Bedsore Lawyer in Berks County
Focused Bedsore Representation Backed by 115-Plus Years of Practice
When a nursing home resident develops a bedsore or another pressure injury, the family deserves a careful legal review. At Liever, Hyman & Potter, we handle nursing home neglect claims and evaluate whether the injury resulted from care that wasn’t provided or properly documented. Clients speak directly with the attorney assigned to their case, not a case manager, intake coordinator, or paralegal.
We’ve represented wrongful injury victims and their families since 1959. Our attorneys bring more than 115 combined years of practice devoted to representing victims and families, including evaluating injuries, medical records, and disputed accounts of care.
Call (610) 885-1991 for a free consultation about a loved one’s bedsore or suspected nursing home neglect in Berks County.
Understanding Bedsore & Pressure Ulcer Stages
Pressure ulcers, commonly called bedsores or pressure injuries, are classified from Stage 1 through Stage 4. These classifications describe documented wound severity and show how an injury changed over time. Medical records may also identify an injury as unstageable or as a deep tissue injury.
Pressure injury classifications include:
- Stage 1: Persistent, non-blanchable redness, meaning the discolored area doesn’t turn pale when pressed, without a break in the skin.
- Stage 2: A recognized pressure ulcer stage involving an open or damaged area of skin.
- Stage 3: Full-thickness skin loss extending into subcutaneous tissue, which is the tissue beneath the skin. The wound can appear as a deep crater and may undermine adjacent tissue.
- Stage 4: Full-thickness loss of skin and subcutaneous tissue that exposes muscle or bone.
- Unstageable or deep tissue injury: Categories used when the wound’s depth can’t be determined during the assessment.
The assigned stage is only one part of a legal evaluation. Wound progression, treatment records, the person’s overall health, and the care required under the care plan can all bear on whether the facts support a claim.
How Nursing Home Neglect in Berks County Is Evaluated
A bedsore isn’t automatically proof of nursing home neglect. Evaluating a potential claim requires examining whether the resident’s needs were identified and whether required care was provided and documented. The analysis may also consider when staff first recognized skin changes and how the care plan addressed those findings.
Records commonly reviewed when evaluating nursing home care include:
- Skin assessments documenting the resident’s health
- Care plans identifying care needs and interventions
- Repositioning documentation showing recorded changes in position
- Staffing records relevant to the care at issue
- Wound documentation describing the injury and its progression
These records can help establish what the nursing home identified, planned, provided, and recorded. Missing or inconsistent entries don’t resolve a claim by themselves, but they may need to be compared with medical findings and other available evidence.
Pennsylvania Deadlines & Compensation for Bedsore Claims
Pennsylvania generally applies a two-year statute of limitations to personal injury, negligence, nursing home negligence, and wrongful death actions under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524. The discovery rule can affect when that period begins. Under this rule, time generally starts when an injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered, rather than necessarily on the date it occurred.
Deadlines depend on the facts and applicable law, so families shouldn’t assume they have two years from the day they first contact an attorney. Civil claims in Berks County are filed and heard in the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. We pursue qualifying cases in that court.
A bedsore injury claim can seek compensation for medical expenses, wound-care costs, and pain and suffering when the evidence supports those losses. The available compensation and value of a claim depend on the injury, resulting treatment, evidence of neglect, and applicable law.
Wrongful Death & Survival Actions
If nursing home neglect results in death, Pennsylvania law recognizes distinct claims. A wrongful death action can address hospital, nursing, medical, funeral, and estate-administration expenses caused by the death. A survival action preserves certain losses the deceased person could have pursued, including conscious pain and suffering between the injury and death.
What to Expect After Contacting Our Firm
We begin by reviewing the available information about the resident, the pressure injury, and the care provided. We then consider the records, care needs, injury, and other evidence to determine whether the facts may support legal action. Each accepted case is assigned to a qualified civil trial attorney who remains available to speak with the client.
A private civil claim is separate from a regulatory complaint. Pennsylvania nursing home residents have the right to be free from abuse and neglect, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health licenses nursing homes and investigates complaints statewide. A state complaint may prompt regulatory review, while a civil claim seeks a legal remedy for injuries and losses attributable to neglect.
Request a Free Bedsore Claim Review
Our consultation is free, giving your family an opportunity to explain what happened and learn about potential options. We carefully review each case before advising whether the available facts may support a claim.
You won’t pay attorney fees or advanced case expenses unless we recover money for you. This arrangement allows families to seek a legal evaluation without paying those costs upfront. Any recovery depends on the evidence, applicable law, and circumstances of the case.
Call (610) 885-1991 to speak with us about a bedsore injury or possible nursing home neglect in Berks County.
What Our Clients Say
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Working with Liever, Hyman & Potter Law Firm was an excellent experience from start to finish.Christie
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Andrew Fick and his team helped me with everything I needed in pursuing a personal injury case.Carlos A.
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I would highly recommend Liever, Hyman & Potter.Vanessa S.
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Andy Fick and his Liever, Hyman & Potter team fought hard for me.David D.
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He is a well-spoken and passionate attorney who actually cares about his clients.jeffrey r.
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He has always been responsive and professional, taking the time to review my issues.Howard J.
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Not only are the attorneys at this firm dedicated in obtaining successful results, more importantly, they also care about the personal well-being and health of their clients.Kevin B.
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Attorney John Badal represented me and did an outstanding job. The firm is very honest and upfront and does not blow smoke.Roxanne M.
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John went above and beyond to help me.Sean B.
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Between Stacey (paralegal) and Mike, they kept me up to date with emails, phone calls, and in-person meetings; making the entire process seamless.Blayne H.
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Andy gets the job done; he went above and beyond, exceeding my expectations.Nancy K.
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Everyone was thorough, professional, and supportive.Wendy B.
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My friend was impressed by the firm's compassion and genuine concern for his son's well-being.SARA P.
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The professionals of Liever, Hyman & Potter have a robust team of professionals who vigorously and diligently advocate.Adam N.
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Contacted me back very quickly, very professional.P N.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need?
The legal world is a complicated environment with countless nuances to take into account. As a result, there is a wide range of specialized attorneys dedicated to specific legal areas, such as criminal lawyers who handle criminal defense. With so many fields, it can be difficult to determine which kind of lawyer is best suited for your circumstances. If you call Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C. and offer an overview of your situation, then they can help narrow down what kind of personal injury lawyer is best suited to handle your case. Our law firm was founded in 1959 and is knowledgeable in numerous areas of personal injury law.
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Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
After sustaining a severe injury, you will need to pay medical bills for treatment, potentially miss time at work, and experience pain and suffering. With a qualified and skilled lawyer’s assistance, it is possible for you to receive fair and full compensation for these damages. A knowledgeable attorney will increase your chances of reaching an acceptable settlement agreement and receiving more compensation than you would on your own. Additionally, personal injury lawyers can help settle a liability dispute to determine who is responsible for an accident.
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How Will I Know I Have a Case?
No one has to make this important decision by themselves. Contact Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., and set up a free consultation to go over your situation in detail. Our attorneys will be able to identify who you can sue and what you can expect to gain based on the facts of the accident and the laws in Pennsylvania. In most scenarios, you’ll have a case if it can be proven that someone acted carelessly and caused injuries. Applying this standard is more complex than it may initially appear, which is why it is important to consult us.
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When to Call a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
If you’ve sustained severe injuries in a car accident, you should reach out to a lawyer shortly after the crash takes place. Not only will a professional car accident attorney help you gather vital evidence before it is lost to help your case, but they can also handle communications with your insurance company and deal with the careless driver’s insurance company.
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What Should I Do if an Attorney or Insurance Adjuster Calls Me?
You should never speak with insurance adjusters for someone else involved in the accident. While they may sound friendly and sympathetic to your case, they are almost certainly trying to get statements from you that would reduce or eliminate the liability of their insured. This is also true when an attorney for another person contacts you.
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How to File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
As previously mentioned, filing a medical malpractice lawsuit starts with contacting a lawyer. However, it is crucial that we have sufficient information before filing the claim because malpractice claims can be significantly more complicated than other lawsuits. Our dedicated attorneys will collect all of your medical records and thoroughly review them.
Your medical malpractice attorney must determine whether the case warrants a lawsuit before they file with the court. If we do go forward, we will rely on highly qualified doctors who will be able to explain why you or your loved one were wrongfully harmed by medical treatment.