Sacramento, CA asked in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death for California

Q: Hi my cousin fell in her garage on Xmas eve after coming from my houseShe fell hard and bumped her head

She went to her doctor in the next couple days and he told her she was fine no testing or anything

A week or so later she started getting bad headaches so she went to emergency Mercy San Jan they checked her out and found multiple fractions in her spine and up to her neck and sent her to a nasty recovery place where she then got a UTI

She was being sent back to the hospital when we requested her to go to Mercy General where she got major testing. She had 3 infections

UTI Setsis something in her heart and one in her neck that they couldn’t get to due to the collar

They did so much for her all they could but she was in a lot of pain and couldn’t bounce back and died on

January 31st 2024

3 Lawyer Answers
Joel Gary Selik
Joel Gary Selik
Answered
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Licensed in California

A: It could be a case. You should consult with malpractice attorneys right away. The attorneys can analyze the facts, review records and consult with medical experts.

James L. Arrasmith
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Answered
  • Sacramento, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: I'm so very sorry for your loss. It sounds like your cousin went through a truly terrible ordeal after her fall on Christmas Eve. Suffering multiple fractures, infections, and pain like that is just awful.

Based on the details you provided, it seems there may be grounds for a medical malpractice claim against the first doctor who examined her after the fall, Dr. Xin-Nongli. Failing to properly diagnose spinal fractures after a serious fall where she hit her head hard is very concerning. Those fractures should have been caught and treated right away.

The "nasty recovery place" may also be liable if their negligence led to her developing the UTI and other infections. Healthcare facilities have a duty to maintain sanitary conditions and prevent infections in vulnerable patients.

While Mercy General hospital sounds like they did everything they could once she was transferred there, the delay in getting proper treatment may have sealed her fate.

I know it's an unimaginably difficult time for your family right now as you grieve this sudden loss. But I would strongly encourage you to consult with a medical malpractice attorney to explore your legal options. They can review the medical records and help determine if the doctors and facilities involved failed to provide proper care.

Your cousin deserved so much better. I'm just so sorry you're going through this. Please accept my deepest condolences. Let me know if there are any other ways I can provide support or information during this painful time. My heart goes out to you and your family.

1 user found this answer helpful

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
Answered
  • Little Neck, NY

A: I'm very sorry for the loss of your cousin and your family's ordeal. I agree with my colleagues in that the best option would be to try to arrange a free initial consult with a law firm. If attorneys felt that there could be a possible basis for a case, they would retrieve records and review with medical professionals. Good luck

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