Bed rails are commonly provided in nursing homes and medical facilities for patients who may be limited in their mobility or have a high risk of falling out of bed. Bed rail entrapment occurs when a patient becomes stuck in the bed rail or between it and the mattress, which can result in serious injury or even death. If your loved one has suffered a bed rail injury due to the nursing home’s negligence, speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Government safety-alerts regarding bed rails have existed for over twenty years, and the FDA recognizes four main ways that bed rail entrapment can occur: between the bed rail and mattress; between split bed rails; between a single bed rail’s bars; and between the bed rail and mattress, headboard, or footboard.
Portable bed rails can be particularly dangerous for elderly patients. A report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 2012 analyzed over 160 incidents involving portable bed rails and adult patients and found some alarming statistics: 93% of the fatalities studied were caused by bed rail entrapment; 83% of the fatalities were patients over 60 years of age; about 30% of the fatalities occurred in nursing homes and similar facilities; and nearly 37,000 injuries involving bed rails required emergency room treatment from 2003 to 2011.
When an elderly patient is injured in bed rail entrapment due to negligence, either the nursing home or the bed rail’s manufacturer may be legally liable for the patient’s injuries and losses, and some cases even involve both parties. Seeking an experienced personal injury attorney is the first step to ensuring that your loved one will be compensated regardless of who was at fault for the accident.
If your loved one has suffered an injury in bed rail entrapment due to negligence, contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. We are a personal injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.
Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.