Slip and fall accidents in St. Louis nursing home facilities often a sign of neglect
For residents of nursing homes and assisted care facilities, Missouri slip and fall accidents are very common. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 3 out of 4 nursing home residents slip and fall each year and that 10-20 percent of falls cause serious injury.
Fall injuries among older adults can seriously impact quality of life. A fear of falling often develops, further reducing a victim's mobility and actually increasing their risk of falling again.
The St. Louis premises liability attorneys at Ryan R. Cox and Associates know that after seeking medical attention for yourself or a loved one who has been injured in a slip and fall accident, it will be necessary to take steps to ensure a loved one's well-being and to protect them from a subsequent fall. We recognize that environmental factors often play some role in creating conditions where a person is more likely to be injured regardless of age or physical condition.
According to the CDC, about 1,800 people living in a nursing home die from falls each year. While falling is often an indicator of other underlying health issues, as many as one-fourth of falls are caused by environmental factors that would have been easily prevented with proper care. Wet floors, improperly maintained equipment and poor lighting are just a few hazards that frequently result in slip and fall accidents.
Poorly fitted beds and wheelchairs can also lead to a fall accident in a St. Louis nursing home. Certainly, some of these patients are at increased risk of falling -- that is why loved ones placed them in a home where they could get the professional supervision that is required to ensure their safety and well-being. But when poor staffing levels, unsafe conditions or other negligence on the part of a home is responsible, a victim can and should be compensated for their injuries. Too often, older victims of fall accidents are unable to regain their previous quality of life after suffering a fall accident. Premature death sometimes results.
