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Bed Rail Injury at a Nursing Home

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at 844SeeMike.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

Most people are unaware that bed rails on nursing home beds can be dangerous. Since 1985, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has received complaints of over 1000 nursing home residents becoming entangled and trapped in bed rails, with over 500 deaths due to bed rail injuries. Federal guidelines dictate that bed rails must meet certain safety requirements however, this is geared more towards children and less towards elderly patients, who statistics show, are actually more at risk for suffering injuries or death.

Bed rails are often made of metal and placed on the sides of beds in nursing homes to prevent  residents from rolling or falling out of bed and sustaining injuries. They are also used as a support mechanism, allowing more mobile residents to adjust themselves and get into and out of bed on their own. For residents who have the physical strength to properly make use of bed rails, they are relatively safe, easy to use, and convenient. However, when a resident cannot physically move themselves, bed rails become dangerous.

Nursing home residents are often frail, lacking in upper body strength, and are often on medications that cause sedation. If a resident who is incapacitated in some manner rolls into the gap between the bed rail and the mattress, they often lack the strength and coordination to move themselves from this position. As their body weight causes them to sink further into this gap, the resident can then have trouble breathing, with asphyxiation, cardiac arrest, and even death being common.

Other injuries can occur due to bed rails as well. If a patient is disoriented, they may try to crawl or climb over the bed rails, often getting caught and falling to the floor and because of the gaps in the bed rails, residents can also suffer fractures due to limbs being entangled.

Nursing homes are required to ensure the safety of their residents. This includes ensuring that beds are properly built and have the proper mattresses in place to prevent the dangerous gaps that put residents at risk.

They are also tasked with providing proper supervision to patients who may be more at-risk for entanglement and wandering.

If you believe your loved one suffered a bed rail injury while under the care of a nursing home, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss your case.

If you believe a loved one has been abused or neglected at a long-term care facility, contact 844 See Mike, for a free consultation. We are a Chicago injury law firm representing individuals and families who have suffered an injury or loss due to an accident. 844 See Mike, will handle your personal injury case quickly, will advise you every step of the way, and will not hesitate to go to trial for you.

Lastly, 844 See Mike, does not get paid attorney’s fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. Therefore, you have nothing to risk when you hire us–just the opportunity to seek justice.

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