That is the (potentially) million dollar question. Before we can figure out the financial value of a bed sore, it’s important to first understand what a bed sore is and why it considered to be such an egreious example of neglect.
Pressure sores and bed sores are also known as pressure ulcers and decubitus ulcers. They occur when a patient’s skin encounters unrelieved pressure, shear, or friction. Pressure comes from a person’s weight. Pressure sores form on the skin that covers elbows, heels, hips, shoulders, heads and other prominent bony structures due to shear or friction. Shear happens internally when bone and skin move in opposite directions. Friction occurs when the skin rubs against a surface. These dynamics occur while the patient is in bed, in a wheelchair, or restrained by a medical device.
The CDC National Center for Health Statistics’ brief, “Pressure Ulcers Among Nursing Home Residents” explains how medical professionals rate pressure injuries by severity.
- Stage 1: Skin becomes red and may have changes to sensation, tempature, or even firmness.
- Stage 2: The area looks more damaged and may have an open sore, scrape, or blister. The person complains of significant pain and the skin around the wound may be discolored.
- Stage 3:The wound has a crater-like appearance due to the damage below the skin’s surface. It may develop blisters, abrasions, and even craters.
- Stage 4: The area is severely damaged and a large wound is present. Muscles, tendons, bones, and joints can be involved. Infection is a significant risk at this stage.
- Unstageable: A wound is not assigned a stage when there is full-thickness tissue loss and the base of the ulcer is covered by slough or eschar is found in the wound bed. Slough may be tan, grey, green, brown, or yellow in color. Eschar is usually tan, brown or black.
In general, if a hospital’s negligence or failure to provide appropriate care leads to the development of bedsores in a patient, it may be possible to sue the hospital for damages. Bedsores are considered a preventable condition, and hospitals have a duty to provide a certain standard of care to their patients, including taking appropriate measures to prevent bedsores, especially in patients who are at high risk due to prolonged immobility or other factors.
HOW MUCH IS A BED SORE CASE WORTH?
Bedsore lawsuits can be worth thousands or millions of dollars depending on several factors, including:
- The severity of your injuries
- The costs of your medical treatment
- Physical and psychological therapy;
- Corrective surgery;
- Prosthetics and mobility equipment;
- The total income you lost as a result of your injuries and
- The pain and suffering you endured
- Whether the health care facility failed to take action to prevent such an occurance from happening
A Plaintiff in these types of cases may be entitled to economic and general damages and also punitive damages.
LET US FIGHT FOR YOU
If your loved one was injured due to nursing home or hospital negligence, neglect or abuse, we are ready to fight for you. Nichols Injury has represented clients in the Atlanta area in communities throughout Georgia and South Carolina. We’re also licensed in Georgia and South Carolina. We work for you on a contingency basis. We don’t collect a fee until we resolve your case.
Give us a call at (678) 722-5311 or complete our online contact form. We’ll schedule a free consultation to determine if we can help you.
