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Bedsores/Pressure Sores

Bedsore Lawsuits: New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Bedsores, also known as pressure sores, decubitus ulcers, or pressure ulcers, are, with proper care, avoidable. However, these preventable injuries are common among residents in hospitals, nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities. Attorneys at Merovitz, Cedar & Gruber, LLC, (MCG Legal), with offices in Mount Laurel and Philadelphia, are committed to helping those who have been injured by such negligence.

Causes of bedsores

Pressure ulcers develop when the skin is subjected to long periods of unrelieved pressure. The primary causes of bedsores are malnutrition, dehydration, incontinence, and failure of the nursing staff to reposition the resident correctly or frequently. These failures are the result of nursing home negligence, often in staffing. Fluid intake and meals should be monitored to prevent dehydration and malnutrition. In addition, federal and state laws require turning patients at minimum intervals. Lawsuits must clearly identify the parties responsible.

Types of pressure sores

Bedsores typically form on a resident's heel or lower back (coccyx). Decubitus ulcers range from Stage I, the least severe, to Stage IV, at which point the bedsore is a gaping wound, possibly open to the bone. Stage IV bedsores can lead to amputation or death.

Preventing bedsore injuries

If someone you are responsible for or are concerned about is in a hospital or nursing home resident who spends considerable time in bed, it is important that you take steps to prevent a bedsore injury or identify one as soon as it develops. Visit at least weekly, and actually lift up the sheet and examine the patient's back and heels. If there is a bandage, insist the nurse or aide remove it on every visit so you can see the injury, and ask what treatment is being administered. Watch for weight loss or other signs of dehydration or malnutrition. Note a smell of urine or feces, which indicates poor hygiene.

Attorneys advocating for those who cannot help themselves

At MCG Legal, our lawyers have successfully recovered compensation for residents of New Jersey and Pennsylvania long-term care facilities through claims and lawsuits. Bedsore cases can be complicated. Responsible parties might include a hospital where the patient spent a few days recovering from some other condition, a negligent physician, or nursing home administrators. Evidence and statements must be collected as quickly as possible to ensure a strong case.

If you would like to speak with one of our attorneys about a bedsore injury lawsuit, please contact our Mount Laurel or Philadelphia office to arrange a free and confidential consultation as soon as possible. In most cases our services are contingency-based, meaning our client pays no attorney fees unless we recover damages on the client's behalf.