Bed Rail Entrapment In Buffalo, New York

Contact Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a New York Super Lawyer, if You, or a Loved One, Suffered Bed Rail Entrapment Injuries in a Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Rochester or Other Parts of New York State.

Nursing homes and other assisted living facilities typically provide bed rails for residents who have a substantial risk of falling out of bed or suffer from limited mobility. The metal rails can also be used to help residents adjust themselves while laying down, as well as help them get in and out of bed. When residents are strong enough to move on their own, bed rails can provide a reliable convenience. Nevertheless, bed rails can also be extremely dangerous when used with the wrong bed or mattress or if a resident is too weak or disoriented to use them without being harmed. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are approximately 2.5 million nursing home and hospital beds in service throughout the United States. Between 1985 to January 1, 2009, there were over 800 reported cases of patients becoming entangled, caught, trapped or strangled in beds with rails. As a result, 138 patients were injured and 480 suffered fatalities. Most patients that suffered incidences of bed rail entrapment were elderly, frail or confused.

The FDA has recommended that nursing homes regularly inspect bed frames, mattresses and side rails as part of routine maintenance schedules to uncover likely entrapment issues, so that entrapment does not happen. However, many nursing homes still place their residents in outdated beds with treacherous bed rails. When a resident suffers injuries caused by bed rail entrapment, there is a strong possibility that the nursing home was negligent. If you, or a loved one, have suffered serious injuries due to bed rail entrapment, you may be entitled to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the nursing home and any other parties determined to be responsible.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. has exclusively handled serious personal injury cases throughout the United States since 1999, and he is ready to help you. Allow Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of bed rail entrapment injury lawyers in Buffalo, New York to handle your claim and fight for the compensation that you deserve for the injuries suffered. This may include monetary compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering and other losses. Our team is available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week at 716-839-3939 or by filling out the online consultation form.

Due to rising concerns over bed rail entrapment fatalities, the FDA formed the Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup (HBSW). HBSW develops solutions to reduce cases of patient entrapment by enhancing the safety of hospital beds, establishing dimensional standards, creating measurement devices and distributing educational resources to assist manufacturers and caregivers. Nursing homes should choose the most appropriate type of bed rail based on each resident’s specific health condition and needs. Bed rails are not a one-size-fits-all solution. However, nursing homes tend to move beds around, patients often switch rooms and beds can be reassembled with the wrong bed rail and mattress combination.

In 2012, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigated more than 160 cases involving portable bed rails and discovered 93 percent of the deaths analyzed were due to bed rail entrapment, 83 percent of the deaths involved victims over 60 years old, approximately 30 percent of the deaths happened in nursing homes and 37,000 bed rail-related injuries required emergency medical treatment from 2003 to 2011. Over the years, the FDA has issued multiple safety warnings concerning bed rails. The FDA identified severe ways that residents can suffer bed rail entrapment, which include:

1. Getting stuck in the middle of split bed rails;
2. Residents getting caught between the mattress and bed rail;
3. Becoming wedged in the middle the bars of a single bed rail;
4. Residents getting trapped between the headboard and bed rail; and
5. Becoming caught between the footboard and bed rail.

Due to the weak physical condition and fragileness of many nursing home residents, suffering a bed rail entrapment can lead to serious and even life-threatening injuries. Further, residents are more likely to be highly sedated on medication, disoriented and lack the strength to pull themselves loose once entrapped. Some injuries that residents commonly suffer from bed rails include:

1. Anxiety when bed rails are used to prevent the resident’s movement;
2. Severe feelings of isolation and depression;
3. Cuts, scraps or bruises;
4. Sprains and dislocations from trying to get unstuck;
5. Falling injuries, such as fractures and traumatic brain injury, if the resident falls while trying to climb over the bed rail;
6. Suffocation or strangulation, if the victim’s neck or head becomes trapped in the rail; and
7. Death.

Nursing homes are legally obligated to safeguard residents from any foreseeable accidents and harm. The dangers of bed rail entrapment are well-known and documented. Therefore, nursing homes are required to adopt appropriate measures to protect all of the residents. Failing to safeguard residents from bed rail entrapment is considered negligence.

Insurance companies have paid Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top rated and elite team of Buffalo, New York nursing home bed entrapment injury lawyers in excess of $175,000,000.00 in verdicts and settlements to compensate his clients for their serious personal injuries. Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., recognized as an American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Personal Injury Law Firm, TODAY at 716-839-3939 for a free consultation if you, or a loved one, were seriously injured in a bed rail entrapment accident. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, and there is never a fee unless we win for you! Call us today so that we can begin the fight for the compensation that you deserve.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!