Syracuse, New York, Patient Drop Accidents

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer and an American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Attorneys, Has Spent His Entire Career Fighting for the Rights of Patient Drop and Failed Patient Transfer Accident Victims. If You, or a Loved One, Have Been Injured in an Onondaga County Patient Drop Accident That Was Not Your Fault, Our Experienced Team of Attorneys Could Help You Obtain the Compensation You Need and the Justice You Deserve.

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Syracuse is a surprisingly vibrant town with an unusually young population. However, outside the confines of Syracuse University campus, the Salt City is undergoing a drastic demographic shift.

With Americans living longer than ever, older adults are a fast-growing cohort with unprecedented visibility. According to some estimates, by 2040, more than 15% of people nationwide will be age 65 or older.

However, even with medicine making remarkable progress, many senior citizens remain at increased risk for certain types of accidents. Emerging research suggests that, at least in some states, patient safety trends are worsening, with preventable falls and failed transfers accounting for a significant share of all reported accidents.

Patient drop accidents can be painful for almost anyone, but for older adults, they often result in serious and potentially life-altering injuries. Even minor accidents, ending with a twisted ankle or broken wrist, can quickly become sources of chronic pain and constant discomfort. Recovery is, in many cases, a seeming impossibility.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. believes nobody should suffer the consequences of a hospital’s neglect. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to overcome even the most vigorous defense and have the results to prove it. Please message us online or call us at 866-529-5334 to speak to a patient drop attorney near Syracuse and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation.

The Unequal Risks Of Patient Drop Accidents

Anyone, of any age, could be injured in a patient drop accident. However, the risks of a failed transfer are not necessarily equitable. Some people, especially older adults, are more likely to be seriously injured in these accidents.

The risk factors for serious injury in a patient drop accident include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. The Patient’s Physical Condition: Accident victims with pre-existing injuries could be further hurt by failed transfers.
2. The Patient’s Age: Older adults may suffer from conditions, such as dementia and sarcopenia, that increase their risk of falling. However, unlike most younger patients, senior citizens cannot always recover from injuries quickly. They are more likely to experience injury-related complications and develop long-term disabilities as a result.
3. The Patient’s Cognitive State: Accident victims and older adults are sometimes prescribed medications to assist in pain management and treatment. While these medicines can alleviate many unpleasant symptoms, they could make it more difficult for patients to retain control over their bodies.

Although old age, pre-existing injuries, and cognitive impairment could increase a patient’s risk of serious injury, it is ultimately the health care provider’s responsibility to ensure that patients remain safe from any foreseeable dangers. If and when hospitals fail to ensure that proper safety procedures are enacted and adhered to, they could cause a life-changing accident.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. is committed to providing peerless personal injury service. If you or a loved one has been injured in a patient drop accident that was not your fault, we could help you obtain the compensation you need and the justice you deserve. Please call us at 866-529-5334 to schedule your no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

The Most Common Causes Of Patient Drop Accidents

For a small city, Syracuse has near-unparalleled medical infrastructure. Between St. Joseph’s Health Hospital on Prospect Street and Upstate Community Hospital on Broad Road, Syracuse boasts several full-sized hospitals and over a dozen urgent care providers. On almost any given day, these facilities treat patients for a wide range of health conditions, from chronic disease to motor vehicle accident injuries and dog attack-related lacerations.

While Syracuse may have no shortage of treatment centers, healing only happens when healthcare professionals do their due diligence. Any lapse in judgment—no matter how brief—could have a disastrous impact on patients, many of whom are medically vulnerable and incapable of protecting their physical well-being.

After being admitted to a hospital, many of these patients require mobility and transferring assistance for routine tasks, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Using the bathroom;
2. Obtaining diagnostic tests; and
3. Attending scheduled physical rehabilitation appointments.

However, transferring patients is a delicate process. Even otherwise-experienced, well-meaning staff could make a mistake, potentially complicating the procedure and resulting in serious injury.

The most common causes of these accidents include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Improper Training: Patient transfer professionals are usually required to obtain training. While this training is not strictly regulated at the state level, hospitals have a legal duty to minimize foreseeable risks of patient injury. Facilities that do not provide or ensure adequate training could be held liable for the costs of any resulting accident.
2. Unmaintained or Inappropriate Equipment: If a patient cannot assist in transportation, staff may have to use special medical equipment to conduct a transfer. This equipment varies in complexity from wheelchairs and ramps to expensive hydraulic lifts. In any case, even simple types of equipment still require routine care and maintenance. Unfortunately, failing to maintain such equipment could expose patients to unnecessary risk.
3. Chronic Understaffing: Moving a patient onto a gurney or helping them from their bed to a restroom can be physically intensive and may necessitate assistance from multiple workers. However, if a hospital is understaffed, employees may be forced to attempt a transfer alone, even if it briefly endangers a patient’s well-being.

Irrespective of its explanation, an accident can cause victims immense pain and suffering. While no amount of money can compensate for serious injury or disability, a settlement could help survivors minimize their losses and bolster their chances of making a successful recovery.

The Four Elements Of A Patient Drop Personal Injury Lawsuit

New York affords victims of patient drop the right to file a claim for compensation against the person or party who caused their injuries.

In a patient drop claim, potential defendants could include any of the following:

1. A negligent employee;
2. A hospital, urgent care center, or healthcare facility;
3. An ambulance company, and
4. A patient transportation or patient services contractor.

However, patient drop cases are not always straightforward. Before taking a hospital or ambulance company to court, victims must be prepared to demonstrate the following elements of every personal injury lawsuit:

1. Professional Duty of Care: A professional duty of care is a legal responsibility of one person or entity to guarantee the safety of another. Hospitals, for instance, must ensure that their patients are not exposed to unreasonable risk of harm.
2. Breach of Duty of Care: A defendant breaches their duty of care by acting negligently. Employees could breach their duty by failing to abide by a facility’s patient transfer procedures. In contrast, a hospital could breach its duty by failing to enforce such patient transfer procedures regularly.
3. Causation: For a personal injury claim to succeed, the plaintiff must be able to show that the hospital’s breach of duty of care was the direct or proximate cause of their injuries.
4. Damages: New York courts can only award compensation if the claimant establishes that their accident resulted in actual damages. In a patient drop case, damages could be accident-related medical expenses, lost income from work, or even emotional pain and suffering.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you investigate the underlying causes of your patient drop accident, working to ensure that every person and party who contributed to your injuries is held accountable for their misconduct.

Since our founding in 2005, we have helped our clients in Syracuse and across the region secure more than $250 million in damages—money that they have used to eliminate their medical debt, seek higher-quality care, and begin the difficult task of recovering from a life-changing accident. We could help you, too. Please message us online or call us at 866-529-5334 to speak to a patient drop attorney near Syracuse and schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Syracuse, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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