Bedsores and pressure ulcers are among the most preventable injuries a patient can develop in a hospital or nursing home, yet they continue to occur because of negligent care. When a patient is left immobile for extended periods without proper repositioning, monitoring, or wound intervention, the resulting injury can range from painful skin redness to life-threatening infection. Families who discover these wounds often have no idea how far the damage has progressed, or that they may have legal recourse for what happened to their family member.
At Davis & Davis, our Houston bedsores and pressure ulcers lawyers represent victims of hospital negligence across Texas and nationwide. With nearly 70 years of combined experience and more than 300 jury trials, our trial-tested legal team understands how to investigate these cases, identify the responsible parties, and pursue full compensation for the harm caused. If your family member developed a pressure ulcer while in the care of a hospital, rehabilitation center, or nursing facility, we want to hear from you. Our case evaluations are free, and we handle all cases on a no upfront fees basis.
⚠ Time-Sensitive — Texas Law Limits Your Window to File
Texas has a 2-year statute of limitations on bedsore malpractice claims. Missing this deadline permanently ends your right to compensation.
Davis & Davis has nearly 70 years of combined experience, has handled more than 300 jury trials, and represents clients across Texas and nationwide — with no upfront fees.
How Hospital and Nursing Home Negligence Causes Bedsores
A pressure ulcer, decubitus ulcer, and bedsore all refer to the same type of skin injury. They form when sustained pressure cuts off circulation to an area of skin, causing tissue to break down. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission identifies four progressive stages, from early redness that does not resolve to full-thickness tissue loss exposing bone, tendon, or muscle. Stage 3 and Stage 4 wounds are classified as “never events” by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, meaning they are considered entirely preventable with proper care.
When a care facility or its staff fails to implement basic prevention protocols, negligence may be the cause. Responsible parties, including individual clinicians, nursing staff, or the institution itself, may have failed in one or more of the following ways:
- Failing to reposition an immobile patient at regular intervals to relieve sustained pressure
- Not using pressure-relieving mattresses or cushioning devices indicated for high-risk patients
- Neglecting to monitor skin condition changes and document early warning signs
- Failing to diagnose a developing pressure ulcer before it advanced to a more serious stage
- Not initiating immediate wound care once a bedsore was identified
- Failing to provide adequate staff training on pressure injury prevention protocols
- Allowing persistent moisture from soiled linens or incontinence to accelerate skin breakdown
When negligence allows a bedsore to progress unchecked, the consequences can be severe. Advanced wounds frequently become infected, and that infection can spread to the bloodstream, leading to sepsis, which is a life-threatening condition. In the most serious cases, patients have required surgery, amputation, or prolonged hospitalization as a direct result of a preventable wound.
Who May Be Liable for a Bedsore Injury
Bedsore cases often involve more than one responsible party. Liability can extend beyond the individual nurse or physician to the institution itself, depending on what went wrong. The following types of negligence commonly give rise to a medical malpractice claim:
Nursing Negligence
Failure to turn and reposition a bedridden patient, or to document and report skin changes per protocol.
Physician Failure
Failure to order appropriate wound care, specialist consultation, or pressure-relieving interventions for a high-risk patient.
Institutional Negligence
Chronic understaffing, failure to train staff on prevention protocols, or inadequate wound care policies at the facility level.
Delayed Treatment
Allowing a stage 1 or 2 wound to progress to a stage 3 or 4 by failing to initiate treatment at the earliest signs of breakdown.
Statute of Limitations for Houston Bedsore Malpractice Claims
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §74.251, a medical malpractice claim must be filed within two years from the date of the negligent act or omission — in a bedsore case, this is typically the date the wound developed or significantly worsened due to inadequate care. For wrongful death claims arising from a bedsore-related death, the two-year period generally begins from the date of death. One important exception applies to minor patients: children under the age of 12 have until their 14th birthday to file a claim.
Missing this deadline permanently eliminates your right to compensation, regardless of how clear the negligence was. Evidence also degrades quickly — repositioning logs disappear, staff turnover means witnesses become unavailable, and facilities have every incentive to control what is documented. Contacting Davis & Davis as early as possible protects your right to pursue the full scope of damages your family is owed.
How a Bedsore Malpractice Case Works
Pursuing a bedsore malpractice claim involves several distinct steps, each of which requires careful legal and medical judgment. Here is what the process typically looks like when Davis & Davis takes your case:
Free Case Evaluation
We review the facts of your situation, explain your legal options, and assess whether the care provided fell below the accepted standard.
Evidence Preservation
We immediately request medical records, nursing logs, staffing data, and facility protocols before they can be altered or destroyed.
Medical Expert Review
We retain independent wound care professionals to evaluate whether the standard of care was met and to prepare a required expert report.
Claim Filing and Negotiation
We file your claim within the two-year statute of limitations and negotiate with the facility’s insurer. The insurance company is not looking out for you — we are.
Trial If Necessary
With more than 300 jury trials, Davis & Davis is fully prepared to take your case to verdict if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
What You Should Do After Discovering a Bedsore
As soon as you suspect your family member has developed a bedsore, ask the care facility for the wound assessment documentation and any repositioning logs. You have a right to those records, and they are often central to establishing whether staff followed required prevention protocols. If the wound appears infected, is more advanced than stage 1, or if staff are reluctant to discuss how or when it developed, do not delay in seeking legal guidance. Evidence from care facilities can be lost or altered, and the two-year statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims in Texas means timing matters.
Our Houston bedsores and pressure ulcers lawyers move quickly to preserve evidence, request staffing records, and retain wound care professionals who can assess whether the standard of care was met. You do not have to navigate this process alone while your family member is still recovering.
Compensation You May Be Able to Recover
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you and your family member may be entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages resulting from the bedsore injury. These can include past, present, and future medical expenses for wound treatment, corrective procedures, and ongoing care; lost wages and loss of earning capacity if the injury affected the patient’s ability to work; pain and suffering; and reduced quality of life. In cases where the negligence was particularly reckless, punitive damages may also be available. Texas law caps non-economic damages at $250,000 per healthcare provider and $500,000 when multiple institutions are involved. Our lawyers can explain what these limits mean for your specific situation.
Why Davis & Davis for Your Houston Bedsore Case
Few law firms in Texas still take on medical malpractice cases, and even fewer focus exclusively on this area of practice. At Davis & Davis, our exclusive focus has been on fighting for victims of medical malpractice for nearly 70 years. Steven R. Davis and John A. Davis, Jr. have the deep knowledge of hospital liability law, the relationships with independent medical professionals, and the courtroom experience to take on large care institutions on your behalf. We regularly fly to meet clients throughout Texas and across the United States, so location is never a barrier to getting the representation you deserve.
Nearly 70 Years of Combined Experience. 300+ Jury Trials.
Exclusively focused on medical malpractice — no upfront fees.
Frequently Asked Questions About Houston Bedsore Malpractice Claims
Do I have a valid bedsore malpractice case in Houston?
You may have a valid claim if your family member developed a stage 3 or stage 4 pressure ulcer — or if a lesser wound was allowed to progress significantly — while under the care of a hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation facility. These wounds are classified as “never events” when they are avoidable, and their presence is often strong evidence that prevention protocols were not followed. A free case evaluation with Davis & Davis can help you determine whether the care provided fell below the accepted standard.
What is the deadline to file a bedsore malpractice lawsuit in Texas?
Texas law gives you two years from the date of the negligent act or omission to file a medical malpractice claim. In bedsore cases, this is typically the date the wound developed or worsened due to inadequate care. For wrongful death claims, the two-year window generally begins on the date of death. Children under age 12 have until their 14th birthday to file. Missing this deadline permanently forfeits your right to compensation.
How much does it cost to hire a Houston bedsore malpractice attorney?
Davis & Davis handles all bedsore malpractice cases on a no upfront fees basis. This means you pay nothing out of pocket and owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Your initial case evaluation is also completely free. You should never have to choose between getting legal help and managing the costs of your family member’s ongoing care.
Can family members file a claim if a patient died from bedsore complications?
Yes. When a bedsore leads to a fatal complication such as sepsis or septic shock, immediate family members — including a spouse, children, and parents — may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim. Texas law also allows a survival action to be brought on behalf of the deceased’s estate. Davis & Davis can help bereaved families understand their rights and pursue accountability for a preventable loss.
What evidence is needed to prove a bedsore malpractice claim in Texas?
Key evidence in a bedsore malpractice case includes the patient’s medical records and wound assessment documentation, nursing notes and repositioning logs, staffing records showing personnel levels at the time the wound developed, facility protocols for pressure injury prevention, and testimony from independent medical professionals who can opine on whether the standard of care was met. Texas also requires a qualified expert report to be submitted within 120 days of filing a claim.
Does Davis & Davis handle bedsore cases outside of Houston?
Yes. Davis & Davis represents clients throughout Texas and nationwide. Our attorneys regularly fly to meet clients wherever they are located, so geography is never a barrier to getting the legal representation you and your family deserve. We also accept referrals from Texas attorneys and law firms across the country.
Contact a Houston Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers Lawyer at Davis & Davis
The development of a stage 3 or stage 4 pressure ulcer in a care facility is not an inevitable outcome of illness. It is, in most cases, a sign someone failed to do their job. Davis & Davis is here to help your family hold the responsible party accountable and pursue the full compensation you are owed. Our attorneys are prepared to fight hard for victims of medical negligence, and we accept referrals from Texas attorneys and law firms nationwide.
To schedule your free case evaluation, contact us online. There are no upfront fees, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
