Can Someone Suffer a Traumatic Brain Injury in a Nursing Home? 

 Posted on March 14, 2025 in Nursing Home Falls

When nursing homes neglect their duty to their patients, the risk of serious injury increases. In some cases, negligence can lead to permanent damage. In particular, traumatic brain injuries can have a lasting impact on cognition and someone’s ability to perform basic tasks. If your loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury in the care of a nursing home, an Illinois personal injury attorney can help you file a claim against the facility.

At Schwartz Injury Law, we investigate accidents resulting in traumatic brain injuries at nursing homes. When you work with our firm, we will gather evidence to build a personal injury claim on your loved one’s behalf. Compensation in your loved one’s personal injury claim can include medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a health complication caused by a forceful impact to the head. Short-term symptoms of a TBI may include:

• Nausea

• Fatigue

• Confusion

• Dizziness

The long-term damage of a traumatic brain injury can be much worse. TBI victims may experience difficulties with emotional regulation, problem-solving, and communication. In other cases, victims might suffer from losses of consciousness or chronic migraines.

Keep in mind that the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury may not always be obvious. If your loved one has suffered a head injury inside a nursing home, you should make sure to get it examined by a medical professional as soon as possible. At Schwartz Injury Law, we work with nurses and physicians who may be able to identify a TBI in its early stages and testify on your behalf.

Falls

Falls are a leading cause of injuries in nursing homes, including traumatic brain injuries. When nursing home staff do not take appropriate measures to clear hazards or to provide support for frail patients, elderly residents can trip and fall. Something as simple as a broken railing or a loose floor tile can create a serious hazard for a traumatic brain injury.

At Schwartz Injury Law, we can hold nursing home staff accountable for improper maintenance of the facility. Our lawyers will investigate the conditions at a nursing home to better understand how a fall occurred. If we find that a safety issue went unaddressed by the staff, then the home could be named at fault in a personal injury claim. As part of our investigation, we can take photos of the site of the fall so that we can determine how the accident occurred and who can be held responsible for it.

Wandering and Elopement

Nursing home residents with pre-existing cognitive issues like dementia or Alzheimer’s may be at risk of wandering and elopement, both behaviors that refer to aimless wandering without supervision. The only difference between the two is that wandering occurs inside a nursing home, while elopement occurs when a resident leaves the premises altogether.

The highly unpredictable nature of wandering and elopement can put a nursing home resident at risk of head trauma from a fall or another hazard. Without careful supervision, an elderly person with dementia could walk onto a busy street or a part of the facility that is still under construction. Oftentimes, incidents of wandering and elopement are caused by improper training when staff are not briefed on how to monitor residents.

Improper Handling

It is entirely possible for a nursing home resident to suffer a traumatic brain injury due to improper handling. As part of an individualized health plan, a resident may require multiple people to lift them. Whether due to understaffing or mismanagement, nursing homes may delegate this task to just one staff member, increasing the chance of a brutal fall.
Similarly, residents in distress may have to be restrained with physical force. This requires extreme care so as not to injure the resident. If an elderly resident is thrown or shaken, the resulting jolt to the head may cause a TBI. At Schwartz Injury Law, we will investigate any claims of improper handling by staff. Witness testimony can be invaluable in proving physical abuse by staff, as well as footage from security cameras.

Compensation for Traumatic Brain Injuries

If your loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, he or she could be entitled to significant compensation through a personal injury claim. Traumatic brain injuries are often classified as catastrophic injuries, characterized by lasting damage. In addition to medical expenses, our lawyers can pursue a financial remedy for damage to your loved one’s quality of life or a loss of enjoyment.

The long-term complications of a TBI can be devastating. At Schwartz Injury Law, we will fight for maximum compensation for the harm your loved one has suffered. If the liable parties will not pay you a fair, full settlement outside of court, we can take your claim to trial.

Fatal Complications With TBIs

A traumatic brain injury has the potential to kill, especially in older populations. Serious complications like seizures or an inability to wake up have been observed in TBI victims, which can be life-threatening if not treated with the highest degree of medical care.

If you have lost a loved one to a sudden traumatic brain injury in a nursing home, you may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim against the staff. Compensation in these claims can factor in the cost of end-of-life care, funeral expenses, and even intangible costs like grief and the loss of a dear loved one. At Schwartz Injury Law, we know just how devastating these losses can be. In the history of our firm, we have secured millions for the families of nursing home abuse victims.

Contact a Cook County, IL Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Has your loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury in the care of a nursing home? If so, you may have grounds to file a claim against the facility for significant compensation. Our Chicago, IL nursing home neglect lawyers have the experience, skills, and resources to handle a case on your behalf, providing you with strong legal counsel and representation from start to finish.

At Schwartz Injury Law, we offer free consultations to all prospective clients. Call us at 312-535-4625 to speak with a real lawyer today.