Dropped Patients
There are many ways that medical professionals breach their duty to patients in Houston, TX. Medical errors and negligence take many forms, including dropping patients.
Dropped patient cases occur in all types of medical settings, including nursing homes, hospitals, outpatient surgical centers, and assisted living facilities.
The Houston dropped patient lawyers of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers have over 45 years of combined legal experience handling medical malpractice and personal injury cases. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients in negotiated settlements and jury verdicts.
If you or a loved one sustained injury from being dropped, contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Houston dropped patient attorney at (713) 500-5000.
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How Our Houston Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Help You Recover Compensation for Your Injuries
Sometimes, a patient might not realize they have been dropped. Negligence might occur when the patient is under anesthesia. The medical provider might try to cover up their negligence.
When you hire our award-winning nursing home abuse lawyers in Houston, you can expect us to:
- Thoroughly investigate your injuries to determine the cause of the injuries
- Identify all parties liable for causing your injury
- File insurance claims and aggressively negotiate settlements of those claims
- Work with you and your physicians to document the severity of your injuries and damages
- Hire medical specialists, financial professionals, and other expert witnesses as necessary
- Monitor the statute of limitations for filing claims and lawsuits
- File a lawsuit and pursue the claim in court if the parties refuse to negotiate in good faith
Medical malpractice and personal injury cases involving dropped patients can be complicated. Our legal team has the resources and experience to handle these claims. Call our law office to schedule a free case evaluation with a personal injury attorney in Houston, Texas.
How Often Do Medical Professionals Drop Patients?
The term “dropped patients” includes patients being transferred from a bed to a chair or vice versa. It also includes patients being transferred before and after surgery. However, it also includes allowing a patient to fall when standing or walking.
One study estimates that 700,000 to one million hospital patients fall each year. Additionally, about one-half of the 1.6 million people in long-term care facilities fall each year. However, the number of dropped patients could be higher because facilities might not report all falls or cases of dropped patients.
What Are the Causes of Dropped Patient Cases?
Older adults have a high risk of falls. Therefore, senior patients could easily fall if nursing homes and hospitals do not take the necessary fall prevention steps.
However, age is not the only factor in falls. Patients are often in a vulnerable state. For example, they may be taking medications that increase their fall risk, or their injuries could increase the chance of a fall.
Common causes of dropped patients include:
- Failing to access a patient’s fall risk correctly
- Understaffing facilities so that patients do not have assistance when they need to go to the bathroom or get out of bed
- The failure to institute and follow fall prevention measures
- Inadequate training of staff members in safety prevention to prevent dropping patients
- Failing to use bed alarms that alert staff that a patient has gotten out of bed and ignoring bed alarms
- Errors in the operating room when transferring patients between beds and surgical tables
- Ignoring patients that need assistance bathing, dressing, and moving from the bed to a chair or wheelchair
- Failing to have and maintain equipment to prevent falls
- Errors in operating equipment and lifts to move patients
Falls are included in the list of never events. These medical errors are preventable and should not happen.
Injuries Caused by Dropping Patients
The risk of injury is high when a patient is dropped or allowed to fall. Injuries associated with dropped patients include:
- Fractures and broken bones, including broken hips, back, knees, legs, and arms
- Traumatic brain injury
- Dislocations and torn ligaments
- Spinal cord injuries
- Herniated discs and broken vertebrae
- Internal bleeding
- Death
Injuries caused by dropping a patient can result in additional surgery, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. Additionally, the patient may sustain permanent impairments from being dropped.
What Damages Can a Patient Recover if They Are Dropped or Allowed to Fall?
The patient can receive compensation for the economic and non-economic damages they sustain from injuries caused by a drop or fall. Examples of damages include:
- The cost of treatment for injuries caused by a drop or fall
- Loss of benefits and income from missed work time
- Physical suffering and pain from injuries
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Future medical bills and lost wages
- Diminished earning potential
- Impairments and disabilities
- Loss of enjoyment of life and decrease in quality of life
- Personal care and long-term nursing care
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
The severity of your injuries and financial losses are two factors used to calculate the value of your dropped patient claims.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Houston Dropped Patients Lawyers
We are here when you need legal advice or guidance regarding a dropped patient injury claim. Call us to schedule a free consultation with one of our Houston nursing home abuse lawyers to discuss your case. Our legal team works on a contingency fee basis, so you’ll pay us nothing unless we obtain a monetary award for you.
