San Mateo Nursing Home Fall Neglect Lawyers: Your Loved One Has Rights!

In San Mateo County, residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities have a fundamental right to be free from neglect. One of the most common ways this right is violated is through the failure to prevent falls. Whether your loved one is in a facility in Redwood City, Daly City, or San Mateo, the facility is legally obligated to protect them from foreseeable fall risks. When they fail, Nursing Home Law Group is here to hold them accountable.

The Life-Threatening Consequences of Falls

Falls in San Mateo facilities often lead to permanent lifestyle changes or wrongful death. Because the elderly have a harder time recovering from trauma, the initial injury is often just the beginning. Serious injuries include:

When an elderly resident falls in a nursing home or assisted living facility, the impact is often far more severe than a similar fall for a younger person. Due to increased frailty, pre-existing conditions, and the potential for neglect, these injuries can be life-altering or even fatal.

The following is a comprehensive list of injuries and complications an elderly resident may suffer from a fall:

1. Bone Fractures and Orthopedic Injuries

Because of osteoporosis (bone thinning) and decreased bone density, even low-impact falls can cause severe breaks.

• Hip Fractures: One of the most common and devastating injuries, often requiring major surgery and leading to a permanent loss of mobility.
• Pelvic Fractures: Highly painful and difficult to treat, as they often require prolonged immobilization.
• Wrist and Hand Fractures: Often occur when a resident attempts to "break" their fall (FOOSH—Fall On Outstretched Hand).
• Upper Arm (Humerus) and Shoulder Fractures: Can severely limit a resident's ability to feed themselves or use a walker.
• Leg and Ankle Fractures: Tibial or fibular fractures that prevent standing or walking.
• Rib Fractures: These are extremely painful and can lead to secondary complications like shallow breathing and pneumonia.

2. Head and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Head trauma is particularly dangerous for seniors, especially those taking blood thinners (anticoagulants).

• Subdural Hematomas: A slow or fast bleed between the brain and its outer covering. This can be fatal if not caught immediately via CT scan.
• Concussions: Traumatic brain injuries that can cause confusion, dizziness, and a rapid decline in cognitive function.
• Skull Fractures: Can lead to brain tissue damage or cerebrospinal fluid leaks.
• Facial Fractures: Including broken noses, cheekbones, or orbital (eye socket) fractures.

3. Soft Tissue and Skin Injuries

• Severe Bruising and Hematomas: Elderly skin is thin ("paper skin"), leading to deep tissue bruising and blood pooling.
• Skin Tears and Lacerations: Major cuts that may require stitches or staples and are highly prone to infection.
• "Degloving" Injuries: A horrific injury where the skin is completely separated from the underlying tissue.
• Sprains and Strains: Torn ligaments or tendons, particularly in the knees, ankles, and wrists.

4. Spinal and Internal Injuries

• Vertebral Compression Fractures: Breaks in the bones of the spine that lead to chronic back pain and a "hunched" posture.
• Spinal Cord Damage: Can result in partial or full paralysis.
• Internal Organ Trauma: Damage to the spleen, liver, or kidneys from the impact against the floor or furniture.

5. Secondary Complications (The "Downward Spiral")

Often, it is not the fall itself that causes death, but the complications that follow.

Pneumonia: When a fall makes a resident bedbound, fluid can build up in the lungs, leading to fatal infections. Pressure Sores (Bedsores): Immobilization after a fracture frequently leads to skin breakdown if staff are not diligent about turning the resident. Rhabdomyolysis: If a resident is left on the floor for a long period (a "long lie"), their muscle tissue can begin to break down, releasing toxins into the blood that cause kidney failure. Sepsis: Infections from skin tears or surgical sites (after a hip repair) can enter the bloodstream. 6. Psychological and Emotional Impact If a facility does not seek medical attention right away, the window for life-saving surgery or treatment closes. Nursing Home Law Group investigates many cases where "delayed diagnosis" turned a treatable injury into a fatal complication. If a resident falls, the facility must act as if it is an emergency until proven otherwise. The Duty to Assess and Re-Assess

A facility’s primary duty is to keep residents safe. This starts with a thorough assessment of their gait, balance, and cognitive state. In San Mateo, neglect often occurs because of:

• Alarm Fatigue: Bed and chair alarms are frequently silenced or ignored by staff who are overwhelmed by too many patients.
• Equipment Failure: Using wheelchairs with broken brakes or beds that do not lower to the floor as required by the care plan.
• Inadequate Care Planning: Failing to update the resident’s risk level after they have already suffered a "minor" fall.

Neglect is not just a lack of kindness; it is a failure to meet the professional standards of care required by California law.

Consulting a San Mateo Nursing Home Fall Lawyer

If your family member was injured, you deserve a thorough, independent investigation. A San Mateo nursing home fall lawyer from Nursing Home Law Group can help determine if the facility violated state or federal regulations. Our San Mateo nursing home fall lawyer team is skilled at identifying the "gaps in care" and "omissions in documentation" that often point to a cover-up. Working with a San Mateo nursing home fall lawyer ensures that you have the expertise needed to navigate the San Mateo County Superior Court system.

Nursing Home Law Group has been representing individuals impacted by elder abuse and neglect for years. We understand the pain and anger that comes with seeing a loved one suffer, and we are committed to securing the compensation your family needs for recovery and closure.

Is your loved one a victim of neglect? Contact a San Mateo nursing home fall lawyer at Nursing Home Law Group today to discuss your legal options.