Types of Falls in Chicago Nursing Homes

 Posted on June 11, 2025 in Nursing Home Falls

Falls are a serious concern in nursing homes, often resulting in severe injuries and sometimes even leading to fatalities. When someone you love lives in a nursing home, it is essential to understand the different types of falls that can happen, what can lead to them, and their legal implications. An Illinois nursing home neglect attorney can help you file a claim for compensation after a fall resulting in injury.

Many nursing home falls can be traced back to a preventable act of negligence by the staff. At Schwartz Injury Law, we believe that nursing homes should be made to answer for their negligence. We can file a personal injury claim for your loved one’s damages, fighting for a fair resolution on your behalf.

What Kinds of Falls Are Taking Place in Nursing Homes? 

No two falls in a nursing home are the same. The severity of the fall may depend on the resident’s age and health. Older people tend to have more fragile constitutions and brittle bones, so even a seemingly minor fall that one person could walk away from mostly unscathed could have disastrous health consequences for someone else.

Slip and trip falls occur when a resident slips on a wet surface, trips over an obstacle, or encounters hazards like loose flooring or uneven surfaces. These falls can be caused by negligent maintenance, failure to clean up spills promptly, or inadequate supervision.

Bed and chair falls occur when a resident falls out of bed or from a chair. These falls can be attributed to inadequate bed rails, improper positioning, or insufficient assistance from nursing home staff. Residents at risk of falling should receive appropriate monitoring and assistance to prevent such incidents. 

Transfer falls occur while a resident is moved from one location to another, such as from a bed to a wheelchair or from a wheelchair to a toilet. These falls can result from improper lifting techniques, lack of assistive devices, or insufficient staffing levels. 

Wandering and Elopement Can Lead to Nursing Home Falls

Grievous injuries can occur in nursing homes when the residents are left unattended in dangerous places. When a resident walks around aimlessly through the nursing home unattended, it is referred to as wandering. By contrast, when a resident walks out of the nursing home on his or her own, it is known as elopement. 

Wandering and elopement both carry a severe falling risk. Elopement incidents pose a greater threat due to the risk of falling onto a hard surface like concrete, with no guarantee of somebody intervening in time. If the resident does not receive prompt medical treatment after a fall, his or her condition could decline significantly.

Sometimes, nursing homes will cover up the details of a falling accident to avoid shining a spotlight on their negligence. Many cases of wandering and elopement can be blamed on understaffing, when nursing homes simply lack the resources to keep a close eye on every resident. This does not absolve the nursing home of liability, however, as the facility could be held accountable for misrepresenting its staffing policies and practices. 

 If the nursing home’s account of the accident seems suspiciously vague, our attorneys can investigate on your behalf. Filing a personal injury claim for nursing home falls is important, because it means victims can be compensated for their damages and neglectful facilities can be held accountable, thereby preventing further harm from coming to residents in the future.

Importance of Understanding Physiological and Accidental Falls

Physiological falls are falls that happen due to an underlying medical condition or physical impairment. These falls can be caused by factors such as dizziness, loss of balance, muscle weaknesses, or medication side effects. Nursing homes must assess residents' needs and develop care plans that address their specific risk factors for physiological falls. This may include the implementation of fall prevention strategies, like regular exercise programs, medication reviews, and environmental modifications.

On the other hand, accidental falls occur because of environmental hazards or human error. These falls can result from factors like wet floors, improper use of assistive devices, or insufficient supervision. Nursing homes must ensure a safe environment for residents by maintaining well-lit and clutter-free spaces, conducting regular safety inspections, and properly training staff on fall prevention techniques.  At Schwartz Injury Law, we can look into a nursing home’s policies and procedures to see if preventative measures were taken. If the facility neglected this responsibility, it could be held liable for your loved one’s damages.

How Can I Hold a Nursing Home Liable for Fall Injuries?

To be awarded compensation for a nursing home fall, you must be able to back up your claim with proof. Specifically, you must demonstrate that the nursing home was at fault for the accident. At Schwartz Injury Law, we have the resources and skills to build a case for compensation. 

To begin with, we may return to the scene of the fall to look for any obvious safety risks. A faulty railing or a broken tile may indicate that the nursing home was not adequately maintained. We can also photograph the scene and look for video footage to determine the exact cause of the fall. Witness statements can also add credibility to your personal injury claim.

Once we have compiled all of the available evidence, we can begin negotiations for compensation. Many nursing home injury cases can be resolved outside of court, but if necessary, we are more than willing to take your claim to court. We will fight to prove that the nursing home caused your loved one’s fall through the staff’s disregard for safety.

Contact a Chicago, IL Nursing Home Neglect Attorney

Falls can be a traumatic experience for older adults living in nursing homes. If your loved one has been injured in a preventable falling accident, do not hesitate to seek legal representation. Contact a Cook County, IL nursing home falls lawyer with Schwartz Injury Law for legal guidance in pursuing a case. We have secured numerous victories for victims of neglect at nursing homes, including a $300,000 settlement in an incident where a Chicago nursing home failed to implement fall precautions. 

Our firm is passionate about protecting the rights of elderly nursing home residents. To schedule a free consultation today, call our offices at 312-535-4625.