Anyone putting a product on the market has a responsibility to make sure that the product is reasonably safe. Unfortunately, unreasonably dangerous products do still sometimes end up in the hands of consumers. There are a number of reasons this can happen. Sometimes the product is badly designed in the first place. Other times, there was an error in the manufacturing process that rendered the product unsafe. Finally, sometimes it is the lack of instructions or a warning label that makes a product dangerous. 

Whatever may have gone wrong and caused you to get hurt, there are a few steps you can take right away. An attorney may be able to help you recover financial compensation. 

What Should I Do if a Dangerous Product Hurts Me?

If a product you are using seems unreasonably unsafe and you get hurt as a result, you will want to contact a lawyer sooner rather than later. Products liability cases can be quite complicated, with a lot of disputed facts and multiple legal issues. Here are some steps you can take right after the accident: 

From high-rise, luxury condos to downtown studios, apartment buildings are supposed to be reasonably safe for their occupants and guests. Unfortunately, not all landlords or property managers make safety a priority. From failing to repair an obvious source of danger, to failing to warn tenants about a hazard, to simply ignoring a housing code violation, negligence by a building manager can put a lot of people at risk for injury. If you were injured due to an unsafe condition in an apartment, you may want to speak to a qualified premises liability attorney to determine whether you could be eligible to receive financial compensation. 

What Common Dangers Can Injure People in Apartment Complexes?

Renters have limited control over the safety of the premises. They are not able or expected to make most repairs, especially in common areas. The landlord or property manager has a much higher degree of responsibility to maintain safe conditions. Look out for:

• Staircases - Poorly maintained or designed staircases are a common source of serious injuries. Missing or loose handrails, as well as poor lighting or uneven, loose steps, can cause falls. 

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Hospitals are supposed to be safe places where people go to get better. Unfortunately, some inpatients wind up in worse shape after they are injured in a fall. People fall in hospitals for a variety of reasons, ranging from medication to physical therapy equipment failure. Many of these falls can be prevented by a careful hospital. Some causes of falls fall under premises liability, but others can amount to medical malpractice if the fall was directly related to the patient’s care. The law there is nuanced, and a lawyer will need to evaluate the facts of your case. Either way, if the hospital’s carelessness caused your fall, you may be entitled to receive compensation. 

What Are Some Common Causes of Preventable Falls in Hospitals?

Sadly, the patients who are most vulnerable and most likely to suffer serious injury from a simple fall tend to be the most likely to fall. Elderly patients are at particularly high risk of being admitted to a hospital and then suffering a major injury, like a broken hip, after falling. Reasons patients may fall include: 

• Lack of precaution - When patients are at risk of falling due to age, medication, injury, or other medical issues affecting balance and gait, hospitals should use appropriate precautions to prevent that patient from actually falling. Appropriate precautions may include bed alarms, bed rails, not allowing the patient to walk without assistance, or making sure an assistive device like a walker is within reach. Call lights should also be kept within reach, as patients may fall out of bed struggling to reach them. 

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Many Californians trust nursing homes to care for their elderly family members professionally. It is always tragic when a nursing home resident faces any kind of abuse. The dangers of physical abuse or neglect are clear, but verbal abuse is less understood. More elderly persons in nursing homes face verbal abuse than outright physical abuse, and verbal abuse can lead to physical dangers. If you suspect that your loved one is being verbally abused in a nursing home, you should contact an attorney as quickly. An attorney may be able to help you get your loved one to a safer situation and recover financial compensation. 

What Counts as Verbal Abuse of a Nursing Home Resident? 

Verbal abuse coming from a caregiver at a nursing home can be particularly damaging because the caregiver is in a position of authority, and the resident is in a position of reliance. What counts as verbal abuse includes: 

• Yelling or shouting - Staff should not raise their voices at elderly residents. 

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Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have a monumental responsibility: They keep our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other loved ones safe. Unfortunately, some nursing homes do not meet the high expectations required of them. One way that nursing homes fall short is not properly supervising residents. Nursing home residents, especially those with cognitive decline, can be severely or fatally injured when they wander into unsafe areas or elope from the property.  Nursing home residents and their loved ones may be able to hold a negligent nursing home responsible through a nursing home lawsuit.

Nursing Home Neglect Can Be Fatal

Nursing home abuse, including physical violence against a resident, often receives the lion’s share of news coverage and attention. However, nursing home neglect is often just as harmful as abuse. In many cases, nursing home neglect is fatal. Nursing home staff have a duty to supervise residents and keep track of their whereabouts. When nursing home residents are not properly supervised, they can wander into dangerous areas or become lost. Wandering and elopement can lead to terrible injuries and fatalities.

Residents With Dementia Are at High Risk

Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are common in nursing homes. Residents suffering from dementia may not recognize that they are in danger until it is too late. They may wander into the kitchen area and burn themselves or accidentally become trapped in a supply closet full of cleaners and other toxic chemicals. The resident may be left suffering in pain for hours before staff finds them.