As our parents and grandparents’ age, they tend to develop health problems and sometimes they need to enter a nursing home where 24/7 help is available. The main problem with this solution is that we cannot be with them, and sometimes when an accident happens, we cannot determine the underlying reason for the accident.

Slip and fall accidents are very common in older adults, and can have serious and lasting detrimental consequences. In the case of any fall involving an elderly person, you must determine if the fall was caused by an accident or if it is a signal of an underlying health condition.

If the fall happens only once, as a result of tripping on an obstacle or sliding on ice, the fall was probably due to an accident. If falling becomes frequent, it can indicate an underlying disease, like a urinary tract infection, respiratory infection, or heart disease. Elderly people may fall if they get dizzy from a sudden drop in blood pressure or dizziness caused by medication.

If your aging relative falls while in a nursing home, you should have him examined by a doctor to determine if there are underlying reasons for the fall. The doctor will not only examine your relative, he will also review all medications and supplements being taken.

Elderly people tend to fall when they trip over rugs, slippery floors, uneven surfaces, and beds and chairs that are the wrong height. The nursing home may be negligent in causing any number of factors that contributed to the fall.

If your relative has been seriously injured in a fall, you may want to consider consulting or hiring an experienced Philadelphia injury lawyer to help you handle the claim with the nursing home or their insurance company.