March has been designated brain injury awareness month. Brain injuries are often associated with sports injuries, car crashes, and other types of accidents. What many people fail to realize is that falls also make up a significant amount of brain injuries, ranging from mild, like a concussion to very serious and even death. Millions of older adults fall each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”), more than 1 in 4 adults age 65 and over fall each year. The scary thing is that less than half of those older adults that do fall tell their doctors. Even more terrifying than that is the fact that falling one time doubles the likelihood of that person falling a second time.

Which brings us to the question—why do seniors remain quiet about falling? Researchers studying this question are not sure there is just one answer to this question. One explanation could lie in the fact that many seniors value their independence and feel they may lose it if they report their accident. While a nursing home can be safer alternatives to living at home, falls can and do happen in nursing homes too.

Exacerbating the problem of underreporting is that often when older adults do report falls, they do not necessarily receive the same thorough evaluation as a younger person who reports with a sports-related head injury, for example. Health care professionals may also miss the increased risk for a second fall—which could lead to a severe brain injury or even death. Falls that cause trauma to the head can be especially dangerous for older adults as they make be taking blood thinners or other medications that can worsen the condition.

Elderly persons are much more likely to have a severe fall than younger adults because they often suffer from at least one of the following that makes them more vulnerable:

• Impaired vision makes it more difficult to see a tripping hazard
• Dizziness due to medications
• Lower body weakness due to other medical conditions or age
• Foot pain or poor footwear
• Health problems that cause instability
• Lack of agility and strength that makes them less able to find their feet when they find themselves off balance

After an initial fall, an older adult may be fearful of having a second fall, even if they were not injured. As a result, he or she may limit their activities and become overall less active. Inactivity for an older adult is problematic as it can lead to weakness and thereby actually increase the likelihood of another fall.

The good news is that there are things older adults can do to prevent brain injuries and falls, including:

• Improve balance and strength through an exercise program like Tai Chi
• Have their vision checked regularly
• If living at home, make sure that home is a safe place by removing tripping hazards like loose rugs, improving lighting, installing grab bars in the shower or tub
• Schedule a doctor’s appointment to discuss their fall risk and to make sure they are not experiencing any side effects of medications that could cause blurred vision or dizziness

If your loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury or other injuries as the result of a fall while living at a nursing home, you must speak with experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys as soon as possible. Proving a case of nursing home negligence or abuse requires vital knowledge of the law and due diligence to investigate the facts. The Personal Injury and Elder Abuse Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P., have helped countless injured nursing home victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri. Our attorneys know how to win a case. To speak with an attorney about your loved one, contact our office at (816) 472-4673 to schedule a consultation. At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P., we fight for justice.

About 30 years ago, March became designated as “Brain Injury Awareness Month.” As parents, brain injuries are not always something on our radar. However, traumatic brain injuries are much more common than most parents would like to believe. Even though anyone can suffer a brain injury, two of the most at-risk groups are older adults and children.

According to published data, during the seven years ending in 2016, almost 2 million children visited emergency departments due to sports or recreational activity-related traumatic brain injuries. Most of those children were seem from injuries stemming from playing football, soccer, and baseball, bicycle riding, and utilizing playgrounds.  If you are a parent and concerned about protecting your children, here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about brain injuries:

What is a traumatic brain injury?

A traumatic brain injury is when the brain is injured, usually by a violent jolt or a blow to the head or body. Brain injuries can also occur when an object pierces the brain, such as a bullet or fragment of a person’s own skull. Mild brain injuries can also be referred to as concussions.

What the symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)?

Physical symptoms of a mTBI or concussion can include the following: loss of consciousness, acting dazed or confused, headache, nausea, or vomiting, ringing in the ears, speech problems, changes in sleep, and sleeping more than usual. Children may also experience sensitivity to sound or light, bad taste in mouth, memory or concentration problems, mood swings, depression, anxiety, and changes in ability to smell.

What if your child is too young to communicate how they feel following a bump to the head?

If your child is an infant or of tender years, it may be difficult or impossible for them to tell you that they have a headache, confusion, or sensory changes. In this case, be on the lookout for the following:

• Changes in eating/nursing patterns
• Irritability
• Persistent crying or inability to be consoled
• Change in attention span
• Sleep habit changes
• Seizures
• Sad mood
• Tired or drowsy
• Loss of interest in favorite activities or toys

It is essential for a parent always to contact his or her child’s physician if she suspects a head injury.

What are the most common causes of childhood mTBI?

Concussions in children often result from falls, car crashes, violence (i.e., shaken baby syndrome), and sporting or recreational activities.

What can parents do to prevent an mTBI?

• Make sure all infants and small children are in the proper car seat for their height and weight
• Children should ride in the backseat of the vehicle until they reach the height required to be safe from an airbag deployment
• Helmets should be worn when riding a bicycle or riding a skateboard.
• Protective headgear should be worn when playing baseball, contact sports, skating, or horseback riding
• Do not let children jump on the bed and avoid bunk beds if at all possible
• Install gates at the tops of staircases and keep stairs clear from clutter

If your child suffered a traumatic brain injury after being involved in an accident, it is essential to speak with a skilled Kansas City Injury Attorney as soon as possible. Only an experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Attorney can determine whether you may be able to hold another party responsible for your child’s injuries. The attorneys at the Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. have helped countless injury victims, in both Kansas and Missouri, obtain compensation. Our compassionate team of attorneys will fight for your rights and hold the wrongdoers accountable. To schedule an initial consultation with one of our Injury Attorneys, contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673

Valentine’s Day is the biggest holiday in February. While some people consider the holiday to be more of a Hallmark holiday—others think of Valentine’s Day as a reminder to make sure those closest to our heart know how much they are loved. Sure, it may seem a bit silly but life is sometimes so chaotic that we need a bit of a reminder to help us get back to what is important.

The same adage holds for driving. For example, most of us think of ourselves as pretty good drivers. However, since accidents still happen, we cannot all be quite as good at driving as we like to think. And if we take a minute and be honest with ourselves, the truth is that no driver is perfect. We all make mistakes from time to time. The good news, however, there are some simple things every driver can do to become a safer driver—and this is to show every driver some love!

It is easy to become a safer driver when you realize that road rage is one of the leading causes of accidents in the country and that 8 out of every ten drivers admits to experiencing road rage at some point in the last year. In honor of Valentine’s Day this month, wouldn’t it be nice if every driver could show some love to their fellow motorists? Yes, it may sound a bit cheesy to say that being kind could make you a better and safer driver—but it is true! Here are some ways to show love to your fellow drivers and make our roadways a bit safer:

• “Let it Go”—Yes, it is frustrating when the person in front of you is driving like a maniac and changing lanes like they are evading police. Sure, it would be nice if they would drive the speed limit, but as Elsa would say, “let it go.” Take a few deep breaths and try to relax. Maybe even switch the radio station to one that you find calming, whether that be smooth jazz or classic country.

• Focus on something you love. When you want to make it home after a long day at work, it can be aggravating to find yourself sharing the road with someone who is riding your bumper. You may even be tempted to hit the brakes and send them a message to back off. But rather than do something that could provoke the other driver, focus on something else. Think about the people who are awaiting your arrival. By focusing on the ones you love, you will be better able to ignore other driver’s bad actions.

• Give yourself time. When you are running late, it seems like everything that can and will go wrong. And of course, when you think you might make it to your destination on time, you find yourself behind the slowest driver in the world or stuck in a traffic jam. Just your luck, right? To avoid this common frustration, try to give yourself extra time to get to your destination and check before you get in the car to see if your selected route has any delays.

• Always drive with a clear head. Driving is a mental activity. While you are not necessarily conducting surgery behind the wheel, you do need your head in the game. Do not start driving if you are angry, upset, or experiencing other strong emotions. You want to drive with a calm, cool head that you may need in case the driver in the lane next to yours suddenly pulls out in front of you. Being angry or even hangry can impair a driver’s ability to react safely.

If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries after being involved in an auto accident, the experienced Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. can help. Our team of seasoned Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys will work tirelessly to make sure that you receive proper compensation for your injuries. Trust the Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P., to help you, just as they have helped countless injured victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri. 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.

The holidays are a time to gather with friends and family and enjoy the wonders and joy of the season. But everyone knows that to get to the relaxing part of the holidays, you must first endure the hustle and bustle. For many, the holidays require weeks, maybe even months of careful preparation. Unfortunately, though, sometimes in the midst of all the dashing here and prancing there, accidents happen. To keep you and yours safe this season, take note of the most common causes of holiday accidents and how to prevent them from happening to you:

1. Fire and Flames. The holidays would not be the same without lights. Whether it comes from candlelight, the lights of a Christmas tree, or from the yule log crackling in the fireplace, the lights make the holidays feel a bit brighter. While the lights make you feel all aglow, they also can be the cause of burns, fires, and smoke inhalation. One source of accidental holiday fires is tree lights. Make sure that you replace your tree lights as needed and never string together more lights than is recommended by the manufacturer. Also never place anything flammable near open flames from fireplaces and candles.

2. Cold Weather Slip and Falls. Oh, what fun it is to take a walk in your very own neighborhood to see all the lights! But be warned, snow and ice-covered walkways can be an accident waiting to happen. Slip and fall accidents may seem to some like an injury that only bruises the ego, but this is definitely not the case. Serious hip, back, leg, shoulder, and head injuries can result from a slip and fall. To make sure that no one is injured on your property, be sure to use salt, sand, or a product designed to melt the ice.

3. Winter Weather Roadway Accidents. The same snow and ice that makes walkways treacherous also wreaks havoc on roadways this time of year. Before heading out in the snow, check road conditions so you can be sure to take the safest path to grandmother’s house. Most roadway accidents also involve excessive speed, so leave early and slow down if necessary. You will also want to be on the lookout for drivers who have participated in excessive celebration. Do not engage with any drivers who are driving in an aggressive manner.

4. Decorating Falls. Part of getting ready for the holidays is decking the halls! Hanging garland and lights often requires the use of a ladder or standing on a chair to reach high places. Before using either, make sure that the ladder or chair can handle your weight and is placed on a level surface. If not, you could take a tumble. Holiday falls can also be caused by tripping on extension cords and slipping on tree skirts. To prevent an unwanted trip to the emergency room, keep walkways clear, and make sure that extension cords are out of the way.

The attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P., hope that you have a safe holiday season. As always, if an accident does happen that you believe is due to the negligence of another remember that our office is here to help. The attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. have helped countless injury victims, in both Kansas and Missouri, and are ready and are here to assist you. Our compassionate team of attorneys will make sure that you receive top-notch legal services. To schedule an initial consultation with one of our Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys, contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673.

If you are a business, your goal is to make money. If you do not make money, you will go out of business. This principle is true whether you are a business that sells widgets, gadgets, or insurance. Insurance companies, like any other company, are focused on making profits. One way insurance companies make money is by trying pay the least they can on any given claim. Think of an insurance company like the famous bad guy, Ebenezer Scrooge. Both are misers and do not want to pay one cent more than they have to pay and ideally, they want to pay nothing at all. To reach this goal, insurance companies and their adjusters hope that you fall for one of their many traps. `

Trap 1: Making you believe that they are on your side and are here to help.

After an accident, it is common to feel overwhelmed. So when the insurance adjuster calls you, and he or she is so nice and friendly, you may be fooled into thinking that he or she is going to help you. But little did you know that this is just a trap. The insurance adjuster wants you to feel like you can trust them so that you provide them with the information that they can later use to justify a small settlement offer or to deny your claim completely.

Trap 2: Having you think the delays are necessary.

The insurance company will also try to get you to believe the delays in paying your claim are necessary. Again, this is all part of their strategy. The insurance company wants this process to drag on so you (1) become frustrated and will accept a lesser settlement offer just to have the matter over and done with, or (2) that by the time you decide to hire an attorney the statute of limitations has run and you are out of luck.

Trap 2: Letting you think that they will answer your questions honestly.

Another trap that injury victims fall into is believing that the answers the insurance company gives to their questions are honest. Remember that the insurance company wants to pay out as little as possible. It is against their interests to pay you the full value of your claim. To that extent, they are not going to give you an honest assessment of what your injuries are worth. They also do not want to tell you the defendant’s liability limits.

Trap 3: Getting you to think that you need to give a recorded statement.

One way an insurance company tries to deny a claim is by showing that the victim is not the victim. If the insurance company can prove that their client was not the bad guy, then, of course, they are off the hook. The way the insurance company tries to turn the victim into the bad guy is to have the victim give a recorded statement. The purpose of the statement is to use the victim’s own words as a way to deny the claim—a very clever trap.

If you have suffered serious injuries after being involved in an accident, do not fall into a trap set by the insurance company. Protect yourself by contacting an attorney who will make it their priority to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve. For more than 60 years, victims in both Kansas and Missouri have turned to the seasoned Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. Our trusted team of Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys are experienced trial attorneys who will fight to make sure your rights are protected. To schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys, contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673.

The largest travel season of the year is almost upon us and this year is going to be a busy one! According to AAA, more than 55 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home this Thanksgiving. It is anticipated to be the second-highest travel volume since AAA began tracking travel back in 2000. More than 49 million people are likely to hit the road to reach their turkey-day destination—the most since 2005. With so many people expected to be on the road this Thanksgiving season, it is important to remember safety is paramount. If you are one of the millions hitting the roads to get your gobble-gobble on, remember to buckle up and make sure that all of your passengers do so as well.

The Governors Highway Safety Association (“GHSA”) released a report this month that suggests that 25 percent of adults do not buckle up when seated in the backseat. Part of the problem, according to the report, is that laws vary widely across the country as to whether adults sitting in the backseat are required to wear a seat belt. While 49 states have primary or secondary requirements for front seated adult occupants to wear seat belts, only 30 states have requirements for adults seated in the backseat. In 11 of the 30 states, it is a secondary offense, and for the other 19 it is a primary offense. In other words, in only 19 states can a vehicle be pulled over for a rear passenger not wearing a seat belt. Kansas is a primary offense state, while Missouri is one of the 20 states that does not have a legal requirement for rear-seated adults to buckle up.

Regardless of the law, it is dangerous for any occupant to ride in a car without a seatbelt. In fact, passengers seated in the backseat were twice as likely to die in a crash if not wearing a seatbelt. According to the same GHSA report, a minimum of 803 unrestrained rear-seated passengers were killed in traffic accidents in 2018 alone. It is estimated that more than 400 of those killed would have survived the crash had they been wearing a seatbelt.

So why is it that adults who 90 percent of the time wear a seat belt when seated in the front, only wear a seatbelt 76 percent of the time when seated in the rear? According to self-reports, one of the main reasons rear passengers do not feel the need to buckle up is when they are on a short trip or are a passenger in a taxi or rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft. Other reasons passengers stated for not buckling up included: forgetting, lack of comfort, and other passengers not being belted in.

This holiday season set a good example and buckle up! Also, make sure that no matter how short the trip or who is doing the driving, always wear your seatbelt.

If you have suffered serious injuries after being involved in a car accident, you want an attorney who will make it their priority to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve. Remember, only a seasoned Kansas City Injury Attorney can protect your rights! For more than 60 years, victims in both Kansas and Missouri have turned to the seasoned Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. The trusted team of Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys are experienced trial attorneys who will fight to make sure your rights are protected. To schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys, contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673.

If you live in a city of any size, sidewalks are important. They allow children to walk to school safely. Then also provide a recreational path for walkers, runners, and even Christmas carolers. But as we head into winter, it is important to keep in mind that sidewalks can be perilous. Evening and overnight temperatures can drop below freezing, which can make sidewalks icy and slick. And if you think slipping and falling is no big deal, think again. In 2015, at least 1 million people in the U.S. were hospitalized due to injuries related to a slip or fall accident (Centers for Disease Control).

Falls that occur on sidewalks in and around Kansas City are usually the result of one of the following four causes:

• Snow and ice: A sidewalk that is great repair can become difficult to traverse if it is covered by snow or ice. Slippery sidewalks are one of the largest causes of sidewalk falls.
• Miscellaneous objects: Falls can also occur when a person trips over a random object on the sidewalk. Common items include leaves, tree branches, garbage cans, trash, and children’s toys such as bicycles, balls, and wagons.
• Cracks and buckling: Cracks can occur for several reasons, including normal aging, tree roots, and weather. A crack can lead to uneven sidewalks surfaces and cause a person to lose their footing and fall.
• Potholes: Cracks that are not repaired in a timely fashion can lead to potholes. When water settles into a crack and freezes, it expands thereby making the crack larger. Tree roots can also cause potholes.

A common misconception about sidewalk fall accidents is that the person is out-of-luck when it comes to trying to recover damages because no one can be held liable. While this sentiment is all too common, it is simply not true. In fact, laws in both Kansas and Missouri require property owners and managers to take “reasonable precautions” to prevent injuries on their property, otherwise known in the legal world as premises liability.

What this means is that location matters. For example, if you fall and are seriously injured on an icy sidewalk, the person/entity responsible for keeping that sidewalk passable differs based on who owns or manages it. The following is a simple breakdown:

• Public sidewalks are the responsibility of the local municipality. A municipality can be liable if it can be shown that they had actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition on the sidewalk that led to the injury. “Actual notice” happens when a resident makes a complaint to the municipality regarding the sidewalk. “Constructive notice” means that the problem is so obviously dangerous that the municipality should have addressed it.

• Private sidewalks – are the responsibility of the home or business owner/manager. Some municipalities may have local ordinances provide home and business owners with more specifics. For example, in Lawrence, Kansas, snow and ice must be removed from sidewalks within 48 hours. Most homeowner’s insurance policies provide coverage for fall accidents that occur on the property.

If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury after a fall accident, it is important to know that you may have legal options. The Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P., have helped numerous victims of slip and fall accidents, in both Kansas and Missouri, obtain compensation for their injuries. Our caring team of attorneys will take the time to listen to you and carefully review the facts of your case. To schedule an initial consultation with one of our experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys, contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673. At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P we are dedicated to helping injury victims!

It is officially autumn. The season where we have come to expect pumpkin spice flavored hot beverages, temperatures to drop, and leaves to turn bright reds, yellows, and oranges before falling to the ground. But no one expects to trip or slip and fall and get hurt in fall, or in any other season for that matter. Falls, by their very nature, are accidental, not planned. But when something that you did not plan for happens, it can be difficult to know what to do. A sudden and unexpected injury can be scary and cause a sense of panic. What happens during the aftermath of a slip and fall accident can also impact a person’s ability to recover. To make sure that you are prepared for the unexpected, here is a list of what to do in case you are ever injured in a slip and fall accident:

1. Obtain medical treatment. If you have any reason to believe that you may have suffered an injury after a slip and fall, you need to obtain prompt medical treatment. After an accident, you may know that you bumped your head, but you may not know the full extent of your injuries. Only a trained medical expert who knows what to look for after an accident can make sure that all of your injuries are identified. Prompt treatment is not only good for one’s safety, but it also aids in recovery. An insurance company will try to argue that any delay in treatment suggests that the accident may not have caused the injury.

2. Document the scene of the accident. As soon as possible after the fall, assess the scene and try to determine what caused you to fall. Was there water or ice on the ground? Did you trip over something on the ground? If you can, use the camera on your cell phone to take photographs of the scene and document what you think caused your accident. Try to write down as much as possible about the accident because memories tend to be not as fresh as time passes. If there were any witnesses, obtain their contact information.

3. Make a report. Depending on where the accident happened, try to make a report. If you fall while in a business, like a store or a restaurant, call a manager over and ask that he or she make a written report. Before leaving the scene, request a copy of the report.

4. Do not blame or admit guilt. After an accident, emotions can run high. However, it is important to regain your composure quickly so you can think clearly. Do not admit to any wrongdoing or assess blame. If you need to give a statement, keep it short and stick to the basic facts. Never discuss the details of your injury on social media.

5. Call a trusted personal injury attorney. If you are considering legal action, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. The goal of any insurance company is to pay as little as possible to settle a claim. The insurance company may try to get you to admit to the accident was partially your fault and that your claim is worth little to nothing. Even though a slip and fall accident may seem fairly straightforward, they can be complex cases that are challenging to prove.

If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury after a slip or trip and fall accident, it is important to know that you may have legal options. The Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P., have helped countless injury victims, in both Kansas and Missouri, obtain compensation for their injuries. Our caring team of attorneys will take the time to listen to you and carefully review the facts of your case. To schedule an initial consultation with one of our experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys, contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673. At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P we are dedicated to helping injury victims!

As a parent of a young child, you are busy. In fact, you may even feel like you are always on the go. Sit back for a minute and think about all the car trips you and your child take every week. There may be daily trips to preschool or daycare, in addition to weekly trips to the grocery store, grandma’s house, and to take older siblings to sports practices. Now, consider the fact that almost fifty percent of all car seats are not installed correctly. It makes one wonder if your child is as safe in the car as you think.

As a parent, there is peace of mind in knowing that your child is indeed safe on those numerous car trips. Recognizing this need, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has sponsored Child Passenger Safety Week, which is being held September 15 – 21, 2019. The purpose of this campaign is to promote care seat safety awareness, and to reach the following goals:

1. Correct fit.

When shopping for a car seat, fit is key. First, determine which type of seat your child needs. It is important that a child is in the right type of seat for his or her age, weight, and height. Children come in all different shapes and sizes and so do safety seats. From rear-facing bucket seats to front-facing convertible seats to boosters, a seat must be properly matched with a child to ensure the child is safe. Next, make sure that the seat you are looking at works with your vehicle. Not all seats fit in every vehicle.

2. Proper installation.

Car seat installation can be tricky and varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. After you have installed your new seat but before your child rides in it, it is recommended that parents and caregivers have their safety seats inspected by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. They will double-check to make sure the seat is properly installed and that you know how to safely buckle your child into the seat. To find a technician located near you, you can visit the NHTSA’s website. Proper installation can mean the difference between life and death. In 2017, an estimated 325 lives under the age of 5 were saved because they were correctly buckled into a safety seat. Sadly, 46 more children could have been saved if there were buckled properly.

3. Registered with the manufacturer.

The last critical element is that parents and caregivers register the car seat with the manufacturer. This step is often overlooked but is critical so that the manufacturer can communicate any information about the seat such as safety recalls. If owners cannot find the registration card that came with the seat, registration can also be done online. This way if there is a defect found in the seat the proper repair or replacement can be made.

Make sure that any time your child travels in a vehicle that he or she is properly restrained. In 2017, 675 kids ages 12 and younger died in vehicle crashes. It is estimated that more than 35% of children who died in car crashes were unrestrained.

If your child was injured after being involved in an automobile accident, it is critical that you schedule an appointment to speak with one of our seasoned Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys. Only an experienced Personal Injury Attorney can make sure that his or her rights are protected. The attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. are skilled advocates who have helped countless accident victims, in both Kansas and Missouri, obtain just compensation. Our compassionate team of attorneys will fight to protect you and hold the wrongdoers accountable. To schedule an initial consultation with one of our Injury Attorneys, contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673.

The decision to place a loved one in a nursing home can be extremely difficult. However, often when people are weighing their options, a strong factor towards placing someone in a facility is safety. The curse about living until a ripe old age, is often at some point it becomes too risky to live at home alone. Nursing home facility are required to have policies and procedures in place to keep residents safe and secure. Nursing home facilities know that something as simple as a slip and fall, can be catastrophic for an elderly resident.

While serious slip and fall accidents may seem like rare occurrences, they are not for elderly adults. Older adults have frailer bones and are more likely to suffer a serious injury after a fall compared to younger adults. In fact, falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older adults. A fall for an elderly person can result in broken bones, hip fractures, and even death. While death from a slip fall seems like an extreme outcome, the fall is often not the actual cause of death, but what lead up to cause. For example, if a resident falls and brakes a leg, he or she will likely be placed bed rest. Too much time lying in bed can lead to bed sores, infection, appetite loss, and pneumonia.

Pneumonia? Yes, while a fall and pneumonia seem completely unrelated, it makes sense when you understand that one of the best methods for preventing pneumonia is exercise. Even simple exercises, like walking allow the lungs to fully expand.  A bedridden resident is unlikely to get much if any exercise and may take an extended period of time to heal from a serious injury. Knowing this, it makes more it is easier to see how an elderly person who falls and breaks a hip could become bedridden and die from a disease like pneumonia. It estimated that as many as 1 in 4 elderly persons who experience a hip fracture will die within 6 months of the injury.

To prevent slip and fall accidents, nursing homes evaluate residents for their potential fall risk. Based on that assessment, the facility will put personalized steps in place to keep each resident safe. Measures that nursing home facilities can take include:

• Using personal alarms on residents;
• Installing grab bars in bathrooms, showers, and stairways;
• Removing tripping hazards such as carpeting, cords, and rugs from pathways where residents travel;
• Utilizing canes, walkers, and wheel chairs with lap buddies (a device which can be placed on the residents lap while seated in a wheel chair to prevent a person from falling out of the wheel chair if they tend to sit too far forward or serve as a reminder that they need assistance before getting out of the chair); and
• Having adequate supervision and monitoring. While this should be common sense, sadly too many facilities are understaffed.

If your loved one suffered a slip and fall accident while living at a nursing home facility, you will want to speak with our experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys right away. The nursing home could be liable for failing to prevent the fall from happening in the first place. Pursing personal injury cases or wrongful death claims not only recover damages for injured persons and their families, it also helps hold nursing homes accountable and help protect other resident from experiencing similar harm. The Personal Injury and Elder Abuse Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. have helped countless injured nursing home victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri.  To speak with an attorney about harm done to your loved one, contact our office at (816) 472-4673 to schedule a consultation. At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. we fight for justice.