Hoyer Lift Accident Injury Lawyers In Buffalo, New York

Jed Dietrich, Esq. and His Elite Team of Lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Fight to Obtain the Best Result for Nursing Home Residents Suffering from Serious Injuries Due to Hoyer Lift Accidents in Buffalo, New York.

Many nursing home residents suffer from limited mobility and may rely on the assistance of staff members just to get in and out of bed. Typically, residents that are disabled, bedridden, paralyzed or incapacitated are transferred from their beds onto wheelchairs and other surfaces with Hoyer lifts.

A Hoyer lift, also known as a patient lift, is a mechanical device that consists of a large sling-like contraption, which is slid under the resident’s body before he or she is briefly suspended in the air and transferred from one place to another. When used properly, Hoyer lifts can provide a safe and effective manner to transfer residents. However, when caregivers are complacent, overworked or improperly trained, they may place residents in unnecessary danger ignoring vital safety precautions. Residents are often weak or frail and in the event of an accident may suffer catastrophic injuries or even death.

Sadly, a majority of Hoyer lift accidents and injuries would be easily preventable if it was not for operator negligence. Hoyer lift accident victims need the best personal injury lawyer in Buffalo, New York fighting on their side. Since 1999, Jed Dietrich, Esq., recognized as a Best Lawyer of America and New York Super Lawyer, has exclusively handled serious personal injury cases. Practicing law the Dietrich way, we are determined, disciplined and dedicated to obtaining the best possible result for your Hoyer lift accident injury claim.

At the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. our team understands how to properly and aggressively pursue Hoyer lift injury claims. Insurance companies have paid Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his highly experienced, top rated and elite team of Buffalo, New York Hoyer lift accident injury lawyers over $175,000,000.00 in verdicts and settlements to compensate his clients for their serious personal injuries. Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. TODAY at 716-839-3939 for a free consultation if you suffered injuries in a Hoyer lift accident. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, and there is never a fee unless we WIN for you!

Hoyer lifts can be extremely treacherous machines when nursing home staff members fail to practice reasonable care. Although there are various reasons residents get dropped, most accidents are due to negligence of the nursing home staff. Some ways nursing home staff can be negligent include:

1. Lack of training: Many Hoyer lift accidents occur because operators do not know how to use the machine properly. Hoyer lifts require specialized training and knowhow to safely operate. When a resident is being moved, he or she must be secured by straps and seated in a specific manner. Staff members with insufficient training should never operate a Hoyer lift.
2. Understaffing: Understaffing can indirectly result in caregivers being overextended and pushed to carry out tasks on their own that normally require assistance. When residents have to be moved and no other workers are available, staff may attempt to operate the Hoyer lift alone, which can result in accidents. Lack of employees can also cause staff to cut corners or make mistakes because they are in a rush to transfer residents.
3. Leaving residents unattended: When staff members leave residents unsupervised while still strapped into Hoyer lifts, the residents can easily fall out.
4. Poor maintenance: All Hoyer lifts must be routinely inspected and maintained to ensure safe and efficient operation. The straps and sling can become frayed over time and overlooking maintenance could result in the straps snapping.

If you, or a loved one, are suffering from serious injuries caused by a Hoyer lift accident, contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today at 716-839-3939. Our team of highly experienced and top rated patient lift accident injury attorneys in Buffalo, New York will fight for the compensation that you deserve for the injuries you suffered. This may include monetary compensation for all past and future medical expenses, permanent disabilities suffered, pain and suffering and any other damages associated with the accident.

Dropped residents typically require the assistance of a Hoyer lift because they are already injured or too weak to walk. When patients fall from increased elevations onto the floor or another hard surface, it is often difficult for them to break their falls. Some injuries Hoyer lift accident victims commonly suffer include:

1. Broken bones and fractures: The frail bones in a resident’s arms, legs, pelvic bones and hips can easily get fractured or shattered in a hard fall. Badly fractured and broken bones may require prolonged physical therapy or numerous surgeries to recover from.
2. Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the resident’s spinal cord can cause paralysis or even quadriplegia. Spinal cord injuries are especially devastating when damage occurs in the neck and can decrease mobility even further.
3. Traumatic brain injury (TBI): A Hoyer lift accident victim’s head is left unprotected and vulnerable to injury. When a victim’s head strikes the floor due to a hard fall, he or she may suffer a TBI. TBIs are some of the most damaging complications and can leave elderly victims in a state of permanent reduced cognitive ability.
4. Internal injuries: Internal injuries resulting from Hoyer lift accidents frequently include internal bleeding, fractured ribs and damage to organs. When left untreated internal injuries can be life-threatening.
5. Soft tissue damage: This type of injury may include lacerations, bruises, strains, sprains, tears, contusions and dislocations. While injuries to soft tissue may not seem as serious compared to other injuries, they can still result in terrible pain and long-term health problems.

In addition to the above injuries, nursing home residents involved in Hoyer lift accidents often suffer from decreased qualify of life, various other health problems, shortened life expectancy, depression and social isolation.

If you, or a loved one, suffered serious injuries in a Hoyer lift accident, contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top rated team of Buffalo, New York Hoyer lift accident injury lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. for a free consultation. 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. We are the aggressive, tenacious and hardworking Buffalo, New York personal injury lawyers who are ready to 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!