Hospital Fall, What are My Legal Rights?

Were you involved in a hospital fall and want to know, what are my legal rights? Contact our Buffalo attorneys to get started on your claim.

Question:

My father was taken to the ER with symptoms of pneumonia. When he was admitted to the hospital and transferred to the floor, he fell off the bed. It happened while he was under heavy sedatives and at fault of the personnel. No one contacted us when it happened, and when we got to the hospital, they told us about it and told us how he fell.  He had a cardiac arrest and as a result of that, he’s got a brain haemorrhage and his prognosis is grave according to the doctors. I see it as pure negligence on the part of the hospital and want to bring legal action. What are my choices?

Answer:

  When we find ourselves requiring emergency care, we are often at our most vulnerable.  Medical professionals have both a legal and moral duty to not harm their patients.  They must act reasonably, and take care of patients as their colleagues in the medical field would.  If that standard of care is breached, the injured party is entitled to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain/suffering.  There can be shorter windows of time to file the appropriate documents in such matters, particularly when a municipal hospital is involved.   Contacting an attorney shortly after an incident like this is critical to preserving all evidence of what occurred.

This legal question was provided by our experienced New York Personal Injury Attorney.  This does not consent to an attorney-client relationship.

Like us on Facebook

Robert Maranto Avatar

Robert Maranto

Attorney Duquesne University School of Law, New York State Bar

With over 3 decades of experience, Robert focuses his practice on all areas of personal injury and has achieved multi-million-dollar verdicts and/or settlements throughout his legal career.

Areas of Expertise: Personal Injury, Car Accident, Motorcycle Accidents, Bus Accidents, Truck Accident, Slip and Fall Injuries, Pedestrian Accidents, Bicycle Accident, Dog Bite, Construction Accidents, Nursing Home Negligence, Boat Accident, Boating Accidents, Mesothelioma, Asbestos, Product Liability, Clergy Abuse, Negligent Security, Industrial Accidents