People often wait too long before getting advice, sometimes because they think the situation will “sort itself out.” In Northern Michigan, waiting can make everything harder because of short deadlines and quickly disappearing evidence.

It’s usually time to talk to an attorney if:

You’re still hurting days or weeks after the accident
You missed work or can’t do your regular job
Insurance is slow-walking or denying benefits
The other driver is blaming you
The crash involved tourists, out-of-state drivers, or rental vehicles
Your injuries involve the neck, back, shoulder, knee, or head
You feel like you’re doing everything on your own

Most injury lawyers in Northern Michigan offer free consultations, so asking questions doesn’t cost anything.

A simple conversation can reveal a lot. Try asking:

“How often do you handle cases in Northern Michigan?”
“What do you see most often with accidents in this area?”
“How will you deal with my insurance company?”
“What’s your experience with No-Fault issues like PIP disputes?”
“Do I pay anything upfront?”

If the lawyer doesn’t regularly handle injury cases in Northern Michigan, you’ll notice right away. Give us a call today: 231-486-6556.

Nursing home or assisted living residents may be injured or killed as a result of wandering around a nursing home, falling in the adult foster care facility, or wandering away from the assisted living facility itself. Residents often wander outside the facility, become confused and disoriented, and are exposed to the harsh Northern Michigan elements or struck by a vehicle. Wandering is often a result of cognitively impaired or disoriented residents, who may have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

When a resident is injured as a result of wandering, an adult foster care or nursing home is often held liable for these injuries. If a nursing home employee knew that a resident was a wanderer and failed to take precautions, the facility can be held liable for the resident’s injuries and pay damages.

At a minimum, a nursing home must identify wanderers, develop prevention programs, and have a care plan in place that addresses a resident’s wandering. In Michigan, a federal district court found that a nursing home could be liable for a wanderer who escaped and suffered a head injury when it failed to monitor him even though employees were aware that he was likely to attempt an escape and were instructed to monitor him more closely.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or adult foster care facility, ensure that his or her care plan addresses any issues of wandering, includes any prior incidents of wandering, and employs seat alarms, bed alarms or entry and exit alarms.

If a parent or loved one has been injured at a nursing home or assisted living facility, please call us for a FREE consultation so that we may learn about your case.

Questions to Ask an Injury Lawyer

Adult Foster Care Facilities Can Be Liable For a Resident's Wandering