Pressure ulcers do not tend to appear overnight; they require certain conditions to understand where they come from and how they happened. Although they are common among elderly adults, they are even more prone to occur in nursing homes or residential care settings. At Phoenix Nursing abuse injury Law Firm, our pressure sore lawyers understand the concerns around this preventable but still usual injury your loved ones must endure.
Our compromise to seek justice is just the beginning; we will be your companion during your pressure ulcer lawsuit journey. Our offices are conveniently located in Chandler, Peoria, and North Phoenix, where you can schedule an in-person meeting or contact us via phone or video call. We will be ready to assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve.
What Are Pressure Sores?
Pressure sores are skin and underlying tissue injuries that occur when prolonged pressure or friction is applied to them.
This injury can appear almost everywhere on the body, but there are specific locations, like the lower back and the tailbone, that are prone to developing these injuries.
It’s common for elderly residents who spend most of their time sitting down or lying in bed to build bedsores if the nursing home doesn’t take into consideration their unique needs; that’s why pressure law firms are aware of these situations and understand how these injuries are difficult to heal completely.
What Causes Pressure Sores?
Most pressure sores have two things in common: pressure and contact with the skin. However, more factors are part of this equation, such as friction, failure to reposition, prolonged times in the same position, and much more. Still, some of the most common causes our pressure ulcers lawyers usually find among similar cases are:
- Immobility: Elderly residents tend to have reduced mobility due to different health conditions. However, the inability to move for an extended period can lead to pressure at various points on the skin, generating an increasing risk.
- Incontinence: This condition can cause the skin to become vulnerable, as it involves constant exposure to urine and feces. Keeping the area clean and dry is essential to avoid pressure sores and overinfections.
- Lack of sensory perception: When a resident suffers from a condition related to neurological disorders, spinal cord injuries, or other conditions that lead to loss of sensation, the inability to feel pain or discomfort can lead to the appearance of pressure sores because there won’t be warning signs.
- Poor nutrition and Dehydration: Healthy habits and recommendations will maintain the skin in optimal conditions, preventing the possibility of generating pressure sores. The diet must contain vegetables, proteins, sunlight, and plenty of water.
- Medical conditions affecting the blood flow: Vulnerable adults in nursing homes usually have health problems such as Diabetes and Vascular Disease that increase the risk of tissue damage and pressure sores.
Who Faces the Highest Risk of Developing Pressure Sores?
Although bedsores are common among elderly residents in nursing homes, those at a higher risk of developing a pressure ulcer are those with limited mobility who require constant assistance to reposition or those with special needs such as paraplegia or similar. Still, our pressure ulcer attorneys will support you no matter if you have more risk than others; we will undoubtedly help you during your legal process.
Where Can Pressure Sores Develop?
Pressure ulcers can develop almost everywhere, but it depends on the part of the skin under constant pressure or friction. According to the cases our pressure sore lawyer usually supports, the injury won’t differentiate whether the resident uses wheelchairs or usually stays in bed; the most common locations where pressure sores can appear are:
- Tailbone or Coccyx
- Buttocks
- Shoulder Blades
- Spine
- Back of arms and legs
- Hips
- Lower back
- Heels of the feet
- Ankles
- The skin behind the knees
- Back or sides of the head
How Pressure Sores Are Diagnosed
To diagnose a pressure sore, you must visit a healthcare provider who will put the pressure ulcer into four stages. They will inspect the skin before staging them according to their appearance and symptoms; this can be helpful when filing pressure ulcer lawsuits. According to medical stages, the pressure sores can be:
How To Treat Pressure Sores?
In most cases, depending on the stage, treatment will include reducing the pressure or friction on the skin and antibiotics if the injury is infected. However, keeping the pressure sore clean and dry is essential, especially in the early stages. In the advanced stages, some vulnerable adults will require surgery, pain medication, and muscle relaxers. Our pressure sore attorney will support using specialized mattresses, cushions, and pillows to help relieve the pressure on the skin.
Can Pressure Sores Be Prevented?
Pressure sore can be preventable and should be preventable for the nursing home facility since staff must reposition a vulnerable adult every 15 minutes if they are in a wheelchair or every 2 hours for those who are in bed. It’s important to note that patients should not rest on their hips directly, and the staff should keep the skin clean and dry. Proper nutrition, regular exercise, and plenty of water should be enough to prevent pressure sores. Moreover, our pressure ulcers law firm will help you demonstrate whether any of these protocols in nursing homes were applied correctly.
Can Pressure Sores Be Left Untreated?
At Phoenix Nursing abuse injury Law Firm, our pressure sore attorney will not recommend that any pressure sore be left untreated. In the early stages, it is simple to make bedsores heal, but it won’t do it without proper treatment. Once the pressure sore advances through the stages, it becomes challenging to treat and can lead to death.
What Legal Options Do I Have if a Family Member Develops Pressure Sores?
If your loved ones develop a pressure sore when it’s a resident in a nursing home, you will have different options to seek justice. Our pressure ulcer lawyer recommends you sue the facility and the care providers due to negligence and malpractices in the nursing home facility. You will be required to provide documentation and evidence to support your case. However, medical facilities such as nursing homes are responsible for these preventable wounds, which, in your case, may reflect the neglect on the part of the staff.
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Potential Compensation for a Pressure Sore Lawsuit in Arizona
There is no actual estimate for the compensation you can obtain for a pressure sore lawsuit in Arizona. Still, in some cases, the final settlement can be $1 million or more on severe cases that reach the court. Our pressure sore lawyer will help you calculate the potential compensation you and your loved one should obtain according to the severity of the injury, medical expenses, pain and suffering, negligence, and wrongful death due to a bedsore. Some popular cases even reach $6.5 million for a pressure ulcer that caused the death of a vulnerable adult.
How to File a Lawsuit for Pressure Sores
Filing pressure ulcer lawsuits is simple but requires time and effort to make your claim reach the right places. Although you can do the process yourself, you may face different organizations that will slow down your process and even push you into an endless cycle of paperwork. We recommend you follow these steps:
- Gathering information: includes medical records, photos, or videos of the pressure sore and its evolution. Keep witness statements from family members, other residents, and even staff members. Maintain a care log that documents the nursing care and look for experts for testimony.
- Consult an Attorney: They will support and discuss your case. A pressure sore attorney will review the facts and explore legal options to find the best alternative to your case.
- File a claim: Submitting a claim can take time, and an eye for detail is why an attorney can help during the process and add the compensation amount you deserve.
- Prepare for litigation: In some cases, you must go to court, which will require an attorney. This will also include hearings, depositions, and even settlement negotiations.
More Ways We Can Assist You
Contact Us Today!
At Phoenix Nursing abuse injury Law Firm, our pressure sore lawyer understands how difficult it can be to see your loved ones endure a bedsore. Our compromise and dedication are to assist you beyond the legal process and support you in these difficult times. With more than 15 years of experience helping similar cases, we will hold your hand to obtain justice and the compensation you deserve for all the harm caused by neglect in nursing homes. Contact us today for a free consultation, and tell us your story.
