Bed rails are simple tools meant to help elderly and sick people get out of bed or keep them from rolling out of bed. But these rails can pose a hazard to frail patients and the FDA relies on manufacturers to voluntarily abide by safety guidelines. Meanwhile, almost 37,000 people were treated at hospitals for bed-rail accidents from 2003-2011, and many people have died from their injuries.
There are two types of injuries seen with bed rails. Especially frail people can get trapped between the rail and the mattress, causing asphyxiation or strangulation as they are too weak to change position. And sometimes people with dementia get confused and try to get out of bed by climbing over the rails. The subsequent fall can lead to broken bones, bruises and cuts.
In 2013, the FDA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a committee to develop voluntary standards for adult bed rails, limiting size gaps between the mattresses and rails among other measures. But there are still thousands of products out in the market that could cause harm to you or a loved one. A case could be made on the basis of medical malpractice, or a product liability case against the manufacturer, if you or a loved one was injured by bed rails.
Call us today at 816-842-7100 to speak with an attorney who will fight to get you compensated. Or you can click here to email us and schedule your free consultation.
