A 91-year-old woman sustained catastrophic and ultimately fatal injuries while being transported by a non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) service. Our client, who was wheelchair-bound and relied on ADA-compliant transportation, had just completed a cardiology appointment and was being returned to her skilled nursing facility.
During the ride, the vehicle came to a sudden stop and our client was thrown from her wheelchair—an incident that could have been avoided with proper securing procedures. The fall resulted in severe trauma to her lower body, including a bimalleolar fracture of the right ankle and a periprosthetic distal femur fracture on the left.
She was transported to the hospital, where she underwent multiple surgical procedures. Tragically, due to the crash and resulting injuries, postoperative complications arose, including a serious infection in her lower extremities. Despite intensive medical care, she passed away as a result.
This heartbreaking and avoidable incident shows just how important proper safety procedures are during medical transportation. Our firm successfully secured a $575,000 negligent death settlement for the family, helping them gain a sense of justice and support after their loss.