24/7 Free consultation

(888) 424-5757
Contact

Free Consultation (888) 424-5757

Chicago Nursing Home Sepsis Attorneys

Passion, Trust, Results.
$450+ Million Recovered


Legally Reviewed by:

Jonathan Rosenfeld

J.D

  • Over $450 Million worth of case results

  • Awarded The Best Lawyer in 2024 by U.S. News

  • Nationally Recognized in Legal Community

Patients in nursing homes have an increased risk of infections. With prompt care, these infections can be treated without long-term problems. 

However, patients who are neglected by nursing homes may not receive the level of treatment that they need, and their infections can turn into sepsis. The sepsis survival rate is only 60% for patients who progress to septic shock—which means that, on average, 30% to 40% of the patients who develop septic shock die [1].

Sepsis is a life-threatening medical condition caused by an infection (like urinary tract infections) and your body’s out-of-control response to it. Nursing homes have an obligation to treat patients promptly to avoid complications like sepsis. 

If you suspect that a nursing home failed to provide adequate care because of neglect, read on to learn more about your legal options. 

Can You Sue a Nursing Home for Sepsis?

Yes, it is possible to sue a nursing home if you or a loved one develops sepsis. Sepsis is preventable by providing effective and expedient care—so when sepsis does develop, it’s because a nursing home neglected the medical needs of their patient. 

A nursing home resident or a patient in an assisted living facility has an increased risk of sepsis, especially if accompanied by other chronic medical conditions. 

In particular, residents of assisted living facilities tend to have more limited access to critical care medicine and professional medical advice, further increasing their risk of developing severe sepsis if the initial signs of the condition are not noticed immediately.

Sepsis is often a sign of nursing home neglect when combined with several factors, including the following:

  • Nursing home residents who don’t receive regular medical services
  • Infections that spread rapidly through a nursing home, without prompt treatment for residents
  • Infections or early signs of sepsis that don’t receive proper medical treatment

Sepsis is preventable if the patient is treated according to the correct sepsis protocol for nursing homes. To prevent sepsis in a nursing facility, employees need to do the following:

  • Assess new patients for infections on admission;
  • Provide regularly scheduled professional care for patients;
  • Be vigilant for sepsis and advanced variations, like septic shock, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and sepsis rash;
  • Respond quickly to diagnosed bacterial infections; and
  • Provide immediate treatment for nursing home residents who show early signs of septic shock, such as kidney problems.

Nursing home residents have a higher chance of developing sepsis due to how strained the nursing care system is. However, there are some elderly residents more susceptible to sepsis than others. Some of the factors involved in increased sepsis risk include the following:

  • Chronic medical conditions;
  • Bacterial infections;
  • Advanced age;
  • Abuse or neglect;
  • Kidney disease;
  • Forced bed rest;
  • Bedridden patients; and
  • Weakened immune systems.

If nursing home residents have sepsis, they need immediate medical care. In many cases, they will need to be admitted to the intensive care unit. Sepsis causes problems like organ failure and can be fatal if not treated immediately. However, sepsis patients can make a full recovery with fast and effective care.

Sepsis can be a sign of—but is not necessarily always caused by—medical negligence. Nursing homes that provide prompt care to their residents can stop avoidable sepsis infections. However, the treatment may fail for a number of reasons and develop into sepsis before other treatment options can be administered. The onset of sepsis is fast once it begins. 

Some of the situations where sepsis can be considered medical negligence when

  • patients develop an infection in nursing care that goes untreated;
  • a patient checks into nursing care with an infection that is not promptly treated;
  • patients die due to sepsis without receiving treatment for an infection before signs of sepsis develop;
  • patients receive ineffective or inappropriate treatment for an infection that still leads to sepsis; and
  • nursing facilities fail to diagnose sepsis or the underlying infection that causes it.

Some assisted living facilities and nursing home patients with certain medical conditions require specialized care to reduce their risk of sepsis. Some of these conditions include the following:

  • HIV;
  • Cancer;
  • Diabetes;
  • Kidney disease;
  • COPD; and
  • Impaired blood flow [2].

An effective way of preventing sepsis in a nursing home or assisted living facility is to be vigilant for the early signs of sepsis and be proactive about caring for compromised immune systems and treating infections. 

Sepsis leads to more serious, and potentially fatal, medical issues. Some of the potential complications include the following:

  • Blood clots;
  • Blood poisoning;
  • Increased blood pressure;
  • Organ failure;
  • Septic shock; and
  • Unconsciousness.

Sepsis occurs when an infection forces the body’s immune system to turn on itself, attacking different parts of the body. Sepsis patients can experience organ failure, which can quickly lead to an early death—it therefore requires immediate medical treatment. 

A Nursing Home’s Liability When Sepsis Develops

There are situations where a nursing home can be held liable for sepsis. Some of the situations where a nursing home can be liable for residents developing sepsis include when the facility:

  • is understaffed;
  • fails to provide care;
  • provides ineffective care;
  • limits patient access to outside care;
  • fails to enforce standards of care and staff responsibilities; or
  • engages in medical malpractice.

The Role of a Nursing Home Sepsis Lawyer

Jonathan Rosenfeld Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

A Chicago nursing home sepsis lawyer from our team can advocate for your loved one and file a civil lawsuit that can recover compensation to help with their medical bills. Below are some of the ways our Chicago nursing home abuse lawyers can help you secure justice if your loved one has developed sepsis in a nursing home.

  • Lawyers can investigate abuse and neglect.
  • An attorney can help your loved one get medical attention.
  • A lawyer can file a lawsuit against the facility.
  • Your lawyer can manage your lawsuit.
  • An attorney can report abuse to the appropriate authorities.

Proving Fault in a Nursing Home Sepsis Lawsuit

Your lawyer needs to prove fault in a nursing home lawsuit, specifically that the facility’s staff were negligent or abusive and their actions caused the patient to go into sepsis. This means providing evidence to make a persuasive argument that addresses several factors: duty, breach, causation, and damages.

Nursing homes have a duty to provide an acceptable standard of care. Failing to reach that standard means that they may be held liable for the resulting damages. 

Damages a Chicago Nursing Home Sepsis Attorney Can Help You Recover

The goal of the lawsuit is to collect damages that can help pay for the expenses related to your or your loved one’s recovery or untimely death. Your lawyer files claims based on the conditions of the case. Some of the potential claims include the following: 

  • Medical bills;
  • Lost wages;
  • Mental health expenses;
  • Long-term recovery expenses (e.g., physical therapy);
  • Pain and suffering;
  • Punitive damages; and
  • Wrongful death.
Sepsis in Chicago Nursing Homes

Nursing Home Sepsis Settlement Amounts

There is no specific amount that you can expect for your nursing home abuse or nursing home negligence settlement, even in cases involving sepsis and septic shock. The amount changes based on each case. Your lawyer can give you a better idea of how much you can expect to recover, given the specifics of your case. 

We have helped patients and their families recover compensation after nursing home abuse. In past cases, we have recovered settlements averaging $2.1 million for patients and their families.

Filing a Claim With a Chicago Nursing Home Sepsis Attorney

When nursing home negligence or abuse leads to a resident’s developing severe sepsis, a Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer from our team can help you to:

  • evaluate your case to see what legal options might be available;
  • gather evidence to support your case;
  • file a civil lawsuit against the nursing home and its staff;
  • negotiate settlements with facilities and their malpractice insurance providers; and
  • lead your case through the court system, if necessary.

The Statistics of Sepsis in Nursing Homes

Sepsis disproportionately impacts seniors. Elderly patients have an increased chance of developing complications since they often have weakened immune systems. 

However, nursing home abuse increases the chances of developing an infection or other complications since it can stop a nursing home resident from maintaining proper hygiene or getting the medical care that they need. Living in a nursing home makes you seven times as likely to develop sepsis [3].

However, sepsis does occur outside of nursing homes. In an average year, of all nursing home residents who were transferred to hospitals and later died there, 25,000 of them suffered from sepsis [4]. However, there are 1.7 million cases of sepsis in adults each year, with nearly 270,000 patients dying from sepsis [5].

Contact a Chicago Nursing Home Sepsis Attorney Today!

Jonathan Rosenfeld, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

Care facilities have an obligation to provide a level of care that prevents problems like sepsis. Failing to do so can be a sign of abuse or neglect, and you may have a case against the facility.

Our legal team has helped clients with multimillion-dollar lawsuits for neglect leading to sepsis and other preventable injuries. Someone is available 24/7 to answer your call and discuss your case. Don’t let a fear of the cost hold you back, either. We work on a contingency basis, where you won’t pay us anything unless we win your case. 

Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for a free case evaluation by filling out our contact form or calling toll-free at (888) 424-5757

Our downtown office, near the Richard J. Daley Center, Dirkson United States Courthouse, and the Chicago Workers’ Compensation Commission, offers convenient access from Aurora, Joliet, and Waukegan via I-90, I-94, and I-290.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

225 W Wacker Dr #1660
Chicago, IL 60606

Phone: (847) 835-8895
Toll Free: (888) 424-5757

We also serve clients from Chicago, Decatur, Schaumburg , Rockford  and throughout Illinois.

Resources: [1] Mayo Clinic, [2] CDC, [3] National Institute of Health, [4] KFF Health News [5] National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Client Reviews

Jonathan Rosenfeld was professionally objective, timely, and knowledgeable. Also, his advice was extremely effective regarding my case. In addition, Jonathan was understanding and patient pertaining to any of my questions or concerns. I was very happy with the end result and I highly recommend Jonathan Rosenfeld.

– Michonne Proulx

Extremely impressed with this law firm. They took control of a bad motorcycle crash that left my uncle seriously injured. Without any guarantee of a financial recovery, they went out and hired accident investigators and engineers to help prove how the accident happened. I am grateful that they worked on a contingency fee basis as there was no way we could have paid for these services on our own.

– Ethan Armstrong

Jonathan Rosenfeld was professionally objective, timely, and knowledgeable. Also, his advice was extremely effective regarding my case. In addition, Jonathan was understanding and patient pertaining to any of my questions or concerns. I was very happy with the end result and I highly recommend Jonathan Rosenfeld.

– Giulia

This lawyer really helped me get compensation for my motorcycle accident case. I know there is no way that I could have gotten anywhere near the amount that Mr. Rosenfeld was able to get to settle my case. Thank you.

– Daniel Kaim

Jonathan did a great job helping my family navigate through a lengthy lawsuit involving my grandmother’s death in a nursing home. Through every step of the case, Jonathan kept my family informed of the progression of the case. Although our case eventually settled at a mediation, I really was impressed at how well prepared Jonathan was to take the case to trial.

– Lisa

Submit a Law Firm Client Review


Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
225 W Wacker Dr #1660
Chicago, IL 60606

Phone: (847) 835-8895
Toll Free: (888) 424-5757

Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer | Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC | 24-7 Service

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Copyright © 2024, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC

Call Consultation Text