Texas Nursing Home Infection Lawyer
Legal Help For Preventable Nursing Home Infections
If your loved one developed a serious infection in a nursing home in Texas, you are likely asking whether it could have been prevented. Infections that lead to hospitalization, sepsis, or death often point to unsafe conditions, poor hygiene, or understaffing inside the facility. You should not have to fight for answers alone.
At Hilliard Law, we represent families throughout Texas whose relatives suffered preventable infections in long-term care facilities. For nearly 40 years, our attorneys have stood up for people harmed by negligence and recklessness. We work to hold nursing homes and the corporations behind them accountable when residents pay the price for unsafe care.
Our trial lawyers have more than 100 years of combined experience and a national reputation for taking on powerful organizations.
If you suspect a facility infection was caused by neglect, we can review what happened and explain your options. You can call (866) 927-3420 to talk with our team in a free and confidential consultation.
Understanding Infections in Nursing Homes
Elderly residents often have weakened immune systems, chronic medical conditions, or limited mobility, all of which make them more susceptible to infections. While some infections may occur despite proper care, many are entirely preventable with basic hygiene, timely medical attention, and appropriate staffing.
Federal and Texas regulations require nursing homes to maintain sanitary environments, properly train staff, monitor residents for signs of illness, and take immediate action when infections arise. When facilities cut corners or prioritize profits over patient safety, infections can spread rapidly and cause devastating harm.
Common Types of Nursing Home Infections
Nursing home infections can affect nearly every system of the body. Some of the most common and dangerous infections seen in Texas long-term care facilities include:
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
UTIs are extremely common among elderly residents, particularly those who use catheters or require assistance with toileting. Left untreated, a UTI can progress to kidney infections or sepsis.
Respiratory Infections
Pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19, and other respiratory infections spread quickly in nursing homes, especially when residents are housed close together or staff fail to follow isolation protocols.
Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
Bedsores (pressure ulcers), infected wounds, and cellulitis often result from poor hygiene, lack of repositioning, or failure to treat minor skin injuries promptly.
Gastrointestinal Infections
Norovirus, C. difficile (C. diff), and other gastrointestinal infections can spread rapidly through contaminated surfaces, improper handwashing, or shared equipment.
Bloodstream Infections (Sepsis)
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when an infection spreads into the bloodstream. It is especially dangerous for elderly nursing home residents and often results from delayed diagnosis or treatment.
Common Causes of Infections in Nursing Homes
In many cases, nursing home infections are not unavoidable—they are the result of systemic failures within the facility. Common causes include:
Poor Hygiene Practices
Failure to wash hands, sanitize equipment, or properly clean resident rooms significantly increases the risk of infection.
Understaffing
When facilities are understaffed, caregivers may rush through tasks, skip hygiene protocols, or fail to monitor residents for early signs of infection.
Improper Catheter or Wound Care
Catheters, IV lines, and open wounds require strict infection control. Improper handling or infrequent monitoring can quickly lead to serious infections.
Delayed Medical Attention
Ignoring symptoms such as fever, confusion, pain, or redness can allow infections to worsen and spread.
Failure to Isolate Infected Residents
When nursing homes fail to isolate contagious residents, infections can spread throughout the facility, endangering others.
How Nursing Home Staff Prevent & Manage Infections
Texas nursing homes are legally required to follow infection prevention and control programs. Proper care should include:
- Regular handwashing and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Routine cleaning and disinfecting of rooms and shared areas
- Monitoring residents for early signs of infection
- Prompt medical evaluation and treatment
- Proper wound, catheter, and incontinence care
- Isolating infected residents when necessary
- Ongoing staff training on infection control protocols
When staff members or administrators fail to follow these practices, residents pay the price.
Signs a Nursing Home Infection May Be Due to Neglect
Families often sense that something is wrong before a diagnosis is made. Warning signs of infection or neglect may include:
- Sudden fever or chills
- Increased confusion or mental changes
- Unexplained pain or discomfort
- Redness, swelling, or discharge from wounds
- Frequent hospitalizations
- Rapid physical decline
If your loved one developed an infection shortly after entering a facility or experienced repeated infections, it may be time to speak with a Texas nursing home infection lawyer.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS real questions. Real answers.
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What are common examples of medical malpractice?
Common examples include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication mistakes, birth injuries, and failure to provide appropriate treatment.
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How do I prove medical malpractice occurred?
To establish medical malpractice, you typically need to demonstrate four key elements:
- Duty: Show that the healthcare provider owed you a duty of care
- Breach of Duty: Prove that the provider failed to meet the standard of care
- Causation: Establish that the breach of duty directly caused your injury
- Damages: Document the harm or losses you suffered as a result
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What types of damages can I seek in a medical malpractice lawsuit?
In a medical malpractice case, you can pursue various types of damages, including:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Rehabilitation costs
- Punitive damages (in cases of extreme negligence)
Keep in mind that the specific details of your case will determine the types and amounts of damages you may be eligible to claim. Consulting with a qualified attorney is crucial to understanding your legal options and potential outcomes.
Real Results ReaL Justice
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Record-Setting$575Wrongful Death
Million Settlement*Hilliard Law attorneys represented numerous injury victims and the families of those killed in accidents caused by GM’s defective ignition switch and their concealment of safety defects.
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$310Wrongful Death
Million VerdictHilliard Law attorneys secured a $310 million verdict against “Funtime” Handelsgesellschaft M.G.H., the manufacturer of the defective Orlando FreeFall attraction at ICON Park, for the family of Tyre Sampson.
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$50Class Action
Million Settlement*Mr. Hilliard was the lead class counsel in Haese v. H&R Block, a class action lawsuit involving every Texan who received a rapid refund from H&R Block (approx. 300,000 plaintiffs). He assisted other class counsel in forcing H&R Block to disclose it received kickbacks for arranging loans between its tax preparation clients and predatory lenders.
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$50Wrongful Death
Million SettlementIn September 2021, Hilliard Law attorneys secured a $50 Million settlement for the family of a man who died in a commercial trucking accident.
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$33Traumatic Brain Injury
Million VerdictThe Hilliard Law trial team won a $33M product liability case against a golf-car company, involving a golf cart that tipped over on a child causing a severe traumatic brain injury.
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$33Work Injury
Million AwardWith the representation of Hilliard Law, two delivery drivers who were shot while completing a delivery were awarded $33 million through an arbitration panel.
Infection FAQs
The following are several frequently asked questions about nursing home infections:
Are nursing homes legally responsible for infections?
Yes, if an infection resulted from negligence, poor hygiene, understaffing, or failure to follow required protocols, the facility may be held liable.
What compensation is available in a nursing home infection claim?
Compensation may include medical expenses, hospitalization costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and in fatal cases, wrongful death damages.
How long do I have to file a claim in Texas?
Texas law limits the time you have to file a nursing home negligence claim. Speaking with a lawyer as soon as possible helps protect your rights.
What if the nursing home says infections are unavoidable?
While some infections occur naturally, many are preventable. An experienced Texas nursing home infection lawyer can determine whether proper care standards were followed.
Why Families Choose Hilliard Law
When a parent or spouse is harmed in a place that was supposed to protect them, families need more than basic legal help. They need a firm that understands both the law and the reality of fighting large companies that control many nursing homes in Texas. That is where our history and resources matter.
For nearly four decades, Hilliard Law has represented injured clients. Our founding principle is simple. We fight relentlessly for people who have been hurt by negligence, defective systems, and corporate choices that put profit over safety. In nursing home infection cases, that means we are prepared to follow the trail from a resident’s wound or sepsis diagnosis to the policies and decisions that allowed it to happen.
Our attorneys bring over 100 years of combined trial experience to every case. This depth helps us navigate complex medical records, corporate ownership structures, and the tactics used by nursing home companies and insurers. Members of our team have been recognized as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars, which is outside confirmation of the work we have done for injured people.
Hilliard Law is built on a commitment to social justice and civil rights. We know that many residents are vulnerable because of age, disability, or limited resources, and that makes neglect in a facility a civil rights issue as well as a safety issue. Our goal is to tell each client’s story clearly, show how their rights were violated, and work toward outcomes that can help with both financial recovery and accountability.
To learn how a nursing home infection attorney can help you pursue accountability after a serious facility infection, contact us today for a free consultation at (866) 927-3420.
It’s our mission to hold the powerful accountable for their wrongdoing. Reach out to our team immediately regarding your case to schedule a free attorney consultation today.
