Chicago, IL Attorneys for Injuries Due to Lack of Nursing Home Supervision

Wandering and Elopement Injury Lawyers in Cook County

Nursing homes are required to provide a proper level of supervision for their residents. When this does not occur, there is a danger that residents may wander around the premises unsupervised, or even leave the premises entirely. Wandering and elopement can lead to life-threatening injuries and, in some cases, wrongful death. When this occurs, loved ones should speak with an experienced nursing home abuse and neglect attorney to discuss their rights and options.

At Schwartz Injury Law, we understand the enormous pain and stress families go through when an aging loved one is injured or killed due to nursing home wandering or elopement. If this has happened to you, you have a right to be outraged, and to ensure that those responsible are held fully accountable. Our nursing home team is here to help, and we have the knowledge, resources, and commitment to obtain maximum compensation in these types of cases.

Wandering and Elopement in Illinois Nursing Homes

• Wandering: This refers to a nursing home resident/patient who wanders aimlessly throughout the facility without notice or supervision, but does not leave the premises.
• Elopement: This refers to a nursing home resident/patient who leaves the facility without notice or supervision.

Wandering and elopement are particularly common among Alzheimer's and dementia patients, but it can happen among other nursing home residents who become lost or disoriented. The main reason this happens is due to inadequate staffing. Other reasons include faulty alarm systems and staff that is not trained properly to respond to an alarm.

Wandering and elopement can result in severe injuries such as falls, fractures, and burns. When the patient is off-premises, even more serious incidents can occur, such as being struck by an automobile, being physically assaulted, or suffering a weather-related injury.

Proving the nursing home is responsible in a wandering and elopement case can be challenging. It requires a thorough examination of the records to determine the exact time of the incident, how many staff were on duty at the time, what happened to trigger the patient to wander off, and other important facts and pieces of evidence.

Speak with an Experienced Cook County Wandering and Elopement Lawyer

The nursing home team at Schwartz Injury Law has in-depth knowledge of wandering and elopement cases. We have seen nearly every scenario that can occur in a nursing home setting, and we know what factors to look for that may be critical in proving negligence on the part of the facility. If you have a loved one that suffered severe injury or death after wandering unsupervised within or outside of a nursing home, contact us today at 312-535-4625 for a free consultation. We serve clients in Chicago, Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, Will County, Winnebago County, and throughout Illinois.