How Soon Should You Contact a Lawyer After a Pressure Ulcer or Fall in a Nursing Home?

October 23, 2025

When your loved one develops a pressure ulcer or suffers a fall in a nursing home, you may wonder what to do next. These incidents are often warning signs of nursing home neglect, and the longer you wait to act, the harder it can be to prove what happened. Knowing how soon you should contact a lawyer after a pressure ulcer or fall in a nursing home can make a critical difference in protecting your loved one’s health and your family’s legal rights.

At Sugarman Law, our New Jersey nursing home abuse attorney Barry Sugarman has seen how quickly conditions can worsen when facilities fail to provide proper care. Acting fast not only helps prevent further harm but also preserves vital evidence needed to hold the facility accountable.

Why Pressure Ulcers and Falls Are Serious Red Flags

Pressure ulcers (also called bedsores) and falls are among the most common and preventable injuries in long-term care facilities. They often happen when a nursing home fails to follow basic standards of care, such as regularly repositioning residents, monitoring mobility, or ensuring a safe environment.

Pressure ulcers develop when a resident remains in one position for too long, cutting off circulation to the skin and underlying tissue. They can quickly worsen from redness to open wounds and severe infections.

Falls often occur when residents are left unsupervised, when floors are slippery, or when staff ignore fall-risk precautions like bed alarms or mobility assistance.

Both types of injuries are preventable with proper staffing, training, and attention. When they occur, it’s often a sign that the facility failed to meet its duty of care.

When to Contact a Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

So, how soon should you contact a lawyer after a pressure ulcer or fall in a nursing home? The answer is simple: as soon as possible. Time is one of the most important factors in building a strong case.

Here’s why:

Evidence can disappear quickly. Medical records can be altered, witness statements can fade, and the facility may attempt to downplay the incident.
The resident’s health may decline. Delays in reporting or investigation can lead to additional injuries or infections.
The statute of limitations applies. In New Jersey, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a claim. However, starting early gives your attorney more time to investigate and gather proof.

By reaching out to a nursing home abuse lawyer right away, you give your loved one the best chance at justice and ensure their safety is prioritized.

What to Do Immediately After a Pressure Ulcer or Fall

If you suspect neglect, here are the steps you should take immediately:

1. Get Medical Help Right Away

Make sure your loved one receives a full medical evaluation, preferably from an independent doctor or hospital. Request detailed documentation, including photographs of the injuries and notes on how they occurred.

2. Document Everything You See

Take photos of the injuries, the resident’s living area, and any unsafe conditions such as broken railings or unclean bedding. Keep a written record of conversations with staff, administrators, and other residents who may have witnessed the incident.

3. Ask for an Incident Report

Facilities are required to document serious injuries and falls. Request a copy of the report and make note of any inconsistencies or vague explanations.

4. Report the Incident to Authorities

You can contact the New Jersey Department of Health or the New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman to file a formal complaint. Your lawyer can help guide you through this process.

5. Call an Experienced Nursing Home Lawyer

Finally, contact Sugarman Law. Our team will act quickly to preserve evidence, review medical records, and determine whether negligence or abuse occurred.

How a Lawyer Can Help After a Nursing Home Injury

An experienced nursing home neglect lawyer knows how to uncover what really happened behind closed doors. Facilities often try to hide or minimize mistakes, but a skilled attorney can:

Investigate staffing levels and care logs to identify neglect
Subpoena medical records and surveillance footage before it’s destroyed
Consult medical experts who can explain how the injury occurred
Hold the facility accountable through a personal injury or wrongful death claim

Barry Sugarman has decades of experience representing families across New Jersey who trusted nursing homes to care for their loved ones, only to see that trust broken. His legal team combines compassion with relentless advocacy to help families seek justice.

The Cost of Waiting Too Long

Many families contact a lawyer as soon as they sense something isn’t right, and that instinct is crucial. Acting quickly helps protect your loved one’s safety and ensures important evidence isn’t lost or altered. When facilities go too long without accountability, residents are the ones who suffer most.

Delaying action can lead to:

Worsening medical conditions, including infections, sepsis, or lasting disabilities
Lost or changed records that make it harder to prove neglect
Missed legal deadlines that can prevent your family from pursuing justice

Even if you’re unsure whether neglect occurred, speaking with an experienced attorney can help you understand your rights, explore your options, and take steps to prevent further harm.

Can You Sue a Nursing Home for a Pressure Ulcer or Fall?

Yes, if negligence can be proven, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the nursing home. To win your case, your attorney must show that:

The nursing home owed your loved one a duty of care.
The facility or staff breached that duty through negligence.
That negligence directly caused the injury.
The resident suffered harm or damages as a result.

Compensation may cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, and the costs of relocating your loved one to a safer facility.

Sugarman Law has a long history of pursuing these claims and holding negligent facilities responsible for the pain they cause vulnerable residents.

Protecting Your Loved One and Preventing Future Harm

After a nursing home injury, it’s not just about compensation. Rather, it’s about accountability. By taking legal action, you help ensure the facility makes changes to prevent similar harm from happening to other residents.

Sugarman Law takes pride in helping families protect their loved ones and push for safer care standards across New Jersey’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Contact Sugarman Law Today

If your loved one developed a pressure ulcer or suffered a fall in a New Jersey nursing home, do not wait to take action. The sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner you can protect your family member’s health, dignity, and legal rights.

Contact Sugarman Law today at 1-866-657-5660 for a free and confidential consultation. Our dedicated New Jersey nursing home neglect lawyer will investigate your case, explain your legal options, and fight to hold negligent facilities accountable.

Your loved one deserves safety, respect, and justice and we’re here to help you demand it. We represent clients all throughout New Jersey, including Somerville, Paramus, Clinton, and Pompton Lakes. To learn more about our office, click here.

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.

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