Bedsore Attorneys in Portland, OR

Holding Care Facilities Responsible for Neglect

Serving Portland, Woodburn, Redmond, and Madras, OR

You entrust the health, safety, and well being of your loved one to a nursing home or other care facility.

When the nursing home or other care facility breaks this trust by neglecting its caretaking responsibilities, the consequences can be devastating.

At Pickett Dummigan Weingart, bedsores (pressure ulcers) caused by neglect are one of the most common types of nursing home cases we handle. If your loved one has been neglected and is dealing with pressure sores, talk to us. We have the experience and long-established relationships with doctors, nurses, and other medical experts to successfully represent you and your family.

$500

Thousand

For a family who lost their loved one when a pressure sore became infected, causing sepsis and death.

$175

Thousand

For an individual who suffered a heel ulcer, causing loss of mobility for two years.

$375

Thousand

For a wrongful death where the pressure ulcer contributed to the cause of death.

What Causes Bedsores in Nursing Homes?

A bedsore (pressure ulcer) is an area of skin breakdown that is caused by a person remaining in one position for too long without shifting weight. Care facilities are required to actively prevent this kind of skin breakdown. They are required to assist residents with limited mobility in turning and repositioning. Unrelieved pressure causes skin to lose blood flow to that area and eventually breakdown.

Where Do Bedsores Occur?

Bedsores most commonly occur in areas of the body where bone and skin are very close in contact, including:

  • Coccyx (tail bone)
  • Heels
  • Hips
  • Back
  • Elbows
  • Ankles

Bedsores are not just a painful injury, they are an unacceptable part of a nursing home residency. Left untreated, bedsores can result in sepsis, osteomyelitis, and other serious health issues, including wrongful death.

Other Types of Nursing Home Neglect

In addition to bedsores, falling is another common injury caused by failure to provide the standard of care in nursing homes and in care facility policies and procedures. Although not all falls can be prevented, many falls happen due to errors by nursing staff, insufficient staffing, poor training, and lack of supervision or implementation of policies and procedures to prevent harm. Bedrest is often prescribed after a fall and without proper care, can lead to preventable bedsores and other injury. If you believe your loved one’s falling injury may have been the result of neglect, or that their bedsore was preventable had caretakers taken proper action to prevent them, don’t wait to consult with an attorney to investigate. If neglect occurred and caused harm, you and your family deserve compensation from the wrongdoer, which is often the care facility itself, for lack of training and supervision, not necessarily the individual caretaker.

Why Work with an Attorney?

If your loved one was the victim of nursing home neglect that resulted in bedsores or a falling injury (or both), finding an attorney experienced in these kinds of cases is very important. These cases are complex and the attorney needs to know what to look for and where to find the best nursing and medical expertise specific to the facts in your case. Finding the right attorney to bring your claim is the best way to get justice for you and your family and the compensation you deserve. Compensation will cover things like:

  • Cost of Medical bills and out of pocket expenses
  • Cost of Rehabilitation
  • Emotional pain and suffering
  • Loss of companionship for family members 

At Pickett Dummigan Weingart LLP, our lawyers have litigated hundreds of cases involving neglect by care facilities, like nursing homes and assisted living facilities. We know what experts to consult and we are skilled in winning against tactics used by care facilities to prevent you from getting the compensation you deserve. We are focused on getting the best results for our clients. With attention to every detail, we identify patterns of neglect and other history of violations of federal and state law and regulation. We build strong, compelling, and fact-based claims to hold care facilities responsible for their neglect and abuse. 

What Are Common Causes of Bedsores and Falling Injuries in Nursing Homes?

  • Failure to care plan to prevent falls and skin breakdown
  • Failure to assist in turning and repositioning
  • Improper transfer (example: from bed to wheelchair)
  • Failure to monitor or properly administer medications 
  • Insufficient staffing 
  • Failure to remove trip hazards and spills 
  • Failure to monitor and implement prevention strategies 

 

Quick Answers from Our Attorneys

Q: How do you prove that bedsores were caused by neglect?

“To win a bedsore injury claim, you must be able to establish a causal link between the negligence and the injury. This starts by establishing some variation of the following four elements:

  1. Duty of care
  2. Breach of that duty
  3. Causal link between the breach of duty and injury to your loved one
  4. Compensable losses (damages)”

— R. Brendan Dummigan

• What Our Clients Say •

“We can't say enough good things about Kimberly and her associates. They were thorough, professional, and easy to work with. We had little to no hope of getting reimbursed for medical expenses from a fall that resulted in my hip getting fractured. She was able to get us a fair settlement. We will always be grateful and highly recommend her.”

- Brenda

“After my husband’s accident, we felt lost about what to do and where to turn for help. But from our first phone call with Gary Pickett, it was clear they truly care about the people they work with and intimately know the law that protected our rights. We are so thankful to have found a team that made us and our well-being a priority.”

- Michele

“Had a great experience working with Chris and Brittanie for a favorable outcome after an injury. Great folks to work with when you are in need! Thank you and your team for your attentiveness and hard work!”

- Natalie

“Working with Samantha and Kim was easier and much more enjoyable than any legal matter I've ever encountered. They were incredibly well organized, highly communicative, and so good at explaining everything and preparing me for every step of the way. I felt like I had an All-Star Team behind me.”

- Ryan

“I had an amazing experience working with Brendan Dummigan. He and his team supported me through such a challenging time, and I truly couldn’t have done it without them. A special shoutout to Rachel Heppner, who was an incredible paralegal and always there when I needed help.”

- Fernando

“I want to thank Chris, Brittanie and their entire team for their heartfelt compassion and tireless efforts in achieving a lifechanging recovery for me. Chris handled a very traumatic experience for me with grace and integrity. I am forever grateful for his hard work and honesty in helping me achieve justice in a very difficult case.”

- Survivor of Attempted Murder

3 Steps to Justice for Your Loved One

If a loved one is being neglected at a nursing home or private care facility and facing bedsores or falling injuries, you and your family may be entitled to compensation for any damages suffered. We’re here to help.

1. Get in Touch 

Fill out our contact form so we can schedule a time to talk.

2. Free Consultation

We’ll listen to your situation and answer any questions.

3. Get Justice

If you have a case, our attorneys will dedicate their full attention to your case.

Remember, we’ll never charge a fee until we win your case.

schedule

• A Free Consultation •