When a family makes the decision to place a loved one is a nursing home it is done with the thought that the facility is the best place possible for him or her to obtain the care that he or she needs and that the family is unable to provide. Selecting and placing a loved one is a nursing home requires the family to have complete trust in the institution. Often the facilities selected are quality institutions that deliver a fine standard of care. Other times, our first indication that the facility may not be what it led us to believe it was, is after our loved one suffers an injury. For example, the presence of a pressure ulcer, also known as a bed sore, may be one of the first signs that something may be amiss at the facility.

What is a pressure ulcer?  A pressure ulcer is a wound to the skin and underlying tissue that usually occurs at or near a bony area after a period of unrelieved pressure on the skin. The location of pressure ulcer is dependent on how the person is confined. If left for too long seated, for example, like in a wheelchair, pressure ulcers typically occur on the person’s back, shoulders or spine; buttocks or tailbone; and backs of arms and legs. When a person is confined to bed, the most at-risk areas for pressure ulcers are the back of the person’s head or ears; heels, ankles, and skin beneath the knees, along with the hips, low back, and tailbone.

Why are pressure ulcers cause for concern? Pressure ulcers vary in severity and can quickly become serious and even life-threatening if not treated promptly. Ulcers are classified according to stages from I to IV, with IV being the most severe. Ulcers that are stage I or II are considered mild and usually range in appearance from a light skin discoloration to something that appears more like a scrape or a blister. These sores only affect the top layers of the skin. A stage III sore in comparison has the appearance of a deep crater, and a stage IV can extend from the surface of the skin to the muscle, bone, and joints. Pressure ulcers can be extremely painful and if left untreated can lead to a serious infection of bone, blood or skin.

Why are nursing home residents at risk of developing pressure ulcers? Nursing home residents are at a higher risk of developing pressure ulcer due to age, infirmity, and the inability to move freely.

What do I need to do to protect my loved one at a nursing home from getting a pressure ulcer? Quality care facilities have staff that is well-trained on how to prevent pressure ulcers. Nursing home staff understand the importance of repositioning residents regularly and how to use support materials like pillows or padding to keep pressure off of sensitive areas.  In most instances, if your loved one is receiving the care he or she needs, pressure ulcers should not occur.

If you believe that your loved one has been a victim of nursing home negligence or abuse it is importance that to speak with an experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Attorney as soon as possible. Proving a case of nursing home negligence or abuse requires key knowledge of the law and proper diligence to investigate the facts. The Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. have helped countless injured nursing home victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri, and know how to win a case. To find out how the attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. can help you, contact our office today at (816) 472-4673 to schedule a consultation. At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. we pride ourselves on providing our clients with outstanding legal services.

On any given day, most people have to-do lists that resemble more of a child’s wish list to Santa than an achievable set of tasks. People who are too busy often do odd things to make time to try to squeeze everything they need to do into the day. One of the odd things people do to save time is to “multi-task”—like eat lunch while working. Another thing people do is hurry. So instead of a leisurely 30 or 60-minute leisurely lunch, people instead choose to inhale a sandwich or a nutrition bar in 5 minutes. Another favorite way to “make up” time is to step on the gas. Since many of our days are wasted driving to and from places, it makes sense to want to reduce the amount of time spent in the car. However, does speeding really save a person time and if so, at what cost?

People who are always rushing often feel the need to exceed the speed limit. If the posted limited is 25 mph, they will drive 35 mph or on the highway, if the limit is 55 mph maybe they will drive 65 or 75mph or more, just to save time. However, how much time is saved by exceeding the speed limit? The answer is not much. Take, for example, Matt and Mike. Each needs to make the same 30-mile trip, and the posted speed limit is 55 mph. Matt drives the speed limit, and it takes him about 32 minutes to reach his destination. Mike, on the other hand, drives 75 mph or 20 mph over the speed limit. It takes Mike 24 minutes to reach the same point—a savings of time of just over 8 minutes.

Eight minutes does not seem like a lot of time saved. However, for those who think it—what do those eight minutes cost? First off, speeding increases the likelihood of a motorist becoming involved in a crash, which makes sense if one takes a moment to stop and think about it. Just because the car the driver is traveling in is moving faster, does not make the driver’s reaction time quicker. Instead, the reaction time is the same, but because the car is moving faster, the driver has less time and distance to react appropriately. If a driver is driving too fast, even if he or she reacts promptly, there is often little he or she can do to prevent a collision from occurring. Speed also increases the likelihood of a driver being seriously injured or killed in a crash.

Even if a driver is fortunate enough not to be involved in a wreck while speeding, he or she also runs the risk of being stopped by police. Fines for speeding can be costly and the time spent on the side of the road will far exceed any time saved by traveling faster.

If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries after being involved in a collision with a driver who was speeding or driving too fast for road conditions, it is important to know that you have rights! The experienced Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. having been helping accident victims in Kansas and Missouri for almost two decades. Our team of seasoned Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys will work hard to make sure that you receive proper compensation for your injuries. Trust the Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to help you, just as they have helped countless injured victims around the area. To find out how the attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. can work for you, contact our office today at (816) 472-4673 to schedule a consultation. At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. we look forward to putting our 60 years of experience to work for you!