Talk to a South Carolina nursing home bedsore lawyer at Rikard & Protopapas. If you or a loved one has developed bedsores while living in a care facility, you may qualify to claim compensation. Call 803-978-6111 or message us for a case review with a lawyer.
Understanding Bed Sores
Bedsores are injuries to the skin that result from pressure. They typically occur when a person is left in a sedentary position for too long, causing pressure on a certain spot of the body.
Skin sores from pressure may be called:
- Bedsores
- Pressure ulcers
- Pressure sores
- Decubitus ulcers
Are bedsores common in nursing homes?
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 10% of nursing home residents suffer from bedsores.
What are the stages of bedsores?
Bedsores are categorized as Stages 1-4. Stage 4 is the most serious.
- Stage 1 – Discoloration of the skin, redness, skin that is warm to the touch
- Stage 2 – Open wound on the skin, a scrape or blister appearance
- Stage 3 – Damage through the skin, a deep or crater-like appearance
- Stage 4 – Complete destruction of skin to the bone, through all layers of soft tissue
Where do bedsores most commonly occur?
While bedsores may occur on any part of the body that is subjected to pressure, they most commonly occur on the:
- Elbows
- Backs of arms
- Knees and backs of legs
- Feet
- Shoulder blades
- Back
- Tailbone, seat
These are the places of the body that are most likely subjected to pressure when a person is sedentary for a long period of time.
Legal Help for Nursing Home Bedsores
Have you or a loved one contracted bedsores in a nursing home? Get legal help from a South Carolina nursing home bedsore lawyer from Rikard & Protopapas. People depend on our caring team when the worst has happened.
We are here to advocate for victims and seek monetary compensation for your suffering. Contact us today to talk about your situation and start your case.
Bed Sore Legal Claims in South Carolina
There are hundreds of thousands of cases of bedsores in nursing homes each year. Victims who develop bedsores in a nursing home suffer medically, physically and emotionally.
35% of bedsores that reach stages 2-4 need special wound care. Anyone can develop a bedsore, but risk factors vary by age, gender and time spent in a care facility.
Why are bedsores common in nursing homes?
There are several reasons why bedsores occur frequently in nursing homes:
- Elevated medical risk because of health conditions
- Inability to change positions without assistance
- Infrequent attention from caregivers
- Poor nutrition and dehydration
- Incontinence, bowel and bladder
- Recent weight loss
- Polypharmacy, taking many medications
- Sensory deficits that prevent feeling discomfort
- Not having cushions, seats, mattresses and bedding that relieve pressure
- Failing to watch for developing bedsores
Preventing bedsores is a part of proper care for a nursing home resident. A care plan for any person in a nursing home should include a risk assessment for bedsores and reasonable prevention measures.
Are bedsores considered neglect?
Bedsores are considered neglect if they could have been prevented with reasonable care. Often, bedsores can be prevented with patient monitoring and care adjustments. When care providers don’t exercise reasonable care, and bedsores result, they are considered neglect.
Who is responsible for bedsores in a nursing home?
Caregivers must exercise reasonable care for the welfare of nursing home residents. The welfare of each patient must be evaluated and addressed.
When care providers fall below adequate standards of caring for a patient, and the patient develops bedsores, the nursing home may be responsible.
U.S. News & World Report says that as many as 32% of severe bedsore hospitalizations are not reported to U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Nursing Home Care Compare. Those responsible may hide evidence and decline to disclose information, but our lawyers can help you investigate and build your case.
How Our Bedsore Lawyers Can Help
Our nursing home bedsore lawyers represent people across South Carolina who have been harmed. We can help a resident:
- Evaluate what has occurred and whether bedsores are the result of neglect
- Document the evidence, building proof for the case
- Investigate the care received, identifying factors that may have contributed to bedsores
- Hold the responsible parties accountable through a legal action
- Identify damages and appropriate compensation
- Represent the victim, speaking for them and advocating on their behalf
We are full-service lawyers who take care of everything for a nursing home bedsore victim. When you need legal advocacy and justice, you can turn to the lawyers of Rikard & Protopapas.
Compensation for nursing home bedsore victims
When a person contracts bedsores while living in a nursing home, they suffer in many ways:
- Physical pain
- Medical complications, including infection and sepsis
- Increased morbidity
- Medical costs for care and treatment
- Nursing expenses
- Mental health injury, emotional anguish
Bedsore victims suffer financially, physically and emotionally. A legal claim may seek compensation for the significant harm and suffering that a victim endures.
As your South Carolina nursing home abuse lawyers, we undertake an investigation. We build the evidence to prove that negligence occurred. By proving liability for bedsores based on negligence, we can demand financial compensation for the victim. With representation from Rikard & Protopapas, we investigate your case, build the evidence and advocate for justice.
Get a Free Consultation With a Lawyer
When you need a South Carolina nursing home bedsore lawyer, we know that it may be your first time talking to a lawyer. Our friendly and compassionate team is here to help victims and their families. If you need help evaluating a situation, or if you’re ready to bring a case, please contact us. We offer free consultations, and there is no obligation. Meet our legal team, learn about your rights and see how we can help you.
Consultations are available at a care facility, in your home, in our offices, and virtually. Call 803-978-6111 or message us to talk to a nursing home bedsore lawyer at Rikard & Protopapas today. We look forward to meeting you.