Florida Decubitus Ulcers Lawyers
The nursing home neglect and abuse attorneys at Freedland Harwin Valori, PL, are ready to go up against Florida nursing homes, staff members, physicians, and insurance companies on behalf of injured senior citizens. Contact us to find out if your loved one’s decubitus ulcer could be grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. Decubitus ulcer is the medical term for a bedsore. Also called a pressure ulcer, a decubitus ulcer is a preventable injury that might arise in a negligent, unclean, or abusive nursing home environment.
What Is a Decubitus Ulcer?
A decubitus ulcer describes an area of broken skin that develops because of an interruption in blood supply to the location. It does not take a lot of pressure against the skin to eventually form a decubitus ulcer. Elderly people are most at risk of these ulcers, as they often have limited or no mobility. It is up to the nursing home staff members to flip residents over, change position and encourage them to exercise, and to take other measures to prevent decubitus ulcers. The staff should also recognize those individuals who are more at risk for developing these ulcers.
Nursing homes know all about the risk of decubitus ulcers and must take active steps to prevent them from occurring. This can include hourly rotations, bathing residents, cleaning their bedsheets, and installing special mattresses to increase blood flow. Nurses should understand the most common areas decubitus ulcers form (the back of the head, shoulder blades, hips, tailbone, knees, ankles, and heels) and check these areas regularly for signs of loss of blood supply.
If a resident does develop a decubitus ulcer, the nursing home should tend to the wound appropriately. Open sores are at elevated risk of infection in a nursing home setting, especially if exposed to fecal matter or urine. The sanitation practices of the facility matter a great deal in preventing serious infections, as does the medical care the facility provides to its residents. Staff members should clean and bandage the ulcer appropriately to facilitate a quick recovery or check the resident into a hospital for more serious treatments such as surgery.
How Freedland Harwin Valori, PL, Can Help
The lawyers at Freedland Harwin Valori, PL, strive for excellence in litigation, in Florida and around the country. We’ve secured over $2 billion in settlements and judgment award for our clients. Our team can make sure the courts hear your elderly loved one’s voice. In the face of decubitus ulcers and other negligence-related injuries and illnesses, our firm can help you protect your rights. Our attorneys can provide the following services on your behalf:
- Investigation of the nursing home and its staff members
- Interviews with eyewitnesses and other involved parties
- Collection of police reports, incident reports, and medical records
- Explanation of your rights and legal options in Florida
- Filing of the proper paperwork to start your personal injury claim
- Negotiation with insurance companies for a fair settlement
- Representation of your family in trial, if necessary
Hiring proven and practiced nursing home abuse attorneys right from the start can position your negligence claim for success. We can help you understand and exercise your loved one’s rights as a nursing home resident, as well as take legal action in the face of abuse and neglect. Working with attorneys with trial experience gives you an edge during insurance negotiations and can result in maximum recovery for your loved one or your family.
Seek Recovery for Your Decubitus Ulcer Case in Florida
Decubitus ulcers can be painful, debilitating, and long-lasting injuries. They can result in significant medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost enjoyment of life for the nursing home resident. At Freedland Harwin Valori, PL, we believe injured victims should always be able to file personal injury lawsuits if necessary in pursuit of recovery for these damages.
Our firm has worked hard to represent the elderly population in Florida. We aim to bring negligent nursing homes to justice throughout the Sunshine State. If you believe your loved one has grounds for a claim because of decubitus ulcers and/or related health complications, give us a call at (954) 467-6400 or request a free consultation online.
