5 Min Read Posted on August 5, 2026 Sokolove Law Attorney Ricky LeBlanc on Nursing Home Fall Injuries A nursing home fall is among the most serious risks for frail residents. A single fall can cause a broken hip, head injury, permanent loss of mobility, or even death. To help families understand when a fall may be a sign of nursing home neglect, we spoke once again with Attorney Ricky LeBlanc of Sokolove Law. For more than 45 years, Sokolove Law has taken on negligent nursing homes. The firm was an early leader in holding facilities accountable nationwide and continues the fight today. As of 2026, Sokolove Law has recovered over $332 million in nursing home lawsuit compensation. In this conversation, Ricky explains what families should do after a nursing home fall, how to show that it could have been prevented, and when to speak with an attorney. Get a Free Case Review by Fight back against nursing home abuse and neglect — start now with a free case review. Start My Free Case Reviewor call (855) 264-6310 Q: My loved one fell in a nursing home. What should I do next? A: The first thing is to make sure your loved one gets the medical care they need, even if the fall initially seems minor. Older adults can suffer fractures, head injuries, or other serious harm that is not immediately obvious. Next, document everything while the facts are still fresh. Take photographs of any injuries and the area where the nursing home fall occurred. Write down when it happened, who was present, what staff told you, and whether your loved one had fallen before or needed help walking. A lawyer can review the care plan, fall-risk assessment, and facility reports to determine whether the nursing home failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the fall. Q: What causes falls in nursing homes? A: Nursing home falls can happen for many reasons. A resident may be frail, unsteady, affected by medication, or living with dementia and forget that they need to wait for help before standing or walking. Falls are common in older adults, but that does not mean every fall is unavoidable. If a resident keeps falling, however, that can be a serious warning sign of nursing home neglect. Repeated falls may show that the facility failed to update the care plan after a previous fall, provide enough supervision, or respond to a known risk. Q: Are nursing home falls preventable? A: Not every nursing home fall is preventable. Many residents enter long-term care because they’ve already fallen at home, and even a well-run facility cannot watch every resident every second. The real question is whether the facility knew the resident was at risk and took reasonable steps to protect them. If they did not, it may be considered nursing home neglect. In many cases, a resident may try to walk alone after waiting too long for help, or a resident known to wander may be left unsupervised. Wet floors, poor lighting, and clutter can also create unnecessary hazards. One fall may be an accident. Repeated nursing home falls often suggest that the facility failed to address a known problem. Q: When do most falls occur in nursing homes? A: Many nursing home falls happen during the day and early evening, when residents are getting out of bed, walking to the bathroom, or moving between a bed and chair. The timing of a fall can be important, especially during morning routines, mealtimes, shift changes, or nights and weekends when fewer staff may be available. Nursing home injury attorneys want to know if the resident needed assistance, which staff knew about that need, and who was available to help. A fall during a routine activity may reveal a larger problem with supervision, staffing, or the resident’s care plan. Those are the facts a lawyer will examine when determining whether the injury could have been prevented. Q: Are nursing homes required to report falls? A: Not every nursing home fall must be reported to a government agency. Federal reporting rules generally apply when a fall raises concerns about mistreatment, an unexplained injury, or a possible crime. State laws may require additional reporting. If a fall causes an injury that may require a doctor’s care, the nursing home has an immediate duty to respond. That includes informing the resident, consulting their physician, and notifying the resident’s representative. A missing or delayed report can raise serious questions about the facility’s response. Q: Are nursing homes liable for falls? A: A nursing home fall alone does not establish liability. What we need to know is how much the facility understood about the resident’s risk and how it responded. If the resident needed help walking, had fallen before, or had a care plan requiring supervision, the nursing home had a duty to follow that plan. A failure to provide assistance, respond to a call bell, or correct a known hazard may be negligence. If your loved one was injured in a fall, an experienced nursing home neglect lawyer can review the facts. That’s the best way to find out if the facility can be held responsible. Q: Can you sue a nursing home for a fall? A: Yes. If your loved one was injured or passed away because a nursing home failed to provide the care and protection they needed, you may have the right to sue. In fact, falls are one of the most common reasons families bring claims against nursing homes. Filing a nursing home falls lawsuit can help uncover what went wrong, hold the facility accountable, and recover compensation for the harm done. Q: Can you sue an assisted living facility for a fall? A: Yes. An assisted living facility can be held responsible when its failure to provide appropriate care leads to a resident’s fall and injury. Here’s what’s important to understand: Nursing homes provide a higher level of medical and personal care. Medicare- and Medicaid-certified facilities must follow federal care standards. On the other hand, assisted living facilities are regulated mainly by state law, so their responsibility depends more on the care they promised and the needs they knew the resident had. That does not mean assisted living facilities get a pass. If the facility failed to provide the level of assistance your loved one required, you may have the right to take legal action. Q: When should I contact a nursing home fall injury attorney? A: You should contact a nursing home neglect attorney as soon as you believe your loved one may have been injured. You do not need proof of nursing home negligence before calling a lawyer, because finding out what happened is our job. It’s important to remember that every state has a statute of limitations, which is a strict legal deadline for filing a nursing home claim. Unfortunately, evidence in a nursing home case can disappear quickly. Records may be lost, video may be erased, and older witnesses or those living with dementia may have difficulty remembering what happened over time. The sooner an experienced nursing home injury attorney becomes involved, the better the chance of preserving the evidence needed to prove what really happened. Get Help for a Nursing Home Fall Injury The Nursing Home Abuse Center helps families seek answers, accountability, and justice after preventable harm. We’re grateful to Attorney Ricky LeBlanc for helping families better understand their rights after a nursing home injury. For more than 45 years, Sokolove Law has been fighting for victims of nursing home abuse and neglect, recovering over $332 million for families nationwide. If your loved one suffered an injury or passed away after a nursing home fall, call us right now at (855) 264-6310 or fill out this form for a free case review. We’re here 24/7 to listen and help you take the first steps toward justice.