Wheelchair Fall Victim's Wife Awarded $6 Million

Wheelchair Fall Victim's Wife Awarded $6 Million

Introduction

On April 17, 2019, Staten Island jury awarded $6 million to the wife of a man who was confined to a wheelchair after a fall.

According to the court records, the victim fell at home on April 1, 2011, and was taken to Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn two days later. He had another fall from the Medical Center's bed on April 6 and was released to Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center for short-term rehabilitation for his back on April 7.

According to plaintiff attorney, the victim fell on April 14, 2011, while attempting to stand up from the wheelchair and fractured his left hip. He underwent a partial hip-replacement surgery at Staten Island University Hospital on April 15 and returned to the nursing home on April 26, 2011, for about three more years where he died on March 22, 2014.

The victim's wife sued the nursing home in state Supreme Court, St. George and alleged that the fall was due to negligence and lack of preventive measures, such as using a seat belt, restraining belt or a table tray. Also, she claimed the fall happened due to improper supervision and insufficient staff. Due to the fall at Clove Lakes, the victim was confined to a wheelchair, making the last years of his life very difficult. The trial began on April 11, and the jury ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.