Bed sores are incredibly painful—and oftentimes totally preventable, especially in a hospital setting. Bed sores occur through prolonged pressure on the skin at a single location, such as when a hospital patient lies in one position in a bed without moving or being moved around. Even comatose patients can avoid receiving bed sores by receiving proper treatment from caregivers.
Unfortunately, bed sores still happen, because caregivers fail to provide an appropriate level of care. If you or a loved one have been neglected during a stay in the hospital in Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Beaufort, Columbia, Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, or Florence, leading to painful bed sores, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Hughey Law Firm today at (843) 881-8644 to schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we may be able to help.
We Win Bed Sore Cases
At Hughey Law Firm, we have extensive experience representing clients in medical malpractice matters, including cases of negligence that led to bed sores. Our compassionate, caring attorneys understand that bed sores are extremely painful, and we aim to make sure our clients receive the support they need. In many cases, we have been able to achieve significant settlements for our clients who have sustained bed sores.
Hospital Bed Sores Are Easy to Prevent
Bed sores, also known as pressure ulcers, occur through prolonged pressure on an area skin. They start with changes in the color and texture at a location where the skin is under pressure. The location of the sore initially shows swelling, pus-like draining, or overall tenderness, but it doesn’t take long for that tenderness to develop into an open sore, particularly on bony areas of the body like the tailbone, heels, ankles, and hips.
Bed sores are most likely to occur in patients who have illnesses or injuries that prevent them from changing position easily and are more common in elderly patients.
Absent an underlying medical condition, bed sores are oftentimes entirely preventable with appropriate nursing care. Nurses can encourage and help patients change position to alleviate pressure on specific areas of the body, preventing bed sores from forming and keeping patients more comfortable.
Nobody Should Get Hospital Bed Sores
Legally speaking, hospitals are liable for providing an appropriate standard of care for patients—and that includes the prevention of bed sores. While it is usually the nursing staff that has primary responsibility for helping patients change positions in bed to prevent bed sores, it’s the responsibility of the hospital as a whole to provide an appropriate quality of care. As a result, it’s typically the hospital’s or medical provider’s legal responsibility to pay any damages associated with bed sores.
Damages You Can Recover for Hospital Bed Sores
If you’ve experienced bed sores as a result of negligence at a hospital or care facility, you may be able to recover damages. These can include:
- Payment of any medical bills incurred as a result of your bed sores. Bed sores are often extremely painful and may need careful care in order for you to recover. Since this will increase your medical bills, you may be able to recover damages to pay for those bills and that treatment.
- Compensation for pain and suffering. You’re already suffering enough while you’re in the hospital. Negligence by hospital staff shouldn’t make that pain and suffering any worse. You may be entitled to damages for that unnecessary discomfort.
- Compensation for lost wages. You may have already been in the hospital, but in some cases, bed sores can prolong your stay or make it more difficult for you to return to work. If that occurs, you may be entitled to seek damages that will help cover your lost time and wages.
Hospitals Will Fight Your Claim
If you’ve ended up with bed sores as a result of negligence during a hospital stay, it can be important to seek legal representation from an attorney experienced in pursuing claims involving bed sores. In some cases, hospitals may try to get out of paying for those damages by:
- Attempting to prove that the bed sores did not result from hospital negligence. Perhaps you were staying in another facility that didn’t provide appropriate treatment, or maybe, the hospital might suggest, you simply refused to move in spite of the development of bed sores. Working with a lawyer will help you collect evidence concerning your claim and document the level of care you should have received.
- Offering a lower settlement offer than you deserve. The hospital insurance company is familiar with all types of medical malpractice, and they aim to minimize what they have to pay. In an effort to limit their financial liability, the insurance company may provide you with a low settlement offer immediately following your claim of bed sores. This offer may not be in the full amount you deserve, and they may pressure you to accept it quickly so that they won’t have to worry about future payments. Working with an experienced lawyer can help you better determine what you should be paid for your injuries, and will signal to the hospital know that you’re not going to be tricked into accepting a low offer.
Get Legal Support for Bed Sores From the Hughey Law Firm
Hughey Law Firm offers a free consultation for you to discuss the level of hospital care that led to your or your loved one’s bed sore injury with an attorney who is experienced in the field. When our team agrees to represent a client for hospital bed sores, we handle the matter on a contingent fee basis, in which we only recover our fees out of any settlement or verdict that our client receives.
If you’ve sustained bed sores while staying at a hospital in Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Beaufort, Columbia, Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, or Florence, don’t wait to get the legal help you need. Contact the Hughey Law Firm today online or at (843) 881-8644 to schedule a free consultation.