New York City Nursing Home Falls and Fractures Attorney

Home » New York City Nursing Home Falls and Fractures Attorney
nursing home fall attorney

When a loved one enters a nursing home, you trust the facility to keep them safe, supported, and well cared for. But when a preventable fall results in a fracture, head injury, or lasting medical complications, families are often left with fear, guilt, and unanswered questions. In these moments, a dedicated nursing home fall attorney can make all the difference by protecting your family’s rights and uncovering what really happened.

At Menkes Law Firm, attorney Sheryl Menkes has spent over 30 years representing injured individuals across Metropolitan New York. She has a proven record of fighting for vulnerable seniors and their families.

Key Takeaways: Nursing Home Fall Attorney in New York

  • Nursing home falls in New York and NYC can cause life-changing harm, including hip fractures, head injuries, and rapid decline, and many are preventable with proper supervision and safety practices.
  • Common negligence indicators include unsafe floors or clutter, poor lighting, lack of assistance during transfers, delayed response to call bells, and understaffing.
  • A nursing home fall attorney can investigate incident reports, medical records, fall risk documentation, staffing schedules, and surveillance footage to uncover what happened and why.
  • Families should act quickly after a fall to protect a loved one’s health and preserve evidence that may support accountability in New York City nursing homes.

Falls in Nursing Homes Cause Serious and Preventable Harm

Falls are one of the most common and dangerous events affecting older adults. According to the New York State Department of Health, falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations and deaths among adults aged 65 and older in the state. These incidents often result in severe outcomes such as broken hips, traumatic brain injuries, and long-term disability.

The risk inside nursing homes is even higher.

After a fall, many residents experience rapid health decline, loss of independence, or worsening cognitive conditions. Families deserve to understand whether their loved one’s injury was avoidable.

Why These Injuries Are Often Signs of Neglect

While not every fall is the result of carelessness, many can be prevented with proper staffing, monitoring, and safety precautions. Unfortunately, many facilities fail to meet the basic standard of care expected under New York law.

There are several common causes of nursing home falls that point directly to negligence.

Frequent causes include:

  • Unsafe flooring or cluttered walkways,
  • Lack of supervision during transfers,
  • Poor lighting or wet floors,
  • Understaffing or inattentive employees, and
  • Improper use of mobility devices or restraints.

Each of these conditions increases the risk of serious injuries and often reflects a systemic failure within the facility. After a fall, families should pay close attention to whether the nursing home is transparent about the circumstances or evasive when answering questions.

Your Loved One Has Legal Rights in New York

New York law recognizes the significant vulnerability of nursing home residents. Under New York public health law, every resident has the right to safe and adequate care, proper supervision, and protection from neglect. When a nursing home violates these rights, whether through unsafe conditions, inadequate staffing, or failure to monitor residents, it may be liable for damages.

A dedicated nursing home fall attorney can take immediate steps to investigate what happened and determine whether neglect or a rights violation contributed to the injury. You do not have to navigate this painful situation alone.

How to Know If You Need a Nursing Home Fall Injury Attorney

It can be difficult for families to recognize the warning signs of neglect, especially when the facility controls most of the information. Understanding these red flags can help protect your loved one.

Some of the most important signs to watch for include:

  • Unexplained fractures, bruises, or repeated injuries; 
  • Staff members who cannot clearly explain how the fall occurred; 
  • Unsafe conditions such as spills, clutter, or poor lighting; and 
  • Delayed reporting of the fall to family members.

Each of these indicators signals that further investigation may be necessary to protect the resident’s health and legal rights. If any of these circumstances occur, you may benefit from speaking with a qualified nursing home broken bones attorney.

Why Families Trust Menkes Law Firm

When a fall occurs, you need an advocate who understands both the law and the emotional weight of the situation. Sheryl Menkes brings more than three decades of experience, unwavering dedication, and a proven track record of securing strong verdicts and settlements in every case.

Families choose Menkes Law Firm because they know Sheryl:

  • Delivers personal, compassionate representation;
  • Has extensive experience handling elder injury cases;
  • Understands how to uncover hidden patterns of neglect; and
  • Fights relentlessly to hold negligent facilities accountable.

With Menkes Law Firm, your loved one’s dignity and safety come first.

Your Plan for Moving Forward

We can help you find a clear path to protect your loved one from neglect.

Here’s how Menkes Law Firm helps:

  • You contact the firm for a confidential consultation;
  • The team gathers records, investigates the fall, and documents negligence; and
  • You receive guidance, advocacy, and the pursuit of justice for your loved one.

With a compassionate and skilled nursing home fall injury attorney by your side, you can move forward with confidence.

Your Loved One Deserves Safety and Justice

A nursing home fall is a life-changing event, not only for the resident but also for the entire family. With strong legal support, you can seek accountability, prevent future harm, and restore dignity to your loved one’s life.

If your loved one suffered a fall, fracture, or serious injury in a nursing home, Contact Menkes Law Firm today. Your family deserves answers, protection, and an advocate who will stand by your side every step of the way.

Nursing Home Fall Attorney FAQs (New York / NYC)

A nursing home fall attorney investigates whether the fall was preventable and whether negligence played a role. In New York and NYC, this often includes reviewing medical records, fall risk notes, care plans, staffing schedules, incident reports, and any available surveillance footage to uncover what really happened.
Not always. Some falls happen despite reasonable precautions, but many are preventable when a facility uses proper supervision, safe transfers, and basic safety measures. In NYC nursing homes, falls may point to understaffing, missed monitoring, unsafe conditions, or failure to follow a resident’s fall prevention plan.
Common causes include wet floors, poor lighting, cluttered walkways, improper footwear, unsafe transfers, lack of supervision, and problems with mobility devices. In New York City facilities, falls can also occur when staff are stretched thin and residents aren’t assisted during high-risk moments like toileting or moving from bed to chair.
Falls often lead to hip fractures, broken wrists, spinal injuries, head injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Some residents experience rapid decline after a fall due to reduced mobility, complications, or missed medical care. A New York nursing home fall injury attorney can help determine whether the harm could have been prevented.
A fall risk assessment is a process used to identify factors that make a resident more likely to fall, such as balance issues, medications, dementia, or recent falls. In NYC nursing home cases, the key question is whether the facility recognized the risk and consistently followed an individualized fall prevention plan.
Many serious falls happen during transfers—bed to chair, chair to toilet, or wheelchair movement—when residents need hands-on assistance. If staff fail to assist, rush a transfer, or leave a high-risk resident unattended, falls can occur quickly and cause fractures or head injuries in New York City facilities.
Yes. Understaffing can mean fewer rounds, delayed response to call bells, inconsistent supervision, and rushed care. In NYC nursing homes, staffing shortages often show up as missed assistance with walking, toileting, and transfers—exactly when residents are most at risk for falls and fractures.
Key evidence often includes medical records, fall risk notes, care plans, incident reports, witness statements, staffing schedules, call-bell logs (if available), and surveillance footage. Establishing a timeline—when the fall occurred, when staff noticed, and how quickly help arrived—can be critical in NYC cases.
Ask for a written account of what happened, who was on duty, and what care was provided afterward. Request medical evaluation and keep copies of discharge paperwork. If possible, document visible injuries. Because records and footage may not be preserved indefinitely, families often contact a New York nursing home fall attorney quickly to help protect evidence.
Compensation may address medical treatment, rehabilitation, related out-of-pocket costs, pain and suffering, and reduced quality of life. A nursing home falls and fractures attorney in NYC can evaluate the full impact of the injury and pursue accountability based on the evidence.
100% Free Consultation

Serving families across New York, including New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island).

About the Author

Sheryl Menkes Image
Sheryl Menkes
Attorney At Law
View Sheryl’s Bio

Practice Areas

Contact Us

The small law firm with a big heart… & big settlements.

Sheryl works hard for people just like you – clients who deserve an advocate to ensure that their rights are respected every step of the way.

212-285-0900

Don’t wait to take action. Every day gives negligent facilities more time to cover their tracks. Contact us today and let our team fight for your loved one’s safety, dignity, and justice.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Today