New York City
Bedsore Lawyer

If you or someone you love developed pressure ulcers while staying in a hospital or a long-term care facility, you may be eligible to recover financial compensation. These injuries do not have to happen and, in almost every situation, they are entirely avoidable with proper medical attention. Tragically, many injury victims in New York City and surrounding areas lose their lives because of complications related to this condition.

These ulcers are incredibly painful and cause deep damage to the skin and the tissue underneath. If you have reason to believe that these sores developed because a caretaker, nurse, or doctor was negligent, you have the right to seek payment for your losses. The Silbowitz Firm is here to support you during this difficult time.

Pressure Ulcer Lawyers in New York City at The Silbowitz Firm

At The Silbowitz Firm, we represent people harmed by bed sores and the families of those who have suffered. We recognize how serious these injuries are and the devastating impact they have on a person’s health. Families trying to help a loved one often feel a sense of helplessness, and they are frequently unsure of how to get justice or ensure their family member receives better treatment. Mitchell Silbowitz has been fighting for injury victims since 1989 and has helped clients win more than 1,000 cases in New York City, Long Island, and other counties across New York State. We want to help you hold negligent facilities accountable so your loved one receives the care they deserve.

How The Silbowitz Firm Supports Victims of Negligent Care

Our legal team has a deep understanding of how negligence leads to the development of skin ulcers and when a person is eligible to file a claim for damages. If you are currently experiencing this type of injury, our firm can help you pursue the right medical care while we begin building a case against the parties responsible for the neglect. We move quickly to represent your interests and protect your rights. Our team will evaluate the extent of the injuries, calculate the total value of your damages, and identify every individual or corporation that should be held liable.

The Development of Skin Ulcers

People who develop these sores often go through extreme pain and are at high risk for life-threatening complications if the condition is not treated correctly. These injuries frequently happen to the most vulnerable people in our New York communities, including the elderly, people with disabilities, or those with limited mobility who are staying in rehabilitation centers after a surgery.

While these injuries can happen in any medical setting, they are most common in nursing homes, assisted living centers, and hospitals where patients are confined to a bed for long periods.

These conditions are also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers. They occur when a person is unable to move easily on their own and remains in one position for too long, which puts constant pressure on specific parts of the body. A lack of blood flow to the skin for just a few hours can cause the tissue to begin dying. Once the skin starts to break down, the surrounding area is also likely to deteriorate, causing the wound to grow much larger and deeper.

Specific parts of the body are at a higher risk for these ulcers, including:

• The buttocks or the back of the thighs
• Bony areas like the heels, hips, or the tailbone
• The length of the spine
• The back of the head
• The shoulder blades

The Frequency of Pressure Injuries in New York

Pressure injuries are a widespread problem in healthcare settings throughout the United States. Reports show that between one and three million people suffer from this condition every year. A large number of these individuals face a much higher risk of death because of the complications that follow.

In fact, these sores are linked to more than 60,000 deaths in America each year. In the vast majority of cases, these injuries are avoidable if the people in charge of care take simple preventive steps. When a resident at a New York medical facility is harmed by a sore, there should be an immediate investigation to find out why it happened and how to stop it from getting worse.

Leading Reasons for the Development of Pressure Sores

Care facilities might try to tell you that these sores are just a natural part of aging or the result of being bedridden, but that is simply not true. Most ulcers that develop are the result of failures in basic care. If a sore is allowed to worsen into a serious wound, it means a nurse or caretaker failed to notice the early signs of skin breakdown.

Negligence is the primary reason these injuries occur. It is the legal duty of those working in New York hospitals and nursing homes to identify which patients are at a high risk and take proactive steps to keep their skin healthy.

Situations that often lead to these injuries include:

• A lack of proper food or water leading to dehydration
• Conditions like diabetes that already affect blood circulation
• Failing to turn or reposition a patient on a regular schedule
• General neglect of the patient’s needs
• Poor hygiene and a failure to keep the patient clean

The Different Stages of an Ulcer

These injuries progress through four distinct stages. Identifying the stage of a sore can help a lawyer determine how long the neglect has been going on and how much damage has been done to the body.

The stages are:

Stage 1 – The skin may look red or dark, but the wound is not yet open. It might feel warm to the touch, and the person may describe a burning or itching sensation.

Stage 2 – The skin breaks open, creating a visible wound. This is very painful, and the area will look like a shallow crater or a blister.

Stage 3 – The damage goes deeper into the fatty tissue under the skin. At this point, the wound is very hard to manage and requires intense medical treatment to prevent it from spreading further.

Stage 4 – This is the most dangerous stage, where the wound reaches down to the muscles, tendons, or even the bone. This stage carries a very high risk of death.

Complications Associated with Pressure Wounds

The most significant threat to a person’s life is infection. An open wound that is not healing properly can lead to sepsis, which is a deadly blood infection that is very difficult to treat. While a sore can develop in just a few hours, it can take months or even years to heal. Once the skin is damaged, it is much more likely to break down again in the future.

Beyond the physical danger, these injuries take a heavy toll on a person’s quality of life. They cause constant, severe pain and can lead to a state of depression or mental distress for the victim.

Who Is Responsible for These Injuries?

Doctors and nursing staff are responsible for the well-being of their residents. When these injuries occur, it is often because of a lack of training, not enough staff members on duty, or medical malpractice.

The parties that may be held liable in a New York City lawsuit include:

• Attending physicians
• Registered nurses and assistants
• Other medical professionals
• Nursing home corporations
• Hospital systems
• Assisted living facilities
• Rehabilitation centers

How to Assist a Family Member with Bed Sores

If you notice a loved one has developed these sores while in a facility, you must act fast to get them help. Do not wait to contact a lawyer. A legal representative can help you move your loved one to a safer facility and start the process of holding the negligent parties accountable.

An attorney can help by:

• Ensuring your loved one gets the right medical treatment immediately
• Organizing a transfer to a better care center
• Gathering medical records and evidence of neglect
• Identifying everyone who is legally responsible for the harm
• Filing a claim for the physical and emotional damages
• Negotiating with insurance companies or filing a lawsuit if they refuse to pay

Potential Damages in a New York City Case

A person suffering from severe pressure ulcers may face a lifetime of health issues. This brings a huge financial burden and significant physical suffering. If the person passes away, the family can seek damages for their loss.

The types of compensation available include:

• Medical expenses – The cost of surgeries, hospital stays, and specialized wound care can be astronomical. You can seek recovery for all past and future medical bills.
• Lost income – If you have to miss work to care for a family member or if the victim can no longer work, you may be eligible for lost wage compensation.
• Pain and suffering – This covers the physical agony and the mental trauma that comes with being neglected. It also accounts for the loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful death – If the infection or injury leads to a person’s passing, the family can seek payment for funeral costs and the loss of companionship and support.

If you or a family member suffered because of negligent care, call The Silbowitz Firm at (646) 419-5344 for a free consultation. Mitchell Silbowitz has been helping New York injury victims since 1989 and is ready to discuss your rights to compensation.