When you are a patient, the hospital's staff and contractors have the responsibility of ensuring you are safe on its grounds. However, accidents do happen, and it is possible that you can slip and fall. If you suffered a slip and fall while a patient at a hospital, here is what you need to know.
Is It Medical Malpractice?
Although a slip and fall might seem like a standard personal injury case, it could be considered medical malpractice in some instances. In order for the injury to be considered medical malpractice, the accident had to occur as the result of care you are receiving.
For instance, if you were administered several medications and that caused you to be unstable, you could claim that the hospital is responsible. The argument for your case would be that the hospital staff should have known that an increased risk of falling was possible, and the staff failed to take action to prevent it from happening.
Another instance that could be considered medical malpractice is if you slipped and fell while being transferred. If the staff failed to take the proper precautions to ensure you were moved from the bed to a wheelchair, the hospital could be considered liable.
There are many other scenarios in which medical malpractice might be considered. Talk to your personal injury lawyer to see if one applies to your particular situation.
Who Can You Sue?
If you are planning to sue for the injuries you experienced, determining the responsible party is a bit more complicated than just naming the hospital. It could be possible that more than one party is liable or that the hospital itself is not to blame.
If your injuries resulted from negligence from your doctor or another contractor for the hospital, the hospital might be off the hook. In that instance, you would probably have to pursue a claim against the doctor or contractor.
In the event that your injuries were caused by a hospital staff member, such as a nurse, the hospital could be held responsible. However, you will need to verify that the nurse or other staffer is considered an actual employee by the hospital and not just a contractor.
A slip and fall is not just an everyday occurrence at a hospital. The hospital has a responsibility to ensure you are safe, and if it fails, you have the right to take action. Talk to your attorney to find out what options are available to you.
