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.
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
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.
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!
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