The Airbag In Your Car Could Explode! This Is What You Should Do About It!

1. What’s happened?
   Defective airbags made by Takata have been tied to at least 14 deaths and more than 100 injuries. The ensuing recall — the largest in automotive history — has turned out to be messy, confusing and frustrating for car owners.
2. Why have Takata airbags been recalled?
   Inflators in about 64 million Takata airbags contain a defect that may cause them to explode and send metal fragments into cars. Keep in mind that this is the number of airbags, not necessarily cars. That’s because some cars may have more than one recalled airbag in them.

   The defect lies in how the airbags are meant to inflate when they are activated. They use a compound called ammonium nitrate that help the bag go from its very compact form inside your steering wheel or door panel to something big enough to protect your head or body in a collision. The compound can break down and become unstable when your car is exposed to moisture or temperature swings over time, leading to a risk of explosion.
3. Have all Takata airbags been recalled?
   No.

   The recalled airbags are those that have ammonium-nitrate inflators without a chemical drying agent to counteract the moisture problem.

   With that said, the government has said that even those models that contain the drying agent could potentially be recalled in the future if the moisture issue is still causing ruptures.
4. Which automakers are affected?
   The Takata airbag recall involves the following manufacturers:

   • BMW
   • Chrysler
   • General Motors
   • Ferrari
   • Ford
   • Honda
   • Mazda
   • Mercedes-Benz
   • Mitsubishi
   • Nissan
   • Subaru
   • Toyota
   • Volkswagen
   • Jaguar/Land Rover
5. Which models are most at risk?
   Regulators are urging drivers of the older recalled Honda or Acura models listed below to stop driving their vehicles and have them fixed immediately because they are most at risk of rupturing during airbag deployment.

   They are:

   • 2001-2 Honda Civic
   • 2001-2 Honda Accord
   • 2002-3 Acura TL
   • 2002 Honda CR-V
   • 2002 Honda Odyssey
   • 2003 Acura CL
   • 2003 Honda Pilot

   By: Kelly Couiturer

A great review from one of our very satisfied clients !

Another great review from a satisfied client at The Sanders Firm !!! We love reaching great heights for our clients ! If you or a loved one is looking for help please call 1800-FAIR-PLAY

Do lawyers investigate cases?

When you think about a case investigation, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Most people imagine an officer pulling up to a crime scene, taking down notes and compiling information. What people do not think of is how an attorney comes into play after the crime scene is wrapped up.

Stanley Sanders Founder and President of The Sanders Firm says, "Investigation makes or breaks a case.  There is a car accident the facts are in dispute there is a police report often no one takes the time to read it on the reverse side of the police report is space. For witnesses, the independent witness generally. This determines liability. On every case our office interviews the witnesses, takes photos of any physical injury, property damage, and pictures of the accident scene. From a liability point of view we are ready to try the case almost from day one"

At the Sanders Firm you can rest assured, knowing your case is in good hands! If you or a loved one has been injured please call 1800-FAIR-PLAY. 

It's All Fun And Games Until....

Injuries and Deaths at Amusement Parks Raise Serious Questions    A series of highly-publicized accidents at amusement parks and other popular tourist attractions have led to serious injuries as well as fatalities, causing many to question the sufficiency of the safety rules governing sites of this type. Even a cursory survey of the regulations and inspection requirements applicable in states across the country reveals an inconsistent patchwork of standards which may be to blame for some of the harm sustained by visitors each and every year. Recent accidents cause concern, outrage The summer of 2016 has been characterized by several catastrophic amusement park accidents which have left young patrons with severe injuries and, in some cases, have resulted in death. August alone saw the tragic decapitation of a ten-year-old Kansas boy on the "Verruckt" water slide at the Schlitterbahn water park as well as a Tennessee Ferris wheel failure which sent three girls plummeting to the ground. In May, an 11-year-old girl was essentially scalped in a carnival ride accident at a Cinco de Mayo festival in Nebraska. This summer also witnessed the death of a guest at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in North Carolina due to infection caused by an undetected amoeba later identified on site. READ MORE HERE 50 Years Of Helping  The Sanders Firm has been proud to serve our community for 50 years. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured from an amusement park accident, please call 1800-FAIR-PLAY today.  LINK TO OUR WEBSITE

The Sanders Firm 2016 Scholarship Winners Public education in this nation continues to undergo significant change. At present, states are still clarifying their stances on Common Core and new Learning Standards while implementing a host of assessments to measure and report progress, awaiting the revision and reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and awaiting word on the higher regulations for colleges and universities. Yet simultaneously, states are engaged in the revision of Equity Plans and working to eliminate the Honesty Gap in data reporting to ensure a bright future for our nation's children. At The Sanders Firm we will continue, as we must, to incite learning, inspire students to take risks that promote growth, serve as role models and foster collaborative and critical thinking that will prepare our nation's students for academic and personal success. That's why we are pleased to announce our 2016 scholarship winners! Read About Winners Here

21 LI High Schools Among Nations Top 500

The Sanders Firm is proud of our schools that work hard for the future of our children. We are advocates of education and believe firmly in supporting our schools.   Twenty-one Long Island high schools are among the nation's top 500 public high schools ranked by Newsweek Magazine in it's annual list, released Thursday. Great Neck South High School in Nassau County - ranked 38th - led the local group.

$70 Million Awarded in Risperdal Trial

The largest verdict in a Risperdal lawsuit has been awarded to a teenage boy who alleged the antipsychotic drug led to his growth of female-size breasts. Earlier this month, J&J was ordered to pay $70 million in compensatory damages to the Tennessee plaintiff.

The jury in the Philadelphia case determined that Risperdal manufacturer Janssen, a unit of Johnson & Johnson, failed to provide proper warning about the gynecomastia risks associated with their drug. As a result, Risperdal users like this young man were left vulnerable to side effects that could result in emotional distress and a reduced quality of life overall.

$70 million Risperdal verdict

The plaintiff, a 16-year-old from Tennessee, stated in his complaint that he began taking Risperdal at the age of five to treat a psychiatric disorder. At that time his parents were not warned about gynecomastia, a possible Risperdal side effect that results in male breast growth. Attorneys for the plaintiff also claimed Johnson & Johnson manipulated data from studies that showed Risperdal was linked to gynecomastia, so that doctors would continue to prescribe this drug to their young male patients.

The case was one of more than 1,500 that have been filed in a Philadelphia court. Five of those cases have been heard to date, with five rulings in favor of the plaintiffs as juries have determined Janssen and Johnson & Johnson failed to provide proper warning about the dangers associated with their drug. The jury awards in those cases have ranged from $500,000 to $2.5 million.

The $2.5 million verdict was awarded in February 2015 to a male plaintiff who claimed that use of Risperdal caused him to grow 46 DD breasts. That verdict was followed by $1.75 million award, rendered by a separate jury in the same Philadelphia court.

Risperdal and male breast growth

Risperdal was first approved to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in adults. However, at the prompting of J&J, doctors also began prescribing the drug off-label to treat dementia in seniors, as well as autism and behavioral disorders in children. Attorneys for the plaintiffs allege Janssen and Johnson & Johnson actually downplayed potential side effects in an attempt to increase sales of their drug.

Unfortunately, plaintiffs coming forward against Risperdal manufacturers have provided evidence that side effects associated with the drug can be both emotionally devastating and long-lasting.Gynecomastia, the development of male breasts, is rarely a significant medical concern, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, the condition can be physically painful to some sufferers as well asemotionally debilitating. Men with gynecomastia may require counseling and other types of emotional support to cope with their condition.

Risperdal litigation

Hundreds of men that developed gynecomastia after taking Risperdal have filed claims against Janssen and Johnson & Johnson. Many of those cases have been coordinated into the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, where plaintiffs continue to await their day in court. Legal counsel for Risperdal plaintiffs hope this recent $70 million verdict sends a clear message to the defendants.

If you have experienced adverse effects from Risperdal, proper legal representation will make all the difference in the success of your case. The Sanders Firm is currently reviewing Risperdal casesand can help determine whether you are entitled to damages for medical treatment, pain and emotional distress.

For a free evaluation of your case, contact our product liability attorneys at 1.800.FAIR.PLAY.

Pokemon Go Safety

Pokemon Go is a new phone app created by Nintendo that is sweeping the world. Just this weekend with its release it has already grossed over 7 million in revenue.

Most of the players of this new game are 'millennials' in between in the age of 15-30. The game allows you to travel  in real time, looking for Pokemon to catch.

While we have now seen an influx of 'millennials' getting outside and walking in order to find Pokemon, we have also seen an increase in playing while driving. Since the more territory you cover, the more Pokemon you find. Therefor driving around looking for Pokemon is becoming common. Like texting, playing a game while driving can be extremely dangerous. Make sure to play only while walking, or as a passenger in the car to prevent deadly car accidents!

If you or a family member gets injured in a car accident, please call The Sanders Firm at 1800-FAIR-PLAY.

Breaking News! Important Recall Information! From The Sanders Firm

 
General Mills expands flour recall over E. coli outbreak
42 cases of illness reported

CNN -General Mills announced Friday that it is expanding its voluntary flour recall

Federal and state health officials are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O121 that has caused 42 cases of illness across what investigators now say is 21 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The expanded list now includes Indiana. Eleven of those individuals had been hospitalized.

No one has had problems with kidney failure, as can happen with these cases, nor has anyone died.

Out of an abundance of caution, General Mills announced the voluntary recall of more than 10 million pounds of flour in June because it may be linked to the outbreak.

Approximately half of the ill individuals reported making something homemade with flour before becoming ill, and some of them reported using a General Mills brand of flour, the company said in a news release.

 

If you or a loved one has suffered an illness or death from a recalled product, please call The Sanders Firm today. We can help you get the money and justice you deserve.

1800-FAIR-PLAY

 

Are Municipalities Tricking You? - By Phyllis Sanders

There is a big secret many municipalities don’t want you to know!

In a big city or town there may be a defect that is dangerous and can cause injuries. If you say this you probably would want to report it to the proper authorities. You certainly wouldn't want anyone to be injured. But how do you alert the correct people? You might go on the appropriate municipalities website. You would be prompted to make a phone call or send an email. If the municipality does not do a prompt repair after you have alerted them, and someone is injured the municipality could still claim they did not have proper notice. Why is this? In order to properly notify a municipality of a dangerous defective condition, you must send a certified letter to the appropriate party in the

 municipality. This letter should be sent return receipt requested. This is the way it must be done to be a legal notice. If you follow the proper procedure and someone is injured he or she would be entitled to make a claim for money damages against the municipality.

The municipality is being disingenuous when they tell you to phone in the complaint or to email it. The notice requirement is draconian and shields the municipality from its negligence in making proper and prompt repairs when necessary. 

Yankees and Mets Recap!

What a wonderful night we had raising money for CMTA ! We are so happy that these great baseball stars were able to spend sometime with us and enjoy and evening for a fantastic cause!

Cloud 9 Exotic cars came and everyone had a blast taking pictures!

Of corse the night would  have not been complete with out a beautiful speech by Mrs. Sanders 

We hope to see you all at our next event in October. Please visit TheSandersFirm.Com

Another Great Review About The Sanders Firm

"To Whom It May Concern:

I was in a horrific accident, I was in so much pain and unable to really make any kind of decision as of what I should do pertaining to this accident.

Upon recommendation, I contacted The Sanders Law Firm, everyone at The Sanders Law Firm was so knowledgeable, helpful, and understanding. Especially Mark Bernstein and Beth Green. I would like to personally thank them for all their wonderful help in my case.

It was a very involved case, and could only have been handled with experience and a devoted law firm.

I would like to thank The Sanders law Firm for everything they have doe for me and the professionalism they have shown in regards to my trial and my entire case."

The Sanders Law Firm is always 100% dedicated to helping YOU! We care about all of our clients. If you have been injured and need help, please call 1800-FAIR-PLAY today!

Have you heard about our Meet The Yankees and Mets event?!

Meet theYankees & Mets Baseball Night  Enjoy an evening at The Somerley A Fundraiser Event   for CMTA

$265.00 per person includes dinner, drinks, meet & greet  Reserve your tickets here!

SPONSORED BY:  National Waste Services The Sanders Firm BluChip Marketing The Alpert Group Of Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC CAR-0516-0230 Giorgenti Men's Custom Suits Cloud 9 Exotics The Fox Hollow & Scotto Family

A Beautiful Baseball Evening

This will be a remarkable evening! A unique experience with former Yankee & Mets Players paired with The Fox Hollow Somerley dinner and drinks benefitting CMTA. We hope you will join us!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-greet-yankeesmets-at-the-beautiful-somerley-dinner-drinks-networking-benefiting-charcot-marie-tickets-25148007367

The Sanders Firm is proud and thankful to our sponsors for their support.

Former Yankees & Mets Event For CMTA

It's important to The Sanders Firm to support local charities and organizations. Please join us for this wonderful Yankees & Mets Event supporting CMTA.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-greet-yankeesmets-players-benefiting-charcot-marie-tooth-association-tickets-25148007367

Long Island Hospital Safety Grades: National Rankings Released By RYAN BONNER (Patch National Staff) - April 25, 2016 5:01 pm ET

The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit founded by employers and health-care providers, announced its spring 2016 hospital safety rankings Monday, a measure of how safe a hospital is for patients.

Hospitals were given a letter grade from A through F based on several factors. Of the 2,571 hospitals studied nationwide, 798 earned an A, 639 earned a B, 957 earned a C, 162 earned a D and 15 earned an F.

At the state level, New York was ranked 44th in the nation. Vermont was ranked No. 1; six hospitals in the state were ranked, and five were given an A grade. Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Minnesota rounded out the top five.

State rankings were based on a percentage of state hospitals receiving an A grade.

Leapfrog looked at medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections to determine the grades. The goal was to determine a patient's risk of further injury or infection if they visited a certain hospital.

Hospitals given a B rating by Leapfrog had a 9 percent higher risk of avoidable death than A hospitals. That number jumps to 35 percent in C hospitals and 50 percent higher in D and F hospitals.

Leapfrog ranked 143 New York hospitals. Here are the grades Long Island hospitals received. (Visit the full list to learn more about individual rankings.)

A

• John T. Mather Memorial Hospital, Port Jefferson
• Huntington Hospital, Huntington
• St. Francis Hospital of Roslyn, Roslyn

B

• Eastern Long Island Hospital, Greenport
• Mercy Medical Center, Rockville Centre
• South Nassau Communities Hospital, Oceanside
• Southampton Hospital, Southampton
• St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center, Smithtown
• St. Charles Hospital, Port Jefferson
• Winthrop-University Hospital, Mineola

C

• Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, West Islip
• Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow
• North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset
• Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park
• Franklin Hospital, Valley Stream
• Glen Cove Hospital, Glen Cove
• Plainview Hospital, Plainview
• Syosset Hospital, Syosset
• St. Joseph Hospital, Bethpage

D

• Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center, Patchogue
• Southside Hospital, Bay Shore
• Peconic Bay Medical Center, Riverhead

F

• Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook

A Comment From Sanders Firm Attorney 

Theodore F. Goralski

"Patch reports on Long Island Hospital safety rankings. Many Long Islanders with the means and the ability to choose travel to Manhattan hospitals for quality care. This national ranking of hospitals shows that there may be good reason for that. Only three of 23 area hospitals received an A grade for patient safety. There are more facilities with D's and F's than A's and C was the most common grade. This means that there is significant risk of further injury or infection when admitted to a Long Island hospital. At The Sanders Firm, we have decades of experience protecting patients. The Sanders Firm Supports patient safety. If you or a loved one have been injured due to substandard hospital care call 516-741-5252 or email us at tgoralski@thesandersfirm.com for a free consultation."

The truth about WebMD, a hypochondriac's nightmare and Big Pharma's dream - By Julia Belluz

Can I trust WebMD?
WebMD is the most popular source of health information in the US, and is likely to ​dominate your Google search results for almost any medical question you have. According to its editorial policy, WebMD promises to empower patients and health professionals with "objective, trustworthy, and accurate health information."

But is WebMD actually trustworthy?
While there have been some investigations into WebMD's potential conflicts of interest, there's a remarkable dearth of independent information on this question. The site generates revenue primarily through advertising and sponsored content for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies, as well as hospitals, health insurance providers, and lifestyle and wellness brands.
The only high-quality study I could find that related to the question of WebMD's independence was published in JAMA in 2013. The researchers looked at which medical communication companies targeting doctors received the most money from 14 pharmaceutical and device companies. They found WebMD, along with its sister site Medscape, were the top recipients of industry dollars:

They're not alone in that regard. Many health companies rely on industry dollars as part of their business model. But those links raise thorny ethical questions, said James Yeh, a physician-researcher based at Brigham and Women's Hospital who has studied the influence of industry funding on medical information.

"This puts [WebMD] in a conflict of interest," he said. "Maybe they are trying to educate the clinician or the public, but at the same time there’s the marketing side: They are also trying to sell a drug."
The site's editorial policy says that it upholds the journalistic principles of honesty and independence. When asked about how the site ensures independence, a WebMD spokesperson said, "The strict editorial practices we have in place ensure that the content we produce is unbiased, and the production of such content done so independent of third party control or influence." They also keep editorial staff separate from advertising staff.

But over the years, others have questioned — and found reason to critique — the site's relationship with drugmakers. In 2010, Sen. Chuck Grassley sent a letter to the site after finding that a WebMD quiz for depression, sponsored by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, was rigged to suggest everybody who took the test was at risk for major depression. Naturally, that would make them a potential candidate for antidepressants, conveniently manufactured by Eli Lilly.
In my own perusals of the site, I was bombarded with a dizzying number of ads for pharmaceuticals, hospitals, and sponsored content brought to me by drug companies. On some pages, there were so many ads that actual medical information was difficult to navigate. I also had to click through multiple pages to read anything on a single topic, forcing me to spend more time on the site and see more ads. All in all, it was user unfriendly, and awash in advertising that might confuse someone looking for a solution to a health problem.

Some parts of the site seem to be designed to turn users into patients. The site's popular symptom checker, which allows users to insert basic information about their age, sex, and symptoms, is a hypochondriac's worst nightmare. A search for bloating in the lower abdomen suggested one could have anything from menstrual cramps to ovarian or colon cancers. A query on back pain spit out this terrifying list of potential possibilities: gas pains, shingles, ovarian cancer, acute kidney failure, and tick bites. No context — just a list of scary diagnoses.
The pages on weight loss were a mixed bag. Information about weight loss supplements suggested green coffee supplements might help.* Last time I checked, the government had cracked down on the maker of these pills for bogus peddling, and there's no good evidence behind them. On the other hand, while the site dubiously claims it has "10 easy, painless ways to lose weight," the page actually included some reasonable, if obvious, tips: walk more, hydrate, share restaurant meals.
I also found problems with how the site conveys the effectiveness and possible side effects of some prescription drugs. When I visited the page on weight loss pills, an advertisement on meal replacement shakes popped up, as did an ad for the drug Qsymia — which is among the six drugs featured in the article:

While the site's content is produced by a team of doctors and medical writers, the article failed to mention any basic information about the drug's effectiveness or how many people the drug was likely to help (the number needed to treat, in medical parlance). And some of the information was worryingly incomplete. For example, WebMD didn't note the serious side effects associated with the drug Contrave — it can cause severe, potentially fatal skin reactions and liver failure.

What independent doctors think of WebMD

But those were just my observations after spending a few hours on the site. In the absence of better evidence, I decided to get the views of independent doctors. To do this, I turned to physicians who write or edit pages for UpToDate, which is sort of the anti-WebMD. The subscription-based website, used mainly by doctors to access summaries of the latest medical information, accepts no advertising money as part of its editorial policy and pursuit of independence.
Overall, the doctors I spoke to said they didn't find anything exceptionally egregious about WebMD. But they noted the lack of context around some of the site's medical advice, as well as a smattering of misinformation.
On WebMD's treatments for depression, University of Pennsylvania psychiatrist K. Ryan Connolly found "a few less-than-evidence-based medications listed (Risperdal, Zyprexa)." These anti-psychotics are not approved for major depressive disorder, he said, and both failed to show significant benefits in a number of clinical trials.
Vagus nerve stimulation, a medical treatment that involves delivering electrical impulses to the vagus nerve, was also listed — even though it's no longer considered evidence-based and is almost never done, he said. Meanwhile, one recently approved drug for depression, brexpiprazole, was left out.
Connolly's conclusion: WebMD's depression treatment information is not totally unreliable but is sloppy and incomplete. "It looks mainly like something someone dashed off in an hour," he said. And it could easily give patients a skewed view of their treatment options.
University of Michigan's Sandeep Vijan thought WebMD's cholesterol treatments page was "oversimplified" and "often phrased in an overly frightening way." For example, WebMD suggests cholesterol is "precariously" high in 100 million Americans. "[Precariously] sounds terrifying, but they fail to note that, while [having high cholesterol] is not ideal, it's not the kind of thing that means you'll die tomorrow."
He also noticed inconsistencies in the evidence supporting the use of some treatments that the site recommends: Some were evidence-based (like statins), while others (like fish oil/omega-3 supplements) have no clear evidence of benefit. "It's somewhat superficial, and they don't really get into evidence-based discussions or much about current treatment guidelines," Vijan said.
Again, Vijan noted a range in the quality of the site's information. Some of it "may be fine for an initial introduction for patients," he said. "Hopefully doctors are using something a bit more scientific."
Within the group of doctors I surveyed, some spoke highly of the site. Of the page on psoriasis treatments, Robert Dellavalle, the chief of the dermatology service at Denver's VA medical center, said he didn't spot any errors and thinks WedMD "is doing a great job for a free online publication."
All in all, is WebMD trustworthy? It depends on which page you land on and what you're looking for. The site may be an okay starting point for information, like Wikipedia. But the information isn't always reliable, and unlike Wikipedia, the site's business model relies on the same industry it reports on.
If you want independent information about drugs, check out the Informulary out of Dartmouth. (I've written about it here.) For all medical questions, UpToDate is a great source. (It's mostly paywalled though patient information summaries are free, and again, it has no advertising.) In contrast to WebMD, the nonprofit Mayo Clinic, the UK government's NHS Choices, and the National Institutes of Health's MedlinePlus all have patient-friendly information that's not overrun with advertising. Another nonprofit, Cochrane, is also a solid source with easy-to-understand, "plain language" summaries of clinical evidence. I'd go to all these sites before WebMD, but none is a substitute for seeing a doctor you trust.
PS: Free study idea for researchers — please follow up on my mini survey and test the reliability of medical websites that millions of patients rely on.
Update: On Thursday, WebMD published a statement on their editorial integrity. They also updated their page on weight loss supplements to reflect new information from Natural Medicine, a source for evidence on complementary and alternative medicine. In response to WebMD's statement, Vox has also updated parts of this story, adding more context about WebMD's business model.

5 Warning signs of nursing home neglect - By Ted Goralski

As our population ages, more and more of us are faced with the difficult decision of placing our elderly loved ones in long term care facilities. It is never easy for families to hand of the care of their elderly to nursing homes but it is even more gut wrenching when the nursing home doesn’t uphold the promise to take care of our loved ones.  Often, nursing home residents can not communicate due to neurological impairment or dementia. It can be hard to know whether the care is adequate based on relatively short visits even if you can stop in daily.  How can we be sure that the staff is caring for our parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents? Here are a five signs you should look for in order to protect them.

1.     Sudden weight loss

Nursing homes are responsible for maintaining acceptable nutritional levels.  Weight loss may be a sign of Dehydration and Malnutrition due to the failure of the staff to  monitor food intake.  Weight loss can also be a sign of an un-diagnosed illness such as cancer, kidney disease or gastrointestinal disease.

 

2.     Bedsores, or pressure ulcers

Many nursing home residents have mobility limitations.  If they are left in bed without being moved they can develop skin breakdowns that can rapidly deteriorate.  These wounds develop most commonly on the pressure points such as heels, buttocks and shoulders. If not properly treated these wounds can become infected and even cause death. 

3.     Injuries from nursing home falls

Nursing home residents should be assessed for risk of falling.  Many elderly patients, have trouble with balance or are simply too weak.  If proper safety measures such as bed rails, skid free footwear, and seat belts are not in place, serious injury can result. Minor bruises, lacerations, or limited motion can be a sign of a fall and a warning sign that the resident is at risk for future falls.

4.     Behavioral Changes

Withdrawn elder behavior or unusual changes in behavior can be a sign of an unhealthy environment.  Changes in personal hygiene or appearance efforts or a growing lack of friendly interaction with the nursing home staff or residents may be the first signs that a nursing home resident is not receiving proper care

5.     Environmental hazards

When visiting loved ones it pays to look around and observe the environment. Poor lighting, slippery floors, unsafe mobility equipment, or unsafe furniture in the nursing home patient’s room can all be signs that the nursing home isn’t providing the proper level of care.  Cleanliness is also important and dirt, debris, and clutter are all indications that the nursing home staff are not keeping up with their duties.

Keeping a watchful eye can help to prevent injury but if injuries from bed sores, falls, abuse or neglect do occur there is legal recourse.  At the Sanders Firm we fight to protect and recover compensation for nursing home residents, and their families, when nursing homes fail to provide proper care.