At Buckfire & Buckfire P.C. we have the most experienced attorneys who represent patients and residents who suffer injuries caused from falls and dropped patients in nursing home or assisted living facilities. Falls are very common among residents in Michigan nursing homes and can cause serious injuries including brain bleeds and death among the victims. Falls are most prevalent in elderly patients residing in nursing homes, and about 10% to 25% of falls result in hospital admission or fractures.
Falls among nursing home residents occur frequently and repeatedly. About 1,800 older adults living in nursing homes die each year from fall-related injuries and those who survive falls frequently sustain hip fractures and head injuries that result in permanent disability and reduced quality of life. Fear of falling can cause further loss of function, depression, feelings of helplessness, and social isolation.
These fall-related injuries can cause minor head trauma, which can put excessive force on the brain that may result in inter-cranial bleed (commonly referred to as a subdural hematoma). Subdural hematomas (SDH) often happen when blood vessels burst in the space between the brain and the outermost membrane that covers the brain.
Hematomas cause a gathering of blood, this puts pressure in the brain tissues. When the pressure is continuous and the active bleed builds, serious injuries or even death can result. Acute subdural hematomas are among the most lethal of head injuries, with a mortality rate of between 50-90%. 30% of fatal head injuries include an acute subdural hematoma.
While SDH is often caused by a traumatic head injury such as a fall in a Michigan nursing home, even a minor head injury can cause a cranial bleed in some people. There are some risk factors that can contribute to subdural hematoma, but it is possible for someone to suffer cranial bleeding suddenly as well. Some risk factors include:
A head injury can result in a concussion or even cranial bleeding. Children and the elderly are more susceptible to a concussion. Some common symptoms to look for are:
If your loved one suffered a brain bleed from a fall at a Michigan nursing home, you should contact our office immediately! After a fall accident in a nursing home, we will investigate the cause of the accident. These injuries are often not well-documented and it is necessary to do a full investigation, especially because the person does not always have the ability to remember or describe the incident. An injured person may be entitled to monetary compensation for the injuries in a fall if the fall took place in a nursing home and the nursing home failed to take proper preventative fall measures. Call us now to speak with one of our experienced attorneys about your case.
Please contact us today for answers to more complex questions or questions specific to your case. The initial consultation is FREE.
