Chino Valley Stage 4 Bedsores Injury Lawyer

Trusted Stage 4 Bedsores Injury Attorney in Chino Valley, CA

When families search for a Chino Valley stage 4 bedsores injury lawyer, their loved one has likely already been suffering for a long time. Serious medical complications can result from prolonged abuse or neglect inside a nursing home, rehab center, or assisted living facility. In these cases, it can be hard to know how to proceed on your loved one’s behalf.

About Local Law Firm Belgum, Fry & Van Allen

Belgum, Fry & Van Allen advocates on behalf of injury victims all over Southern California. We understand how overwhelming the legal process can feel. That is why we assign an experienced attorney to every case so that our clients and families can always speak directly to their legal advocate.

Our firm is passionate about standing up for those injured by another party’s negligence, including nursing homes and preventable injuries like pressure ulcers. We also work on a contingency fee basis so there are never attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.

Understanding Stage 4 Pressure Ulcers

Medical providers rank bedsores into stages. Stage 1 pressure ulcers and stage 2 pressure ulcers may present with bruised skin or red spots. Skin may be rubbed raw. However, stage 4 pressure ulcers expose the muscle, tendon, or bone under the surface of the skin. Wounds are likely to be gaping open and require significant treatment.

Signs the injury is worsening may include unpleasant odors, drainage, skin that is darker or discolored near the wound, fever, or swelling. Keep an eye out for signs of infection as well. Some families notice unexplained pain or a sudden distance in their loved ones before discovering the source of their discomfort.

California Law Regarding Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Nursing homes are a large part of American culture. According to the CDC, in 2022, there were 14,700 nursing homes across the United States. There were 1.6 million licensed beds and 1.2 million total nursing home residents.

California law protects victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. California Welfare and Institutions Code section 15657, part of the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act, allows victims to seek enhanced damages in cases of recklessly inflicted harm to elders.

Stage 4 bedsores injury laws, such as California Health and Safety Code section 1599.1, also known as the California Nursing Home Patients’ Bill of Rights, may apply to stage 4 bedsore cases. This law outlines a nursing home patient’s right to adequate care, treatment, attention, diet, dignity, and freedom from neglect or punishment.

Unfortunately, elder abuse is more common than you may realize. Many cases go unreported. This is evident based on the 64% of nursing home staff who admitted to abusing patients. A Chino Valley stage 4 bedsores injury attorney can help in this critical situation.

Common Causes of Stage 4 Bedsores

Pressure ulcers this severe are often caused by the facility’s failure to follow basic protocols. Bedridden patients need assistance to reposition themselves every few hours. Pressure must be relieved from areas where bones are close to the surface of the skin. Bedsores can develop due to any of the circumstances listed below:

• Failure to properly reposition bedridden patients
• Failure to provide adequate hydration or nutrition
• Failure to maintain sanitary living conditions
• Failure to provide prompt medical treatment
• Inadequate staffing levels
• Failure to monitor at-risk residents

Nursing homes have also been known to hide the seriousness of an injury from families caring for residents. Families often do not learn of the pressure sore until a hospital visit or because their loved one suddenly complains of pain. Once an injury occurs, medical professionals have a limited time to treat bedsores before the damage becomes permanent.

Hire a Stage 4 Bedsores Injury Lawyer with Experience in Chino Valley

Some families hire a stage 4 bedsores injury lawyer after learning a nursing home or its insurance company has avoided taking responsibility for pressure ulcer injuries. Nursing homes may argue that features were unable to move or that pre-existing conditions caused bedsores to develop naturally. This is often untrue in pressure ulcer cases.

An experienced Chino Valley stage 4 bedsores injury attorney can speak to nurses, administrators, and hospice care workers who attended to the victim to determine if something was missed or intentionally left out of the patient’s medical file. Records can be destroyed, lost, or altered in these cases, making it critical to act quickly. Nursing home neglect is often the result of a larger pattern of unsafe conditions.

San Bernardino County Superior Court hears civil stage 4 bedsores injury claims involving nursing home negligence in California. The San Bernardino Justice Center is located at 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415. The Justice Center may hear cases involving stage 4 bedsore injuries in Chino Valley, California.

FAQs

Can You File a Legal Claim for Stage 4 Bedsores?

Yes, families can potentially file a claim for a stage 4 bedsore. These injuries often occur as a result of neglect, inadequate supervision, poor hygiene, or failure to provide proper medical treatment. Nursing homes are responsible for supervising high-risk residents and taking measures to avoid pressure ulcers from developing.

Families may file a stage 4 bedsores injury claim to pursue compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other costs associated with the injury.

How Long Can You Survive With Stage 4 Bedsores?

Survival depends on the resident’s overall health, age, strength of their immune system, and whether they receive medical attention quickly. Some people make a full recovery with aggressive wound care treatment. Others develop serious medical complications that lead to life-threatening conditions. Patients can die from infections caused by stage 4 bedsores because elderly nursing home residents often have weak immune systems or other medical issues.

Are Bed Sores Medical Malpractice?

Bedsores can qualify as medical malpractice or nursing home negligence if medical professionals deviate from or fail to follow accepted standards of care. For example, facilities are responsible for repositioning immobile patients, monitoring skin conditions, providing proper nutrition, and treating injuries as soon as they appear.

If caregivers fail to provide these services and a pressure ulcer forms or worsens, the nursing home or medical provider may be held liable under California law.

What Are the Complications of Stage 4 Bedsores?

Stage 4 bedsores are extremely dangerous because the wounds can expose muscle tissue and even bone. As a result, patients can suffer from infections, sepsis, osteomyelitis, gangrene, chronic pain, tissue death, and other serious complications. Many victims need to be hospitalized or undergo surgery.

Patients also often require skin grafts, wound debridement, or long-term medical care to treat their injuries. In some cases, these pressure ulcers can kill elderly or vulnerable patients if they remain untreated.

Connect with a Compassionate Chino Valley Stage 4 Bedsores Injury Attorney

If your loved one suffered stage 4 bedsores, Belgum, Fry & Van Allen can help you hold the responsible party accountable. Contact us for more information.