Pressure Sores & Bed Sores Lawyer Charleston SC

One of the clearest warning signs of neglect in a nursing home is a bed sore in a resident. Pressure sores develop when an immobile resident is left in one position for too long, but they can almost always be prevented with proper care. If a Charleston nursing home fails to reposition a resident, monitor their skin, or manage basic hygiene, the resulting injury is often direct evidence of a failure in their duty of care.

The Hughey Law Firm represents victims of bed sores and their families throughout Charleston, North Charleston, and South Carolina. We hold nursing homes and assisted living facilities accountable when preventable neglect causes painful and dangerous pressure injuries.

Why Do Families Throughout South Carolina Trust Hughey Law Firm for Elder Abuse Cases?

Unlike most personal injury firms, which handle elder abuse as one practice area among many, Hughey Law Firm specializes in it. Hughey Law Firm is different, and our expertise is verifiable. Here’s what you need to know about us:

Nathan Hughey, our founder, began his legal career defending nursing homes.
Nathan Hughey teaches other attorneys about elder abuse law.
Attorneys and law firms across South Carolina refer elder abuse cases to us.
Over 70% of our caseload consists of elder abuse cases.
Since 2007, we have resolved over 1,000 elder abuse cases in South Carolina.

The results described above are specific to those cases and are not intended to predict or guarantee the outcome of any future case. Each case is unique, and outcomes depend on the particular facts and legal circumstances involved. Hiring a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisements.

What Is a Pressure Sore?

A pressure sore, also known as a bed sore or pressure ulcer, develops when the skin and underlying tissue are damaged by unrelieved pressure, friction, or shear.

Pressure builds from a resident’s body weight.
Shear occurs when the skin and bone move in opposite directions when shifting positions.
Friction occurs when the skin drags against a sheet, a wheelchair surface, or a medical device.

These forces build up when a resident stays in one position too long, whether in bed, in a wheelchair, or restrained by equipment.mIn nursing homes, pressure sores almost always stem from immobility combined with inadequate care. Residents who cannot reposition themselves depend entirely on staff to turn and move them on a regular schedule. When staff skip this schedule, sores develop.

Sores typically develop over bony areas, including the hips, elbows, shoulders, tailbone, and the back of the head. Without proper intervention, a minor skin irritation can progress to an open wound exposing muscle and bone in a matter of days. According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, pressure ulcers remain a significant and largely preventable problem among nursing home residents nationwide.

Pressure ulcers are staged by severity.

Stage 1: The skin reddens or darkens, but remains intact. There may be changes in temperature or firmness.
Stage 2: The skin breaks open, forming a shallow wound that resembles a blister or abrasion.
Stage 3: The wound deepens into a crater, exposing the layer of tissue beneath the skin.
Stage 4: The wound exposes muscle, tendon, or bone. These injuries carry a serious risk of infection and can be life-threatening.

Common Causes of Nursing Home Bed Sores

Bed sores develop through a combination of direct physical forces and indirect conditions that a facility allows to persist. Distinguishing between neglect and unavoidable medical deterioration requires an understanding of the mechanics of pressure ulcer development and the specific care obligations that a Charleston nursing home is legally required to fulfill. The following are the most common causes identified in nursing home bed sore cases in Charleston and across South Carolina:

One example of neglect is failing to reposition residents. Immobile residents need to be turned and repositioned regularly, often every two hours. This single step is the most effective form of prevention.
Understaffing. When a facility does not have enough staff on duty, basic repositioning and skin checks are often the first tasks to be neglected.
Poor hygiene and soiled linens. Moisture from urine, sweat, or unclean catheters softens the skin, making it more vulnerable to breakdown. Leaving a resident in soiled bedding for extended periods accelerates sore development.
Dehydration and malnutrition. Skin needs proper hydration and nutrition to stay resilient.
Inadequate skin assessments are another issue. Staff should regularly check the skin of residents at risk. A Stage 1 sore that is caught early is simple to treat.

The progression from a Stage 1 sore to a life-threatening Stage 4 wound does not happen overnight. Every stage of this progression represents an opportunity that the facility failed to act on. Call (843) 881-8644 to speak with a Charleston nursing home bed sore lawyer about whether your loved one’s bed sores are the result of the kind of preventable neglect that South Carolina law holds nursing homes accountable for.

Signs a Resident May Be Developing Pressure Ulcers

If you have a loved one in a Charleston or South Carolina nursing home, watch for the following signs:

Redness or discoloration over bony areas that does not fade after repositioning
Skin that feels warmer, cooler, or firmer than the surrounding area
Complaints of pain or tenderness in a specific spot
Visible blisters, abrasions, or open wounds
A foul odor, which can indicate infection
Soiled or wet bedding during visits
A resident who seems to stay in the same position for long periods of time

Catching a sore at Stage 1 or 2 can significantly improve the outcome. Any of these signs should prompt an immediate conversation with facility staff. If the response is inadequate, call a South Carolina elder abuse attorney.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Charleston Nursing Home Bed Sores?

A pressure sore on a nursing home resident is often strong evidence of negligence. Direct causes, such as pressure and friction, combine with indirect causes, such as dehydration and poor hygiene. Staff control nearly all of these factors for residents under twenty-four-hour care. The development of a serious sore itself points to a failure to meet the required standard of care.

A nursing home is negligent when it fails to provide adequate care or maintain sufficient staffing to protect residents. Care that falls below the accepted standard is considered medical negligence under South Carolina’s medical malpractice statutes.

Any staff member or medical provider who fails to meet the standard of care can be held responsible for a resident’s pressure injuries. If that person is an employee, the nursing home is responsible for their actions. Non-employees may also share liability, including:

Visiting or contracted physicians who are not directly employed by the facility
Subcontracted nurses
Subcontracted health aides or attendants

South Carolina nursing homes face criminal penalties for violating the South Carolina Adult Protection Code. They must also comply with federal nursing home regulations or risk losing Medicare funding entirely.

Compensation Available to Bed Sore Victims and Their Families

Bed sore claims in Charleston support multiple categories of compensation, including damages specific to the wound care and corrective surgical costs that advanced pressure ulcers require, and when a facility’s conduct rises to the level of willful or reckless disregard, punitive damages may be available in addition to the full range of economic and general damages. Families pursuing a bed sore claim may be eligible for the following types of damages:

Economic damages cover tangible financial losses, such as medical bills for debridement and corrective surgery, physical and psychological therapy, medical equipment, lost income, and funeral or burial expenses in fatal cases.
General damages cover the more subjective costs, such as pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, loss of bodily function, and the strain that a serious injury can place on family relationships.
Punitive damages may be available under South Carolina Code Section 15-32-510 if there is clear and convincing evidence of willful, wanton, or reckless conduct by the facility.

Advanced pressure ulcers pose serious health risks beyond the wound itself. Untreated stage 3 and stage 4 pressure ulcers can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening bloodstream infection that is linked to thousands of nursing home deaths nationwide. If a pressure ulcer contributes to a resident’s death, their family may pursue wrongful death damages in addition to an underlying negligence claim. Call (843) 881-8644 for a free consultation with Hughey Law Firm to learn more about the potential compensation for your family’s bed sore claim.

Can a Nursing Home Successfully Defend a Bed Sore Claim?

Although nursing homes have few strong defenses in pressure ulcer cases, they often defend these claims anyway. According to South Carolina law, plaintiffs in malpractice-related cases must attempt to resolve the issue through pre-litigation alternative dispute resolution before filing a lawsuit.

When a case does proceed, facilities usually employ two strategies. First, they argue that no negligence occurred, often pointing to internal documentation of repositioning schedules, staff training records, and stated compliance with care standards. The second strategy is comparative negligence, which argues that the resident or family contributed to the injury. Under South Carolina’s modified comparative fault rule, a plaintiff who is found to be fifty-one percent or more at fault recovers nothing.

These defenses may appear convincing on paper. However, they often fall apart once an attorney obtains the facility’s actual staffing records, skin assessment logs, and incident reports. These documents frequently reveal discrepancies between the facility’s claims and the actual events. Thorough preparation and detailed evidence are key to overcoming these defense strategies.

Taking Action After Charleston Nursing Home Negligence Causes Bed Sores

If you discover a pressure sore on a loved one in a Charleston or South Carolina nursing home, the steps you take in the first few days are critical for both the resident’s medical outcome and building a legal record documenting the facility’s failures.

Request an immediate medical evaluation. A wound care specialist can evaluate the stage of the sore and begin proper treatment right away.
Photograph the sore. Document its size, depth, and location, and continue to do so as treatment progresses.
Request the resident’s medical and care records. These records include repositioning logs, skin assessments, and the facility’s documented response.
Report the condition to the facility administrator in writing. Keep a copy of everything you send.
File a complaint with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. A complaint can trigger a state inspection.
Contact a nursing home bed sore attorney. An attorney can preserve records before they disappear and determine if the facility’s level of care was below the legal standard.

Repositioning logs and skin assessment records are among the most important documents in a bed sore claim. Unfortunately, they are also among the most commonly incomplete, altered, or unavailable documents when families request them. Call (843) 881-8644 to let Hughey Law Firm secure these documents before the facility has more time to alter them.

Get in Touch With a Charleston Nursing Home Bed Sore Lawyer Today

If your loved one developed a bed sore in a Charleston-area nursing home, know that you don’t have to face this situation alone. The Hughey Law Firm has represented victims of nursing home neglect throughout the Charleston metro region and across South Carolina. We handle every case with the seriousness it deserves.

We work on a contingency basis, so you will not pay any attorney fees until we win your case.

Call (843) 881-8644 for a free consultation, fill out our contact form, or use live chat to speak with our team now. We represent families throughout Charleston, the Lowcountry, and across South Carolina.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Hiring a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisements. Ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience before you decide. The Hughey Law Firm is located in Charleston, South Carolina.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a nursing home neglect claim in South Carolina?

In most South Carolina cases, the deadline is three years from the date of the injury or its discovery. Because facility records can be lost or altered over time, contacting an attorney early protects your family’s evidence and legal rights.

What should I do if my loved one develops a Stage 3 or Stage 4 pressure ulcer?

Seek immediate medical treatment, document the wound with photographs, request medical records, report the condition to the facility in writing, file a complaint with DHEC, and contact an attorney promptly.

Can bed sores lead to serious infections or death?

Yes. Untreated advanced pressure sores can lead to sepsis, a dangerous bloodstream infection. Pressure ulcer-related infections have been linked to tens of thousands of deaths nationally.

What compensation is available in a bed sore lawsuit?

Compensation can include medical bills, corrective surgery, therapy costs, lost income, pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, and in some cases punitive damages or wrongful death damages.

Who can be held liable for nursing home pressure ulcers?

The nursing home itself, individual staff members, and in some cases contracted physicians, nurses, or health aides who failed to meet the standard of care can all be held liable.

How can nursing homes prevent bed sores?

Regular repositioning, routine skin checks, proper hygiene, adequate hydration and nutrition, and sufficient staffing to perform these tasks consistently are the core preventive measures.

What causes bed sores in nursing home residents?

Bed sores develop from unrelieved pressure, friction, and shear, usually worsened by understaffing, infrequent repositioning, poor hygiene, dehydration, and malnutrition.

Are bed sores a sign of nursing home neglect?

Often, yes. Pressure sores are largely preventable with proper repositioning, hygiene, and nutrition. A serious sore, especially Stage 3 or Stage 4, frequently indicates the facility failed to provide adequate care.

Charleston Pressure Sores & Bed Sores Lawyer

Why Do Families Throughout South Carolina Trust Hughey Law Firm for Elder Abuse Cases?

What Is a Pressure Sore?

Common Causes of Nursing Home Bed Sores

Signs a Resident May Be Developing Pressure Ulcers

Who Can Be Held Liable for Charleston Nursing Home Bed Sores?

Compensation Available to Bed Sore Victims and Their Families

Can a Nursing Home Successfully Defend a Bed Sore Claim?

Taking Action After Charleston Nursing Home Negligence Causes Bed Sores

Get in Touch With a Charleston Nursing Home Bed Sore Lawyer Today

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