Did you or a loved one develop bedsores in a hospital or nursing home in Baltimore, MD? Bedsores usually occur because someone was negligent. An experienced Baltimore bedsore lawyer at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to recover fair compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
Collectively, our lawyers have over 80 years of experience representing clients who have been harmed by negligence. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for our satisfied clients over the years.
It’s easy to learn more about your legal rights and options. Just call our law firm at (410) 837-2144 in Baltimore, Maryland, to schedule a free consultation today.
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How Can WGK Personal Injury Lawyers Help if I Suffered Bedsore Injuries in Baltimore?
Bedsores can be extremely painful. They can also be a sign of nursing home abuse and neglect. If that’s the case, the nursing home and other medical providers should be held accountable. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to prove that someone else is liable for the harm you’ve suffered.
At WGK Personal Injury Lawyers, we have decades of experience handling complex personal injury cases. We’ve helped countless clients stand up to hospitals and big insurance companies to win the compensation they deserve.
When you hire our Baltimore personal injury lawyers, we will:
- Conduct a full investigation
- Identify the parties responsible for your bedsore injuries
- Gather strong evidence to support your case
- Hire experts in medicine and other specialties
- Negotiate with the insurance company to maximize the value of your settlement or verdict
All you have to do is call to schedule a free case evaluation with a Baltimore Nursing home abuse lawyer to create an attorney-client relationship.
How Common Are Bedsores in Baltimore?
Bedsores are unfortunately common, especially in Maryland nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
According to CDC research, about 11% of all nursing home residents suffer from bedsores. In other words, more than one in ten nursing home residents have had a pressure ulcer at some point.
What Are Bedsores?
Bedsores are a type of pressure ulcer or decubitus ulcer. They’re injuries to the skin and tissue that are caused by prolonged pressure on the skin.
Bedsores are most likely to form on the skin and tissue covering bony areas of the body, including:
- Hips
- Ankles and heels
- Tailbone
Most often, bedsores form on patients who must remain immobile in a bed or chair for long periods of time because of an injury or medical condition.
A serious injury can derail your life for weeks, months, and even years. If you were harmed after developing bedsores, take legal action today by calling our law firm in Baltimore for a free case review.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Bedsores?
The signs and symptoms of a pressure ulcer will depend on what stage it is in. Like a burn injury, pressure sores are classified by degree, as follows:
- Stage one: persistent redness in the skin, pain, burning, or itching
- Stage two: partial loss of thickness of skin, which may present as blisters or abrasions
- Stage three: deep craters and dead tissue may appear, representing a full loss of thickness of the skin
- Stage four: exposed bone or muscle may become visible
It’s important to pay close attention to the initial signs that you or a loved one may be developing bedsores. Treating the injury quickly can prevent more serious damage.
Some of the most common signs and symptoms include:
- Changes in skin color or texture
- Swelling
- Redness
- Blisters or abrasions
- Skin that feels cool or hot to the touch
If you press down on disclosed or red skin and the skin doesn’t get lighter, that can be a sign that not enough blood is getting to the area.
Why Do Patients Develop Bedsores in Baltimore, Maryland?
Bedsores develop because blood flow to the skin is cut off. They’re most common in patients who are unconscious, bedridden, or unable to feel pain.
However, bedsores can be prevented and are often a sign of nursing home neglect. They typically happen because nursing home staff and medical providers fail to move the patient. Bedridden patients should be turned regularly and positioned correctly to avoid bed sores.
What Types of Injuries Can Bedsores Cause?
Relatively minor bedsores often heal on their own. Unfortunately, more serious bedsore injuries may never fully heal and can cause serious long-term damage.
Bedsores that become infected can cause the most severe damage. The infection may spread throughout the body.
In these cases, the patient may experience:
- Fever
- Chills
- Mental confusion
- A fast heart rate
- Weakness
People with diabetes, circulation problems, and other underlying health conditions are at the greatest risk of developing serious bedsore injuries.
Regardless of the circumstances, it’s important to seek medical care quickly to prevent the most severe long-term injuries.
How Do I Prove Negligence if I Developed Bedsores in Maryland?
Bedsores can be a sign that a patient is being neglected. Most commonly, they mean the patient isn’t being turned as often as they should be. The person responsible for providing care can be held financially accountable for a failure to provide reasonable care.
To establish negligence, you have to prove:
- The defendant owed a legal duty of care
- A breach of duty occurred
- The breach caused the victim to develop bedsores
- Damages, or financial, physical, and emotional losses
Nursing homes, nursing home staff members, and even in-home caretakers can all be held liable for failing to provide proper care.
If you or a family member are suffering from bedsores, contact our Baltimore bedsore attorneys at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers for legal advice today. We can discuss your options in detail during a free initial consultation.
Contact a Baltimore Bedsore Lawyer for a Free Consultation
You shouldn’t have to struggle with painful injuries because someone else was careless. Instead, call an experienced Baltimore bedsore lawyer at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers for the legal help you deserve today.
