Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog
Earlier this month in New York, a nursing home caught fire and several of its residents had to be taken to the hospital. According to a report by the Riverdale Press, the Kingsbridge Heights Rehabilitation Care Center caught fire around 5:30 a.m. on March 9th.
Nearly 60 firefighters from the Fire Department of New York responded to the call, putting the fire out in just about 22 minutes. Two were taken to the hospital, one with life threatening injuries and another with more minor injuries. Only one of the injured was a resident of the nursing home, at the time of the story, it was unclear whether the severely injured victim was a resident or whether it was the non-resident.
A spokesperson for Kingsbridge Heights Rehabilitation Care Center explained that, “Representatives from the fire marshal’s office did come to inspect, and stated the staff should be commended.” However, the police are still investigating the cause of the fire and have not yet ruled out the possibility that it had something to do with the negligence of a nursing home employee or staff member.
Nursing Home Fires in Maryland
A fire in a nursing home is a terrible thought. But it is a thought that all too often becomes a reality. Many nursing home residents have restricted or slowed mobility that can prevent them from escaping the building in the event of a fire. It is therefore critically important that all nursing homes have detailed plans in case of a fire or any other kind of emergency.
It may not be enough for the nursing home to have a plan, however, employees must know how to use it. The nursing home should train all staff on how to execute the plan and also have drills to reinforce staff knowledge of how the plan will be executed in practice. This way when an emergency arrives, the staff will be prepared to evacuate all the residents in a timely and safe manner.
Nursing homes must also take every precaution to hire only skilled and properly credentialed staff members who are up to date on all licenses and certifications. When nursing homes fail to comply with these standards, it is possible that they can be found to be negligent in a court of law, requiring them to compensate accident victims that were injured because of the nursing home’s negligence.
Is Your Loved One Residing at a Questionable Nursing Home?
If your loved one is currently staying at a nursing home that you believe has been negligence, or worse, you should speak to an experienced Maryland nursing home attorney as soon as possible. Depending on the facts of your case, it may be possible that you or your loved one is entitled to monetary compensation to cover their injuries or your loss. To find out more about the laws of Maryland that allow victims of nursing home negligence and abust to recover, contact one of the skilled nursing home attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. The dedicated attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen have the experienced, compassion, and advocacy required to effectively help you with your claim. Click here, or call 410-654-3600 today to speak with an attorney.
See More Blog Posts:
Recent Study Finds that 22% of Nursing Home Residents Suffer Preventable Injuries, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published March 18, 2014.
Nine People Arrested After Death of Long Island Nursing Home Patient, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published March 11, 2014.