News for Milwaukee Nursing Home Negligence Victims
Recent nursing home negligence award stems from resident falling
On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Monday, July 29, 2013.
Every resident admitted into a nursing home in Wisconsin should be assessed for their fall risk. This assessment then gives nursing home staff the knowledge necessary to create a care plan in order to better protect the resident against falls. This is particularly important as not only could a fall be very painful, but falls can even lead to death. Those nursing homes that do not take proper precautions could also end up being liable for fall injuries.
Take for example a recent jury that awarded more than $1.2 billion in damages. Of this, $1 billion is in punitive damages. Punitive damages are those damages against a defendant that are meant to act as a deterrent to prevent similar wrongdoings in the future.
In this recent lawsuit, the focus was on the care of one nursing home patient who was not properly supervised and fell down numerous times when living at the facility. The woman lived there from 2004 until her death in 2007. She died at the age of 69.
In this nursing home negligence case, the jury heard the evidence presented and then deliberated for only a little more than an hour before reaching a verdict. Now, the question will be how much of the award will go toward the plaintiff.
In general, what this case goes to show is that there are legal options available when it is believed nursing home negligence led to falls and injuries. When it comes to falls, there are preventative measures nursing home staff can take. When these measures are not taken, and a loved one is subsequently injured, a lawsuit can be filed.
Source: Claims Journal, “Florida Jury Awards $1.2B in Negligence Case,” July 25, 2013
If you or someone you love was injured in a nursing home, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.