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When human bodies remain in the same position for extended periods, problems often arise in the form of bedsores. Also called pressure ulcers, these wounds are painful. Left untreated, they can lead to severe damage, infections and serious medical conditions.
Not everyone can move themselves, relying on others to adjust their positions. When caretakers or medical professionals neglect that important part of patient care, you may have grounds to pursue a bedsore claim for compensation. Although you can handle your claim alone, you will likely get much better results with legal representation. How do you know which attorney to choose? Gordon & Partners explains.
What Is a Bedsore?
Bedsores are wounds that form when the skin doesn’t get enough blood flow. Usually beginning as a painful discoloration, bedsores can progressively worsen if not addressed:
- Stage one: red or purple skin, warmth or burning, itching and pain
- Stage two: open sores or blisters, discoloration surrounding the wound and more pronounced pain and discomfort
- Stage three: crater-like wound, deterioration under the skin surface
- Stage four: visible extensive damage, possibly involving tendons, bones, muscles and joints, likelihood of serious infections
Untreated bedsores may worsen past stage four.
To prevent bedsores for patients with mobility issues or who can’t feel pain, caretakers should reposition them regularly.
Who Is Responsible for Bedsore Injuries?
If someone has a legal duty of care to safeguard the health of a patient, that party may be responsible for bedsores. In a healthcare situation, the duty of care means that the facility, physicians and other parties have to follow an accepted standard of care to prevent avoidable conditions, such as bedsores.
Commonly named at-fault parties include:
- Hospitals or care facilities
- Physicians
- Nurses, aides and other healthcare professionals and staff
Patients have the right to expect quality care. When those responsible don’t provide that care, you may be able to pursue a claim for compensation.
If you have a valid bedsore injury claim, your attorney from Gordon & Partners will investigate to determine who the guilty parties are. We will then use the evidence we gather to support your insurance claim, negotiating with liable insurers to get the most compensation available. If these companies refuse to offer a reasonable settlement, we will take your case to court.
What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing a Bedsores Lawyer?
Hiring the right attorney can maximize your settlements, but hiring the wrong one can cause you to lose your case. Each of these factors is important when you need to hire a bedsores lawyer.
1. Practice Area
When you hire someone to do a job for you, you look for candidates with the right skill sets to achieve the best results. Hiring an attorney is no different. Although any lawyer could technically handle your case, attorneys usually focus on particular areas of law.
Bedsore cases typically fall under medical negligence, nursing home abuse or medical malpractice. While an estate lawyer could take your case, they probably don’t have the right skill sets to obtain a favorable outcome. A personal injury law firm that handles medical malpractice and negligence claims is familiar with the intricacies of these cases and has a much better chance of winning.
2. Experience and Competence
Similar to the practice area consideration, a lawyer’s experience and competence in handling bedsore cases is important. With a proven track record of navigating the complexities of these cases and winning compensation for clients, you can be reasonably certain that the attorney understands how to proceed, how to find supporting evidence and negotiate reasonable settlements.
Most bedsore cases are settled without needing to go to court. However, the possibility exists, and you need an attorney with litigation experience. Negotiating a settlement with other attorneys, while vital, isn’t the same as arguing and winning a case in front of judges and juries. Gordon & Partners has won thousands of cases, winning millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
3. Location
Hiring a local law firm is usually best because:
- Laws differ from state to state, and a local attorney knows which laws apply to your case.
- We are familiar with local court protocols and procedures.
- We are close to the “scene of the crime,” making investigations more productive and efficient.
- You can meet with us in person.
Gordon & Partners has four offices located throughout Florida for your convenience.
4. Ratings and Reviews
You can learn from the experiences other clients had with a particular law firm or attorney. If you know someone who has hired a lawyer for a bedsores claim, ask for references. Note what your acquaintance liked and didn’t like about the counsel.
Today’s technology offers many online resources to find ratings and reviews. Look at various sources to get a comprehensive overview of an attorney’s performance.
5. Resources
Many times, building a successful bedsores case requires an in-depth investigation and time. Look for an attorney or firm that has enough resources to focus on your case without spreading themselves too thin.
6. Personal Connection
You will be working with your legal team throughout your bedsore claim process, and finding an attorney you can get along with on a personal level makes things easier. However, even the friendliest lawyer who lacks competence probably isn’t the best choice. Look for a good combination of these and other important qualities.
7. Communications and Accessibility
You’ll have questions and concerns during your bedsores claims, and you need to know how your attorney handles communications. Look for someone who:
- Will communicate using your preferred method, whether by phone call, in-person or video meeting, text or email
- Responds to your communications promptly
- Provides regular case updates voluntarily
- Will speak to you directly rather than using office staff to relay messages
Even with direct access to your attorney, you will also speak to office staff at times. Being comfortable with these people is important, too.
8. Payment Terms
When you hire a bedsores lawyer, you need to know when you will pay for our services and how much you will owe. Find out if you will:
- Need to pay any upfront costs
- Pay for unsuccessful case outcomes
- Pay only a specified percentage of settlement proceeds or owe for any extra costs
- Be able to make payment arrangements, if needed
Many personal injury firms, including Gordon & Partners, offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis. That means you won’t pay unless we win your case.
9. Services Offered
Hiring a bedsores lawyer often takes many of the claim-related responsibilities away from you. Ask attorneys what services they provide. When you hire Gordon & Partners, we will:
- Give you information and legal advice
- Perform administrative tasks, such as submitting paperwork on your behalf
- Handle all communications with insurance companies
- Investigate your claim, gathering evidence to support it
- Negotiate with liable insurers to maximize your payout or take your case to trial
Although you will only pay if we win your case, we want you to get full value for your money.
Why Should You Choose Gordon & Partners?
For almost three decades, Gordon & Partners has assisted the injured in South Florida in recovering compensation. Our 20 attorneys have over 200 years of combined experience, and our firm has the resources needed to handle your claim successfully.
Contact Gordon & Partners 24/7 to request your free case evaluation. We will assess your claim and tell you how we can help.
