Normally when a Chicago resident checks into a hospital the person expects to leave the facility in better shape than when the person arrived. For many people this is the case. However, for patients who suffer falls while under the care of hospitals and other in-patient medical facilities, the outcome can be different.
There are a variety of reasons that patients in hospitals may suffer detrimental falls. Some of those reasons are based on the actual conditions of the facilities. Patients may fall if they cannot see due to poor lighting. They may also slip if they must cross floors that are wet, polished or otherwise too slippery.
In some situations, patients fall when they must get around obstructions in their paths. Medical equipment can block their paths in their rooms and in hospital hallways and those obstructions can lead to trips and falls. Other times patients fall simply because they are unfamiliar with the layouts of their rooms and may not know where they can safely put their feet.
Patients may also suffer falls due to the medical conditions for which they are being treated. Disorders that affect patients’ balance can cause individuals to lose their footing and even some medications can affect patient’s coordination and equilibrium. Generally, when a patient is under the care of a medical facility, that facility has the important responsibility of keeping the individual out of danger.
Those who suffer falls and other harm while under the care of hospitals and other in-patient medical centers often have the right to sue the responsible facilities under personal injury theories of law. Personal injuries suffered due to hospital negligence can, under some circumstances, be compensated and victims can receive damages. Lawyers who practice medical malpractice and other forms of personal injury law can provide specific guidance on how to pursue claims based on hospital falls.
