How Charleston Bedsore Lawyers Help with Common Bedsore Injuries

A bedsore lawyer helps families take legal action when a loved one suffers from painful and preventable pressure sores in a nursing home or hospital. These injuries are almost always a sign of neglect.

Charleston is a city renowned for its charming historic district and culinary scene in the US. The people in Charleston are a proud community with lots of hospitality, but sometimes it may get worse in places like hospitals or nursing homes.

The most common forms of bedsores can be avoided with regular repositioning and proper skin care. Patients who cannot move on their own depend on staff to reposition them, keep them clean, and provide the care that prevents these wounds. When facilities fail, lawyers step in to hold them accountable and recover compensation.

What Are Bedsores?

Bedsores, also called pressure sores or pressure ulcers, happen when someone stays in the same position too long. The weight of the body cuts off blood flow to the skin and tissue. 

Without proper circulation, the skin breaks down and forms open wounds. These sores usually show up on places where bones push against the skin, like the heels, hips, tailbone, ankles, elbows, and back of the head.

In fact, most bedsores start as simple redness on the skin that may look harmless. But without quick action, they progress into painful open wounds that can expose muscle and even bone. That is why they are both dangerous and preventable with proper care.

What Causes Bedsores in Nursing Homes?

Patients must be repositioned on a routine schedule, usually every two hours, to keep pressure from building up. When nursing homes fail to meet this basic standard, they put patients at risk.

Several direct causes include:

• Continuous pressure on one part of the body.
• Friction from rubbing against sheets or wheelchairs.
• Shear, which happens when skin and bone move in different directions.

Indirect causes are often signs of broader neglect: dirty linens, poor hygiene, malnutrition, dehydration, and lack of staff attention. A clean, well-run nursing home has procedures in place to address all these issues.

Who Is Responsible for Bedsores in a Nursing Home?

Responsibility lies with the nursing home and its staff. When a patient is under 24-hour care, the facility controls every factor that prevents or causes sores. If the staff fails to move residents, provide proper nutrition, or keep them clean, that is negligence.

Sometimes responsibility extends to outside medical professionals, too. Contract doctors, nurses, or aides who fail to provide proper care can also be held liable. 

Under South Carolina law, facilities must meet strict standards of care. Failure to do so can bring civil liability, fines, and even criminal penalties if abuse is found.

What Damages Can Families Recover?

When a lawyer proves that a nursing home or hospital caused a bedsore injury, families can recover damages. These fall into several categories:

• Medical costs: doctor visits, surgery, medications, therapy, or special equipment.
• Pain and suffering: the physical pain and emotional toll of preventable sores.
• Loss of dignity or companionship: how the injury harms family relationships and quality of life.
• Punitive damages: In extreme cases, when the facility acted recklessly, courts may award extra damages to punish their conduct.

Each case is different, but Charleston bedsore lawyers focus on documenting the injury, proving negligence, and pursuing the full compensation the family deserves.

How Do Charleston Lawyers Help Families?

Charleston bedsore lawyers combine medical knowledge with legal experience. They investigate how the sores developed, identify who was responsible, and build a case for damages. This includes:

• Reviewing medical records and nursing home charts.
• Working with medical experts to show how care fell below accepted standards.
• Filing claims against both facilities and individual staff if needed.
• Negotiating settlements or, if necessary, taking the case to trial.

They also help families understand their rights and guide them through the process, from the first consultation to the final resolution.

Key Takeaways

• Bedsores are painful, dangerous, and almost always preventable.
• They develop from constant pressure, friction, or poor care in nursing homes and hospitals. 
• Nursing homes are legally responsible when neglect or abuse causes these injuries. 
• Charleston bedsore lawyers investigate, prove negligence, and fight for full compensation.