Injuries During Medical Transport: Understanding the Risks and Your Legal Options

When an elderly resident of a nursing home, assisted living facility, or board and care home needs to attend a medical appointment, dialysis treatment, or other scheduled outing, they often rely on a medical transport service arranged by the facility. These trips should be safe, routine events. Unfortunately, at Nursing Home Law Group, we see serious injuries happen far too often because of negligence during medical transport. In many cases, these incidents occur because staff failed to properly secure the resident in the van or ambulance, or because the driver engaged in reckless or unsafe driving.

If your loved one was hurt during a ride to or from a medical appointment, a San Diego County medical transport accident lawyer at our firm can help you understand your rights and pursue justice.

Many residents being transported have significant mobility limitations or medical conditions that require extra care and attention. Sadly, some facilities and drivers fail to take even the most basic safety precautions, leading to preventable harm. Examples of custodial neglect during medical transport include:

Failure to secure seat belts or safety restraints – Elderly residents may not be able to fasten their own belts or harnesses, leaving them at risk of being thrown forward or sideways in the event of a sudden stop or sharp turn.

Improper wheelchair locking – Wheelchairs must be securely fastened to the floor of the transport vehicle. A wheelchair that slides or tips during the ride can cause devastating injuries.

Rough or reckless driving – Sudden acceleration, speeding, or taking corners too quickly can cause fragile passengers to lose balance, fall, or suffer whiplash.

Failure to provide assistance getting in or out of the vehicle – A resident may need help stepping up into a van, using a lift, or walking to their seat. Without proper support, they can suffer dangerous falls.

Ignoring known medical restrictions – Transport staff may fail to follow instructions related to oxygen use, positioning, or avoiding pressure on certain parts of the body, resulting in injury or medical emergencies.

Each of these examples reflects a lack of basic care and attention — the kind of negligence that should never happen in a professional caregiving or transport setting.

At Nursing Home Law Group, we have seen many tragic examples of what can go wrong during medical transport:

• An Oceanside nursing home resident was thrown from her wheelchair when the driver took a sharp turn without securing the chair to the van floor.
• In Chula Vista, a resident suffered a broken hip after the driver failed to use a lift properly, causing her to fall backward onto the pavement.
• A patient being taken from Escondido to a specialist appointment was not buckled in; when the van stopped abruptly to avoid a collision, he slammed into the seat in front of him, causing head and neck injuries.

These are not isolated incidents — they happen across San Diego County, including in large cities such as San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, El Cajon, Vista, and San Marcos.

If your loved one has been injured because of unsafe or negligent medical transport, it is important to act quickly. A San Diego County medical transport accident attorney can help you investigate what happened, preserve critical evidence, and hold both the driver and the facility accountable.

At Nursing Home Law Group, we have been representing victims of elder neglect and abuse in the San Diego County area for more than 20 years. We have a long track record of success in suing nursing homes and related facilities throughout California, including cases involving unsafe transportation. Our team works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.

We understand that these injuries are not just “accidents.” They are often the result of systemic neglect, inadequate training, and a failure to prioritize resident safety. By holding negligent transport providers accountable, we help protect not only your loved one but also other vulnerable residents from suffering similar harm.

When you call us, we will:

• Review your case in detail and explain your legal options
• Investigate the transportation company’s policies, training, and prior safety violations
• Gather evidence, including witness statements and vehicle inspection reports
• Pursue maximum compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages

If you or your loved one was hurt during transport to or from a nursing home or medical appointment, do not wait. Call Nursing Home Law Group today for a free consultation. A San Diego County medical transport accident lawyer from our team is ready to listen to your story, investigate the circumstances, and fight for the justice your family deserves.

We take all cases on a contingency fee — you will never owe us anything unless we recover for you.

Call us today and let us help protect your loved one’s rights.