Published by If you or a loved one developed a decubitus ulcer (also called a pressure sore or bedsore) while in a hospital, nursing home, rehabilitation facility or under physician/nursing care—and suffered infection, surgery or wrongful death—you may have legal rights with the help of an experienced bedsore lawyer.
We provide free, no-obligation consultations and don’t charge fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Table Of Contents
What’s the Problem?
Pressure ulcers (bedsores, decubitus ulcers) develop when prolonged pressure, friction or shear restricts blood flow to skin and underlying tissue—especially in immobile or critically-ill patients.
However, when patients in hospitals or nursing homes receive inadequate care—such as failure to reposition, lack of nutrition or skipping skin checks—the ulcer becomes a marker of care negligence. [1]
In the U.S., jury verdicts have awarded millions for wrongful death and severe complications stemming from bedsores, including a $1.5 million award in Baltimore where a facility’s failure to reposition a resident caused a fatal bone infection. [2]
Although each case is unique, the presence of a deep-stage bedsore often triggers legal investigation into whether the care standard was breached.
Latest Updates
- February 20, 2024 – A Baltimore City jury returned a verdict of $1.5 million to the estate of a nursing home resident who developed a stage 4 pressure ulcer that led to fatal bone infection. [2]
- March 16, 2025 – Legal commentary emphasized that bedsores at stage 3 or stage 4 are nearly always preventable in care settings and may be evidence of nursing home neglect. [3]
- Late 2025 – Settlement data was published showing six- and seven-figure recoveries for bedsore cases, including a $12.8 million verdict and several settlements above $2 million. [4]
How Bedsores Develop and Why They Matter
Patients at risk typically include those who are bedridden, wheelchair-bound, paralyzed, unconscious, or suffer from chronic conditions such as diabetes or malnutrition. [5]
Care facilities have a legal duty to monitor skin integrity, perform risk assessments (e.g., the Braden Scale), reposition patients regularly, use pressure-relieving devices and ensure proper hygiene and nutrition. When pressure ulcers progress from early skin changes to deep tissue or bone involvement (stage 3 or stage 4), the risk of infection, sepsis, surgery and death increases dramatically. [6]
Injuries & Side Effects
Patients and families should be aware of the serious consequences of untreated or poorly managed bedsores:
– Stage 3 or Stage 4 ulcers that expose muscle, tendon or bone, requiring major surgery and wound-care intervention.
– Deep infections including osteomyelitis, sepsis or gangrene due to delayed treatment or inadequate care.
– Prolonged hospitalization, antibiotic therapy, flap reconstruction, wound debridement and high-cost wound-care protocols.
– Wrongful death when ulcers lead to systemic infection or organ failure—evidence shows nursing facilities may be held liable when prophylactic care is absent. [7]
Do You Qualify for a Bedsore Lawyer Review?
You should consider a free legal consultation if:
– You or your loved one developed a pressure sore while in a hospital, nursing home or medical care facility.
– The sore progressed to stage 3 or stage 4, required surgery or caused serious complications.
– The development or worsening of the ulcer occurred because of immobility, incontinence, poor nutrition, lack of repositioning or staffing failures.
– You have medical or facility records documenting the ulcer, care history, staff reports, wounds, and subsequent treatment.
Evidence You Should Gather
To build a strong case you should collect:
– Photos and medical records of the ulcer development and progression.
– Nursing-home or hospital charts showing repositioning logs, skin-check documentation and wound-care protocols.
– Expert testimony (wound-care or elder-care standard of care). [8]
– Facility staffing records or internal audits when available.
– Proof of injuries, surgeries, hospital fees, rehabilitation and lost quality of life.
Damages You Can Recover
Potential compensation may include:
– Medical bills (hospital stays, surgeries, wound-care treatment).
– Pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement or long-term disability.
– Lost income or earning capacity for caregivers or victims.
– Wrongful death claims, including funeral expenses and loss of companionship.
– In some states punitive damages, particularly where egregious neglect or understaffing is proven.
Legal Theories & Liability Grounds
Common legal grounds for bedsore claims include:
– Negligence: Facility owed duty to prevent ulcers, breached that duty by failing to reposition or assess risk, thereby causing harm. [9]
– Medical malpractice: When specific medical orders were ignored, or wound-care protocols failed.
– Wrongful death: When ulcer-related infection or sepsis leads to a resident’s death. [4]
– Regulatory breach: Facilities receiving Medicare/Medicaid funds must follow federal care standards which include ulcer prevention; failure can support liability in litigation. [10]
Statute of Limitations & Timing
Statutes vary by state; for example, Missouri permits two years for abuse claims and three years for wrongful death. [11]
Because bedsores often reveal neglect only after significant delay, speaking with a bedsore lawyer early is essential to ensure rights are preserved before evidence is lost or deadlines expire.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I file a claim even if the facility says the pressure ulcer was “unavoidable”? Yes. Many lawsuits show that with proper care most bedsores—especially stage 3 or 4—are preventable. [3]
- How much is a bedsore lawsuit worth? Settlement amounts depend on injury severity, age, treatment needs and facility negligence; recent data show settlements often exceed $600,000 and verdicts can reach millions. [4]
- How long after injury can I file? It depends on your state’s statute of limitations; acting soon preserves evidence and strengthens your claim.
References
- https://www.lawsuit-information-center.com/nursing-home-bedsore-lawsuit.html
- https://thedailyrecord.com/2024/02/20/baltimore-jury-awards-1-5-million-in-nursing-home-bed-sore-case/
- https://www.forthepeople.com/blog/can-you-sue-nursing-home-bed-sores/
- https://www.nursinghomelawcenter.org/case-value/bedsore-settlements-verdicts/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9408658/
- https://www.sokolovelaw.com/nursing-home-abuse/neglect/stage-4-bedsores/
- https://www.brownandcrouppen.com/blog/what-is-the-average-bedsore-settlement/
- https://www.levinperconti.com/nursing-home-abuse/how-much-is-a-bedsore-lawsuit-worth/
- https://www.millerandzois.com/nursing-home-bed-sores/
- https://www.duffyduffylaw.com/blog/nursing-home-bed-sore-lawsuits/
- https://www.brownandcrouppen.com/missouri-bedsore-lawsuit/