Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque Nursing Home Fall & Fracture Lawyer
A fall can change an older adult's life in an instant. Hip fractures and head injuries often lead to a permanent loss of independence, and some falls are fatal. A single fall does not prove negligence, but when a facility fails to take reasonable precautions for a resident it knew was at risk, that fall may warrant a closer look.
Why Falls Are So Serious for Elderly Residents
Older adults are more vulnerable to serious injury from falls because of reduced bone density, thinner skin, and conditions that affect healing. A fall that a younger person might shake off can be catastrophic for a nursing home resident.
Beyond the immediate injury, a fall often begins a downward spiral. A resident who fractures a hip may lose mobility, become less active, and experience a rapid decline in overall health. Some never return to their prior level of function.
Facilities are expected to identify residents at risk of falling and put precautions in place. The central question in many cases is not whether a fall occurred, but whether the facility took reasonable steps to prevent it based on what it knew about the resident.
The Harm
Common Fall Injuries in Nursing Homes
Hip fractures
Among the most serious fall injuries for older adults, often requiring surgery and a long recovery that may permanently affect mobility.
Head injuries
Falls can cause bleeding or bruising in the brain, which may not be immediately obvious and can be life-threatening.
Broken bones
Fractures of the wrist, arm, shoulder, or pelvis are common and can lead to loss of independence.
Soft-tissue and spinal injury
Sprains, tears, and back injuries can cause lasting pain and reduced function.
How Falls Happen
Common Fall Scenarios
Falls in long-term care facilities often follow recognizable patterns. Understanding how a fall occurred can help determine whether reasonable precautions were in place.
Prevention
Fall Precautions Facilities Are Expected to Take
Preventing falls is not about eliminating every possible accident. It is about taking reasonable steps based on what a facility knows about a resident's risks and needs.
When these precautions appear to have been missing or inconsistently followed, a fall may warrant further investigation. A fall does not automatically establish negligence.
When a Fall May Involve Negligence
The issue is often whether reasonable precautions were taken based on the resident's known needs and risks. A few circumstances can signal that a fall deserves a closer look.
- The resident was known to be a fall risk but had no adequate care plan
- The resident fell while attempting to reach the bathroom unassisted
- A call light went unanswered for an extended period
- The resident had repeated falls without a revised care plan
- Equipment failure or environmental hazards contributed
Evidence Used to Investigate Falls
- Fall-risk assessments and care plans
- Incident reports documenting the fall
- Nursing notes on supervision and call-light response
- Staffing and scheduling records
- Medication administration records
- Hospital records and imaging studies
- Photographs of the environment where the fall occurred
- History of prior falls at the facility
FAQ
Nursing Home Falls — Frequently Asked Questions
Your Loved One Fell. You Want to Know Why.
If a fall in an Albuquerque nursing home led to a serious injury and the explanation doesn't add up, tell us what happened. A conversation can help determine whether the circumstances deserve a closer look.
Confidential. No obligation. Speaking with us does not create an attorney-client relationship.