Did You or a Loved One Suffer Wrist Injuries From Nursing Home Negligence in Illinois? Call Our Experienced Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Springfield.
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities provide many benefits to individuals who may not be able to live independently at home. Although many facilities deliver the proper level of care, some actually increase the risks of harm. There are many possible types of harm that a resident of a nursing home may sustain, including wrist injuries from nursing home negligence in Illinois. Wrist injuries may be caused by many different types of abuse, neglect, or negligence in a facility, including intentional harm or just outright negligence. If you or a loved one suffered any type of wrist injury in a nursing home facility, contact the Noll Law Office at (217) 414-8889 to speak with one of their experienced nursing home abuse lawyers in Springfield.
They understand how painful and debilitating a wrist injury can be, especially when surgery or casting is required. Many residents of nursing homes who suffer these types of personal injuries often have a prolonged recovery and suffer significant pain and suffering, emotional distress, and accumulate high medical bills. Illinois law provides victims compensation for these damages, but most facilities and their insurance adjusters or defense lawyers will not usually pay the true amount they might be obligated to. That’s why victims should call the Noll Law Office, they are a fifth generation of lawyers in Springfield who have been serving the community to fight back against negligent defendants by holding them accountable.
What Types of Wrist Injuries are Caused by Nursing Home Accidents in Illinois?
There are many different wrist injuries that can occur in a nursing home. While not all wrist injuries can be prevented, a fair amount of them can be prevented with appropriate interventions and safeguards in place. By far the most common type of wrist injury is a wrist fracture. A wrist fracture occurs when one or more bones in the wrist break. According to research statistics, wrist fractures are the most common fracture that occurs in the arm/upper limb (including fingers).
Some of the most common types of wrist injuries from nursing home negligence in Illinois include the following:
- Scaphoid (navicular) fracture – This type of fracture is the most common fracture and occurs when there is a break in one of the carpal bones of the wrist, and most commonly occurs after a fall on an outstretched hand. This type of fracture causes pain and swelling of the wrist, and difficulty with movement of the wrist and hand. Treatment for this type of fracture largely depends on the severity of the fracture, and the individual’s overall health. Sometimes surgery is warranted given the injury, but due to other factors the victim may be ineligible for surgery (i.e. inability to tolerate anesthesia). Complications with healing are fairly common with this type of fracture due to potential impairment in blood flow to the bone.
- Barton’s fracture – this type of fracture causes a fracture of the distal radius as well as dislocation of the wrist joint. Unfortunately, this type of fracture most often requires surgery, which can be very difficult and in certain instances impossible given the health of the victim.
- Ulnar styloid fracture – This type of fracture causes a fracture of the styloid, the bulge on the outside of the wrist. It often occurs due to a fall on an outstretched hand. This type of fracture may also require surgery.
- Restraint injuries – While restraints are sometimes warranted for patient safety if they are used inappropriately or are improperly applied and not monitored correctly, it can lead to a wrist injury. Injuries include cuts, bruising, pressure sores, infection, reduced mobility, or further falls leading to injuries.
- Thumb injuries and ulnar collateral ligament tears – The ulnar collateral ligament is a ligament in the wrist that extends into the hand and acts as a “hinge” to help the thumb function properly. Many people may sprain this injury which will cause swelling or pain, but a very strong force could tear or snap this ligament which requires surgery to repair. This is a painful injury but it is also a very debilitating and disabling injury, as it affects how a person holds, pushes, pulls, wrist, or otherwise handles objects.
What are the Causes of Wrist Injuries in Nursing Homes Due to Abuse, Neglect, or Negligence?
There are many different causes of wrist injuries in Illinois nursing homes. Generally speaking, most nursing home residents are at a greater risk for falls. However, nursing home staff have a duty to minimize the risk of falls as much as possible. This means the elimination of fall hazards such as cords, improperly placed rugs, cleaning up wet floors, well-lit stairs, marked decreases in elevation, and other types of hazards that could result in a slip, trip, and fall hazard. Sometimes the hazard is the resident himself or herself, and residents who are at risk for falls should receive appropriate supervision or safety protocols to guard against or minimize the risks of falling.
As such, the most common causes of wrist injuries in nursing homes include the following:
- Falling out of a bathtub or shower due to inadequate supervision
- Falling out of bed, a bathroom, or a wheelchair due to inadequate supervision
- Tripping over a fall hazard (i.e. rug, cord on the ground, wet floor, hole in the floor, unmarked stairs, or related hazards)
- Improperly or inappropriately used restraints lead to wrist injuries
- Abuse, such as striking a patient or throwing them to the ground
- Lack of supervision and lack of appropriate interventions in place to reduce the risk for falls (i.e. monitoring of a confused patient at risk for falls, use of a bed alarm, lowering a bed, and related precautions)
- Crushing injuries such as a wheelchair accident or getting a hand/wrist caught in a van door that is closed by staff
- Pinching injuries such as getting a hand or wrist caught in a bedframe that is being lowered, a stretcher, or another device, and
- Other instances where a resident’s risk may be crushed or injured due to nursing home negligence in Illinois.
Did You or a Loved One Suffer Wrist Injuries From Nursing Home Negligence in Illinois? Contact the Noll Law Office
If you or a loved one suffered any type of wrist injury from nursing home negligence in Illinois, including due to abuse, neglect, or intentional conduct, contact the experienced nursing home abuse lawyers in Springfield at the Noll Law Office for help. They can help residents harmed by nursing home negligence recover the compensation that they deserve for their injuries. Unlike other personal injury law firms, the Noll Law Office offers personalized and dedicated attention to each case, not treating you as a file number but treating you as family. Learn more about how their fifth generation of lawyers at the Noll Law Office can help you and your family by contacting their experienced nursing home abuse lawyers in Springfield today.