Holding Nursing Homes Accountable After A Loved One Is Injured

Many people are caught by surprise when their mother, father or other elderly loved one is a victim of nursing home malpractice. After all, they entrusted their loved one to the facility to be cared for, not hurt.

If a family member has been hurt due to abuse or neglect in a nursing home, you have the right to get answers. You have the right to see that someone is held accountable. You have the right to pursue fair compensation. The lawyers of McKeen & Associates, PC, are here to help after a catastrophic personal injury.

Our Experience Makes A Difference

With over 40 years of experience on our side, the attorneys at our law firm truly understand how to take on even the most complex nursing home malpractice cases. When you turn to us, you can be confident that you are taking the right path to pursue the best possible outcome.

Most nursing homes have good intentions. Unfortunately, they are also businesses and sometimes they put their business needs first. For example, they might fail to have the appropriate number of staff members or even appropriately trained staff members. Or they might simply fail to provide the care their residents need.

We can handle all nursing home negligence and malpractice cases, including those involving the following scenarios:

• A nursing home resident suffers a broken hip because he or she fell when not being monitored properly.
• A nursing home resident gets a serious infection because of a bedsore that has been left untreated.
• A staff member at a nursing care facility assaults a resident, resulting in broken bones and emotional distress.
• An incapacitated patient is not provided proper food and water and suffers from malnutrition and dehydration.

No matter what type of malpractice has taken place, our team of Michigan lawyers is ready to hold the nursing home responsible. We will help you.

Systemic Nursing Home Negligence And Understaffing

When a parent returns from a care facility with a broken hip, a deep pressure wound or sudden weight loss, your family deserves answers. The cause is often larger than one tired aide. Many facilities run with too few nurses and aides for the number of residents. Corporate owners may set staffing levels to protect profit margins instead of resident safety.

Short staffing leads to missed repositioning, skipped meals, ignored call lights and rushed charting. Poor training makes it worse when employees cannot recognize infection, dehydration or signs of abuse. Below are some of the nursing home incidents that may result in nursing home malpractice.

Stage 3 and stage 4 pressure ulcers

Bedsores form when a resident stays in one position too long. Stage 3 and 4 ulcers reach deep tissue, muscle and sometimes bone. They can lead to serious infection, sepsis and death. Proper care requires regular repositioning, pressure-relieving mattresses, good nutrition and routine skin checks. An advanced wound shows that care broke down over days or weeks.

Unmonitored falls

Falls cause fractures, head injuries and internal bleeding. Facilities must assess each resident’s fall risk, supervise those at risk, answer call lights promptly and keep rooms and equipment safe. When a facility knows a resident is likely to fall and fails to act, we demand an explanation.

Severe malnutrition and dehydration

Rapid weight loss, weakness and confusion can indicate that a resident is not being fed, given fluids or assisted at mealtimes. Staff must track intake and weight and alert physicians when changes appear.

Physical assault

Bruises, fractures and other injuries without a clear explanation may come from staff or other residents. Facilities must screen employees, supervise residents and report suspected abuse. We hold facilities and the companies that own them accountable for those decisions. In more than 40 years of trial work against corporate healthcare providers in Michigan and nationwide, we have seen how staffing and training failures cause harm that proper care would have prevented.

How We Investigate Your Claim

Our team reviews admission paperwork, care plans, nursing notes, medication logs, incident reports and staffing schedules. Our medical knowledge helps us compare what the chart says with what happened to your loved one, and we look closely for late entries or altered records. We consult qualified medical professionals to evaluate whether the facility met the required standard of care.

We then pursue compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and, when a resident dies, wrongful death damages. Our firm has also secured multimillion-dollar verdicts in cases involving corporate healthcare providers.

Common Questions About Nursing Home Neglect

Families often have questions about nursing home neglect and injuries. The answers below explain common legal concerns and the steps you can take to protect your loved one.

How do I prove that a nursing home was negligent in my loved one’s injury?

Proof comes from records and testimony. We gather medical charts, care plans, incident reports, staffing logs, photographs and witness accounts. We then show how the facility’s actions or inaction deviated from accepted standards of care and caused the injury. Michigan medical negligence claims also require a supporting opinion from a qualified health professional. We handle that process for you.

What should I do if I suspect a nursing home is trying to cover up abuse or neglect?

Protect your loved one first. If there is immediate danger, call 911. Then take these steps:

• Request the complete chart in writing.
• Photograph injuries and keep dated notes.
• Decline to sign releases or accept settlement offers from the facility.
• Report concerns to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and Adult Protective Services.
• Contact us before the records can change.

Our attorneys know how to detect chart alterations and preserve evidence.

How long do I have to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit in Michigan?

Deadlines depend on the type of claim. Michigan generally provides a two-year statute of limitations for medical negligence claims – including wrongful death claims stemming from medical malpractice – and a three-year limit for general ordinary negligence claims.

Medical negligence cases also require written notice to the facility at least 182 days before filing. Some situations extend these periods and others shorten them, so please call promptly. An attorney can identify the deadline that applies to your family’s situation.

Every nursing home injury case is different. Our attorneys can review your concerns, explain your family’s legal options and help you take steps to protect your loved one’s rights.

Free Consultations | No Fee Unless We Win

Email us or call us at 313-524-8570 for a personalized discussion about what we can do to help you and your family. We serve clients in Michigan, Illinois, and throughout the United States.