Parents of young children are often concerned about choking hazards, but people over age 65 are seven times more likely to choke on food than children under age 4. If your loved one is in an assisted living facility or nursing home in Baltimore, MD, you would hope they’re being carefully monitored during mealtimes.
But the reality is that many nursing homes are understaffed. If your family member suffered injury or death in a choking event caused by nursing home negligence or abuse, WGK Personal Injury Lawyers can help.
Our three generations of lawyers have more than a century of combined experience in personal injury law. Since 1977, we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation for victims injured in preventable accidents.
Initial consultations are free, so contact us today at (410) 837-2144 to speak with a Baltimore choking lawyer.
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How WGK Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Choking Injury Caused By Nursing Home Abuse in Baltimore
If your loved one has suffered any type of injury at the hands of caregivers, your priority is to help get your family member to a safe environment where they can be cared for properly. But your loved one deserves justice, and it’s important to hold the facility and those involved accountable so that no one else has to suffer.
That’s where we come in. We will take care of everything so you can focus on your family.
Our Baltimore nursing home abuse lawyers will:
- Make sure your loved one is safe and get them moved to a new facility, if necessary
- Lead an investigation to determine the cause of the choking
- Review any previous complaints, sanctions, or criminal charges against the nursing home
- Interview witnesses
- Hire experts who can help support causation and damages
- Handle all communications with nursing home attorneys and insurance representatives
If your loved one suffered a choking accident due to the negligence or abuse of nursing home staff, they could be entitled to compensation. We know that money doesn’t make up for the horrific experience they endured, but it can help provide for their future care. Call our Baltimore, Maryland law office today for a free and confidential case evaluation.
What Causes Choking in Older Adults?
There are many reasons that adults have a higher risk of choking as they age. An estimated 10-20% of adults over age 65 have difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). As people age, they lose muscle mass, including in muscles used for chewing and swallowing. This can make eating more difficult and increases the risk of choking.
Tooth loss and other dental problems also increase with age, which can make eating foods with certain textures more difficult.
Many older adults take medications that cause dry mouth, which can cause difficulty swallowing. Or they may have other medical conditions, such as Parkinson’s, acid reflux, or complications from a stroke, making swallowing difficult. People with dementia or speech difficulties may not be able to communicate if they are in distress.
Certain food textures can increase choking hazards. Foods that are fibrous, firm, crunchy, chewy, or dry may pose a higher choking risk. Meats, sandwiches, and toast are some of the most common foods that cause choking. Likewise, foods that are round or long may block the airway.
Why Does Choking Occur in Nursing Homes?
As discussed above, many factors increase the risk of choking for older adults. But staff at nursing homes and long-term care facilities should be trained to recognize risk factors, anticipate hazards, and prevent choking.
Incidents like choking, malnutrition, and dehydration often occur in nursing homes because of negligence, in the form of:
- Lack of training
- Understaffing
- Failure to conduct background checks of staff
- Failure to recognize signs of dysphagia
- Poor supervision
- Lack of proper institutional procedures
Nursing home neglect can lead to severe injury or death. We know that this can be an emotional time. Our Baltimore choking attorneys will handle your case with the immediacy and dignity that it deserves.
What Damages Are Available in a Baltimore Nursing Home Abuse Case?
Depending on the circumstances, your loved one may be able to recover compensation for:
- Cost of medical treatment associated with the choking incident
- Emotional trauma
- Cost of relocating to a new facility
- Nursing care
If your loved one did not survive, you might be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. We are well-equipped to handle these complex cases.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Baltimore Choking Lawyers
Did nursing home staff fail to prevent your loved one from choking? If your family member was harmed by negligent or abusive nursing home staff, WGK Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Contact our Baltimore choking lawyers today for a free consultation.
Our compassionate and dedicated legal team has been standing up for injured victims for decades. We’d be proud to represent you and your family.
