The short answer: Yes, you may be able to sue a nursing home if a resident developed sepsis because staff failed to recognize or treat an underlying infection. Liability usually turns on whether the facility’s monitoring and medical care met the accepted standard for that resident. In South Carolina, most personal injury claims must be filed within three years, so reviewing the situation sooner rather than later helps.
Sepsis in a nursing home resident often traces back to an infection that could have been caught earlier. If you’re looking into a loved one’s care, this article explains how sepsis develops, when a facility may be responsible, and what a claim involves.
In this article, our Greenville nursing home neglect lawyer discusses:
– What sepsis is and how it develops in nursing home residents.
– The signs of sepsis in elderly residents.
– The most common cause of sepsis.
– When a nursing home may be responsible for a resident’s sepsis.
– What compensation may be available in a nursing home sepsis lawsuit.
What Is Sepsis, And How Does It Develop In Nursing Home Residents?
Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming response to an infection, and it can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and become life-threatening without prompt treatment. It develops when the immune system’s reaction to an infection begins to harm the body’s own tissues and organs.
In nursing home residents, sepsis usually starts with a common infection that goes unrecognized or untreated. Urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and infected bedsores (also called pressure ulcers) are frequent starting points. Older adults are more vulnerable because their immune systems are often weaker, and existing health conditions can hide early warning signs. When staff don’t monitor residents closely or don’t respond promptly to an infection, a treatable problem can progress into a serious one.
What Are The Signs Of Sepsis In The Elderly?
The signs of sepsis in the elderly include fever or an unusually low body temperature, a rapid heart rate, fast breathing, chills, and sudden confusion or disorientation. Some residents also show weakness, reduced urine output, clammy skin, or a sudden decline in their overall condition.
Early detection matters because sepsis can progress quickly. The sooner an infection is identified and treated, the better the chance of recovery. In a nursing home, that depends on staff regularly checking residents, documenting changes, and arranging medical care when symptoms appear. Confusion and fatigue are sometimes dismissed as normal aging, which might delay care.
What Is The Most Common Cause Of Sepsis?
The most common cause of sepsis is a bacterial infection, though viral and fungal infections can also trigger it. In older adults, the infections that most often lead to sepsis begin in the urinary tract, the lungs (pneumonia), the skin (including bedsores), and the digestive system.
For nursing home residents, a large number of these infections can be prevented or treated when proper care is provided. Catheter use, limited mobility, and chronic conditions increase the risk, which is why routine monitoring and prompt treatment are part of a facility’s basic responsibilities.
Can You Sue A Nursing Home For Sepsis?
You can sue a nursing home for sepsis when a resident develops it because the facility failed to provide reasonable care. Liability generally applies when an underlying infection goes unrecognized or untreated due to insufficient monitoring, understaffing, poor hygiene, or failure to follow the care plan or seek prompt medical care.
A claim examines what the facility knew or should have known and how it responded. If staff missed clear signs of infection, delayed contacting a physician, or didn’t treat a bedsore before it became infected, that can support a claim of negligence. Not every case of sepsis means a nursing home did something wrong; these claims depend on medical records, staffing records, and specific facts.
South Carolina generally gives families three years to bring this kind of personal injury claim under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530, and that period can run from when the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.
If you have questions about a loved one’s care, our attorneys at Jordan Law Center offer a free consultation, and you don’t pay any attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Call 864-808-1810.
What Compensation Can You Recover In A Nursing Home Sepsis Lawsuit?
A nursing home sepsis lawsuit may let the resident or family recover compensation for medical expenses, added care needs, physical pain, and emotional suffering. Damages can include the hospital and treatment costs connected to the sepsis, along with compensation for the resident’s reduced quality of life.
When a resident dies from sepsis, the family may be able to bring a wrongful death claim. That can include compensation for funeral and burial costs, the loss of the loved one’s companionship, and related losses. The value of any claim depends on the specific facts, so an attorney will review the records to see what applies.
To understand what a claim could entail in your situation, contact Jordan Law Center for a free consultation. Call 864-808-1810.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Home Sepsis Claims
How long do I have to file a nursing home sepsis lawsuit in South Carolina?
South Carolina generally gives you three years to file this kind of personal injury claim, including nursing home neglect cases. The clock often starts when the harm was discovered or reasonably should have been. Because the deadline depends on the facts, it’s best to speak with an attorney early.
How much does it cost to hire a nursing home neglect attorney?
Our attorneys at Jordan Law Center handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. The initial consultation is free, so there’s no cost to have your situation reviewed.
What if I’m not sure the nursing home caused the sepsis?
That’s common, and it’s something an attorney can help you sort out. Reviewing medical records, care plans, and staffing information often shows whether an infection was missed or left untreated. A consultation is a practical first step toward understanding whether a claim is worth pursuing.
Contact Jordan Law Center
Jordan Law Center handles nursing home abuse and neglect cases for families in Greenville and the surrounding South Carolina area. Our attorneys review the records, identify where care fell short, and are prepared to litigate when the evidence supports it.
If you have concerns about a loved one’s care in a nursing home, contact Jordan Law Center to discuss your situation. Contact us at 864-808-1810 or visit our office at 622 Wade Hampton Boulevard, Greenville, SC 29609.
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