It’s never a good situation when you require the assistance of emergency medical services personnel. Once you’re in their hands however, you trust that they will take all possible measures to keep you safe and comfortable until you can receive treatment at a hospital or other type of medical facility. The last thing most people expect is that carelessness from people working in the ambulance will make their condition even worse.
Sadly, a Toms River woman says that is what happened to her. Janet Fures has sued the Township of Lakewood and its Emergency Medical Services department, alleging she sustained serious, permanent injuries when EMS personnel mishandled a stretcher while bringing her from their ambulance into Ocean University Medical Center.
In her complaint, Fures says she was suffering from knee pain when she was placed on a stretcher and transported in the Lakewood ambulance. Upon arrival at the hospital, Fures says the EMS workers attempted to remove her from the vehicle, with her body still strapped to the stretcher, At that point, one of the stretcher’s wheels apparently hit a step and tipped over, according to the lawsuit. Still bound to the stretcher, the fall inflicted further injuries on Fures.
There’s no question that EMS personnel have a very difficult job that could involve life-and-death pressure at any moment. This does not relieve EMS departments and municipalities of liability when something goes wrong however. Proper stretcher operation, spotter use and clearance around steps and curbs are fundamental to safe patient handling. Equipment maintenance and training on power cots and lift assists can also be key factors in preventing tipping incidents.
Should you seek to bring a personal injury claim against a public entity or its employees, there is no time to waste. Under the New Jersey Tort Claims Act, potential plaintiffs generally must file a notice of claim—typically within 90 days of the incident—and certain immunities and damages thresholds may apply, depending on the facts. Issues that commonly arise in cases like this include whether personnel followed established protocols, whether the equipment was properly maintained, and what video, incident reports or employee logs show about the moments leading up to the fall.
Seigel Law in Ridgewood handles New Jersey Tort Claims Act cases and other personal injury actions for clients throughout the state. For a free consultation to discuss your situation and legal options, please call 201-444-4000 or contact us online.