Head injury in hospital

[princess2]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? TX
I had a door shelf thing fall on my head while visiting a patient in his hospital room. It was a locked door that hadn't been properly locked and fell open, full force landing on my head.

The nurses put me in a wheelchair and had me go the ER since I was not able to answer questions quite right or fast enough. I was told not worry about insurance. ER did a CTscan, said it was negative and released me with no more instructions than to take pain reliever for the pain.

Today the hospital called to get my insurance info. So I called the nurse who gave me her card. She asked how I was and I said I still have headache, difficulty concentrating, messing up my words sometimes. I told her the hospital called and wanted my insurance info and she said that they never said they would pay for the ER visit. I told her we were under the impression that they were covering it due to the circumstances. She questioned why I didn't just come back if I wasn't feeling well and I explained that it took us an hour and a half to get to that hospital. I wasnt impressed with their care and told her it would have helped if they had given me some kind of instructions when I left. I am going to see my own doctor.

What should I do to protect myself now and if there are future complications from this head injury?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Texas

[lya]

There is a misconception among hospital employees that if a visitor become ill or injured that the person should be taken to the ED for evaluation and treatment if necessary and that the hospital will pay for the treatment. The truth is, the visitor is to be offered assistance in going to the ED but should not be forced to go; and, the hospital does not provide free treatment! To provide free treatment would be to admit liability.

Provide your insurance information to the hospital.

Seek follow-up care with your own physician as should have done before now if you are having problems. You will be responsible for the bill for follow-up care and follow-up diagnostic testing.

You have assumed the door-shelf-thing was not properly locked; but, you have no proof. It could have dropped open from a variety of causes. The difference is of its being an act of negligence vs. an accident.

Keep in mind that the shelf did not break free and fall from a great height. It opened and bopped you on the head. Don't try and make more of the situation that is true; in other words, don't try and pad your claim with nonsense damages in order to attempt to gain more money. Attorneys do not like that.

If you wish to attempt to recoup the costs of the ED visit and follow-up care, consult with a personal injury attorney. There is no way to accurately predict the outcome, but I believe you may be successful in re-couping your expenses as well as those of your insurance company, who will be reimbursed from your 'award'. You may or may not gain a few extra dollars above the costs and fees due the attorney. The process is not speedy; expect it to take about a year. That way, you'll be pleasantly surprised if it resolves earlier than a year from now.

I encourage you to consult with a personal injury attorney. Do so at your earliest convenience.

For a little humor, I'll share a visitor-patient-overhead TV incident with you.

In the Intensive Care Unit, the TVs were mounted on an overhead swivel shelf that allowed the patient to view it from back-lying or side-lying and it allowed visitors to watch TV if the patient allowed. A visitor, an attorney whose name I won't mention, became enraged that he could not see the TV "properly", so he snatched on the cables in an attempt to turn the TV on the "shelf". He succeeded in repositioning the TV. It fell off of the shelf onto the head of the patient, the most prominent and feared judge in the district. The TV bounced onto the floor and the judge nearly died laughing, really; we had to shock him back into a regular rhythm. We don't mount TVs on the wall, anymore; and they don't swivel, either.

[princess2]

lya
Your comments are inaccurate and insulting. You are changing my facts to fit your fantasy.

How can you even attempt to know the detailed make of this cabinet, how it was locked, and how high it was when it fell on my head? I do know. I was there. The nurse said it herself that the lock was not turned up straight and showed us the catch for the lock...etc. You should not confuse the facts of my situation with your personal opinion. You have been of no help and are just wanting to hear yourself talk.

Please do not reply any more to my post for any reason.

[lya]

Originally Posted by princess2

lya
Your comments are inaccurate and insulting. You are changing my facts to fit your fantasy.

How can you even attempt to know the detailed make of this cabinet, how it was locked, and how high it was when it fell on my head? I do know. I was there. The nurse said it herself that the lock was not turned up straight and showed us the catch for the lock...etc. You should not confuse the facts of my situation with your personal opinion. You have been of no help and are just wanting to hear yourself talk.

Please do not reply any more to my post for any reason.

You have no idea what caused the shelf to fall. The "nurse" has no idea what caused the shelf to fall, either. I could tell you how to find out; but, with your attitude, I will not.

You appear to have many dollar signs dancing above your head. It ain't gonna happen.

Be careful or the whole darn house may land on you next time. Dorothy needs a new pair of shoes.

[ecmst12]

Sounds like you have a concussion. Also sounds like it was a freak accident and not the result of negligence on the part of the hospital. You are welcome to contact the hospital's risk management office and tell them about the accident and see what (if anything) they offer you. But don't expect much.

BTW, when she said not to worry about insurance, she meant "you hit your head, we're going to treat you, try to relax", not "you won't have to pay for this". The nurse had absolutely no authority to tell you anything about the bill.