Olsman, Mueller, Wallace & MacKenzie filed a lawsuit against Evergreen Manor Senior Care in Battle Creek, Michigan, on behalf of a woman who died six days after falling from her wheelchair.

Upon her admission on June 29, 2010, staff evaluated Ms. W as a moderate risk for falls due to her medical diagnoses, the medications she was taking, and her inability to support herself without assistance.  The nursing staff was advised that Ms. W required the assistance of two or more people during transfers.

On July 9, 2010, Ms. W fell forward out of her wheelchair while being transported from the dining hall to her room.  Nursing staff evaluated Ms. W as an increased risk for falling.  The following day, a nursing assistant reported that Ms. W was bleeding from a small skin tear on her leg.

Ms. W fell from her wheelchair a second time after nursing staff failed to follow the two person assist protocol.  On the night of July 21, 2010, Ms. W fell to the floor during a transfer from her wheelchair to her bed, hitting the right side of her head.  She was transferred to a local hospital where she was diagnosed with a brain contusion and bleeding.

The following day, Ms. W was released to Evergreen Senior Care and Rehab, where she remained largely unresponsive.  As a result of the severe head trauma and physical pain caused by the accident, Ms. W’s health deteriorated rapidly and she died six days later, on July 27, 2010.