Hip Fractures Among the Elderly

    SCOTTSDALE, AZ, May 31, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- One of the clearest signs of nursing home abuse or neglect is hip fractures among the elderly. According to the National Safety Council, hip fractures are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among those aged 65 and over. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there are around 280,000 hospitalizations for people over the age of 65 who have sustained hip fractures every year. Even when these events do not result in death, they can be impossible to recover from and lead to pain and disability for the remainder of your loved one's life.

Causes of Hip Fractures

The CDC reports that over 90 percent of hip fractures among the elderly are caused by slip and fall accidents. These accidents can occur anywhere and may simply be a result of diminished coordination. In many instances however, these slip and fall accidents are the result of negligence on the part of a property owner or nursing home staff. In fact, improper maintenance in nursing homes is a frequent cause of these terrible accidents.

Common causes of slip and fall accidents include:

- Wet or slippery floors
- Broken or unmaintained walkways
- Inadequate lighting
- Damaged or missing handrails

One would think that a nursing home would be a safe place to retire and all of these things would be top priorities of the staff. Unfortunately, many nursing homes are run by multi-million dollar corporations who are much more concerned with turning a profit than protecting the elderly in their care.

Know Your Rights

When someone you love sustains a hip fracture due to an improperly maintained premise you have every right to seek justice. An experienced nursing home abuse and neglect attorney will be able to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one's accident and help you determine if you have cause to file suit.

In many cases, you do have a right to file a lawsuit, and your lawyer will be able to not only see that your loved one is protected, but seek also to gain monetary compensation for all of the damages your loved one's accident will result in. This may include medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, and moving expenses alongside compensation for an impacted quality of life and physical and emotional pain and suffering.

If you live in Arizona and have a loved one who has sustained a hip fracture while in the care of a nursing home, please visit the website of Cullan&Cullan, M.D., J.D. for more information on how we can help get you the justice you deserve.

Website: http://www.stopnursinghomeabuse.org

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