Unless We Win • Nursing Home Accident Specialists
