Damages in a Washington DC Nursing Home Bedsore Lawsuit

Damages in a Washington DC nursing home bedsore lawsuit can vary, depending on numerous factors. If a nursing home’s negligence led to the development of bedsores, they may be held liable for damages.

Various types of damages may be applicable to a nursing home bedsore case. A seasoned bedsore attorney may be able to assist an injured individual or their family members in pursuing damages through a medical malpractice lawsuit. If settlements offers are too low, a nursing home bedsore lawsuit might be the next step.

Economic and Non-Economic Damages

Economic damages are typically a component of a Washington DC nursing home bedsore lawsuit. Examples of economic damages can include:

  • Past medical expenses
  • Future medical expenses
  • Lost wages

Although lost wages may not be included in a nursing home bedsore lawsuit, medical expenses often are. An individual who has developed bedsores, due to a nursing home’s negligence, may have to be transferred to a hospital for care. The various stages of bedsores correspond to the severity of the injury.

In milder cases, dressings and wound treatments may aid in recovery. In more severe cases, an individual may have to undergo surgical procedures, such as amputation of a limb.

The expenses for medical treatment, which was required due to the bedsores that the nursing home caused, should be included.

In Washington DC, there is no damages cap for medical malpractice lawsuits. In many states, there is a limit to the recoverable damages in a medical malpractice lawsuit, but this limit does not exist in DC. Non-economic damages, like pain and suffering, may be recovered without limitation in DC.

Punitive Damages in a Nursing Home Bedsore Lawsuit

Punitive damages may not be recoverable in a DC nursing home bedsore lawsuit. Punitive damages, as opposed to economic and non-economic damages, serve the specific purpose of punishing the defendant for especially egregious conduct. Nursing home bedsore lawsuits are generally based on negligence, and negligence alone does not support an award of punitive damages.

If nursing home staff actually intended to inflict injury, then a medical malpractice attorney could evaluate the appropriateness of seeking punitive damages.

Proving Damages from Bedsores

Medical bills and expert opinions can aid in proving damages in a nursing home bedsore lawsuit. Medical bills can show the medical expenses that accrued due to the nursing home’s negligence.

If an injured individual requires future medical treatment, experts such as economists and life care planners can assist in estimating future care costs. Testimony regarding the effects that the injury has had on a person’s life can aid the jury in determining the value of pain and suffering.

Let a DC Attorney Assist You with Damages in a Nursing Home Bedsore Case

A nursing home lawsuit may not proceed without damages. Damages which flow from the bedsores that the nursing home caused, and which were proximately caused by the nursing home’s negligence, must be claimed in the lawsuit. In addition to alleging damages, individuals must be able to prove damages.

An attorney could assist in gathering evidence, consulting with experts, and claiming the appropriate types of damages under the circumstances.
If you or your loved one developed bedsores due to a nursing home’s negligence, you may benefit from speaking with a lawyer about damages in a Washington DC nursing home bedsore lawsuit.