Once you have been admitted to a hospital, that institution takes on a reasonable amount of responsibility for your well-being. If you are at risk of falling and injuring yourself, hospital staff needs to take appropriate steps to prevent that from happening. Staff must balance the rights of the patient to be restraint-free with the risk of harm when he or she is unrestrained.

At the Law Offices of Charles N. Rock, our slip and fall attorney will pursue hospital negligence claims on behalf of injured patients and their families. To schedule a free consultation with New York slip and fall lawyer Charles Rock, contact us today. You will not pay a fee unless we help you obtain restitution.

What Can Hospitals Do to Reduce Fall Risks?

Certain hospital patients, particularly geriatric and stroke patients, are at risk of falling if they attempt to go to the bathroom or otherwise move around without assistance. Hospitals can reduce these risks by implementing procedures such as the following:

  • Installing call bells and making sure nurses respond to them promptly
  • Using side rails to deter at-risk patients from getting out of bed
  • Providing one-on-one supervision to patients with decreased capacity

If these procedures are not followed due to understaffing, poor judgment or other factors, patients may attempt to get up on their own and end up falling. It is very common for patient falls to result in broken hips and other serious injuries.

Did Your Fall Happen as a Result of Medical Negligence?

If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one due to a hospital’s failure to protect against falls, you may be entitled to compensation for medical malpractice. Our firm is dedicated to pursuing fair compensation for injured hospital patients.

Under New York law, you may have limited time to bring a claim and may need to obtain a medical expert report before you can file a case, so don’t hesitate to contact us to set up a meeting with experienced slip and fall lawyer Charles Rock. Serving slip and fall injury victims in Newburgh, New Paltz, Kingston, Middletown, New Windsor, Poughkeepsie and throughout New York.