Injuries from mechanical lift and wheelchair accidents

Residents dropped from a mechanical lift, tipped from a wheelchair, or injured by equipment that was never inspected have been hurt by a process failure, and a nursing home lift injury lawyer reads the orders, the training file, and the maintenance log.

A mechanical lift requires two trained staff, the correct sling size, a sling without worn seams, and a resident who is positioned correctly before the lift leaves the bed. Every manufacturer says so, and every facility policy repeats it. A resident dropped from a lift has almost always been lifted by one person, in the wrong sling, or in a hurry. Wheelchair injuries follow the same pattern: no footrests, no brakes applied during transfer, no seat belt when one was ordered, or a chair that was never fitted to the resident.

What We Investigate

• The transfer order and the number of staff required

• Training records for the staff involved

• Sling and lift inspection and maintenance logs

• The manufacturer’s instructions for the equipment

• The incident report and any changes the facility made afterward

• Wheelchair fitting and brake and footrest orders