Seattle Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

For a long time, the elderly population has been one of the most underrepresented groups in the county, and surely the most vulnerable; the onset of COVID-19 has only heightened these issues. A large number of families rely on the services of nursing homes in order to keep their loved ones in proper care. However, by admitting our family members into the care and supervision of others, we are inherently taking a risk, as they may be subjected to multiple forms or potential abuse.
If you have any reason to suspect that someone you love has been or is currently being abused at a nursing facility, the Seattle nursing home abuse attorneys from Van Law Firm are here to help. We can recover compensation for any injuries or emotional distress that has been caused by the abuse of others, including punitive damages for especially heinous cases. Call ( (360) 200-0000 for more information.

For a free legal consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer serving Seattle, call (725) 900-9000

Potential Indicators of Nursing Home Abuse

Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is rampant in the state of Washington. According to Senior List, one of the premier authorities on nursing home quality, the state ranks last by a wide margin in terms of the average number of deficiencies per facility; the number is 18, which is a disturbingly high figure when talking about health and safety regulations. What’s worse is that these figures are surely lower than reality, but a large number of incidents are not reported.

In some cases, the elderly abuse victims will report instances of abuse themselves, either to their families or staff members. However, this does not usually happen, for a number of reasons– the most common inhibitor is a fear of further harm or retaliation from the abuser. Other victims may just be unable to effectively communicate their distress, due to a mental or physical disability such as Alzheimer’s. In such a case, it may be up to the family of the victim to spot potential indicators of abuse, such as:

Marked differences in their personality, such as anxiety, mood swings, and depression
Mysterious or unexplained injuries, from minor scrapes to broken bones and lacerations
Sudden and pronounced weight loss
Problems with their genitalia, including STDs, yeast infections, UTIs, and bleeding
Sudden increase in financial spending
Messy or unkempt appearance, or a lack of proper hygiene routines
Missing or broken personal belongings or clothing

Let us evaluate your situation and determine the best path to take to help you achieve your goals. Give our injury attorneys a call today at (360) 200-0000.

Seattle Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me (725) 900-9000

Determining Who is Liable in a Nursing Home Abuse Case

It would appear that elder abuse is an issue that is only gaining steam, as the statistics only worsen with each passing survey. There are about 5 million nursing home residents who are abused in some form each year, according to a report from the National Association of Nursing Home Attorneys. The report also notes that only 1 out of every 14 abuse cases is documented correctly.

When patients are abused at Seattle nursing facilities, there are multiple parties who can be held responsible for victims’ injuries, such as an individual abuser, the owners or administrators of the facility, or even outside parties.

Facility Liability

Any investigation of a nursing home abuse claim will begin by taking a look into the practices of the employees and owners of a given facility. There are numerous violations of health and safety protocols that nursing homes can be punished for, including explicit abuse or harm, mishandling or errant distribution of medication, unsafe conditions, inadequate monitoring of care, cruel or improper use of restraints or sedatives, irresponsible hiring and training practices, and much more.

Outside Liability

There is a bevvy of medical equipment in every nursing facility, and nearly every patient uses some kind of ambulatory device, oxygen tank, or regulator. This means that it is very likely that patients will experience a malfunction of some kind, and if a defect causes harm or injury, the product manufacturer may be found liable in a defective product suit. Additionally, if there is a malfunction with a piece of equipment that is regularly serviced, such as a hydraulic lift, the maintenance company may be deemed responsible.

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Connect With Seattle Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

If you have reason to believe that someone you love is currently being abused or has experienced abuse in the past while under the care of a nursing home, the experienced Seattle nursing home abuse attorneys from Van Law Firm are the right choice to help get to the bottom of the ordeal and hold the guilty parties accountable.
Call our Washington office now at (360) 200-0000 for a free consultation to see what your case may potentially be worth. With over 50 million dollars awarded to our clients thus far, it’s easy to see why we’re one of the top firms both nationally and here in Washington. No obligation consultations are always free.

No obligation consultations are always free.

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My experience with this firm was great. I worked with Yesenia who kept me updated every step of the way and answered questions I had and they was a lot. Helped make sure my daughter was included as well.

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This was the best law firm experience I have ever had in my life and I have had several. Van Law Firm is the best in Vegas and the only law firm I will ever use.

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I want to thank Van Law Firm for the hard work and dedication they put into my case. My case manager Norma was great and explained everything in detail and answered any questions I had.

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