Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Learning that a family member is suffering from nursing home negligence is a crushing experience, especially after you placed such immense faith in the nursing home staff to take care of your loved one.

The attorneys at Cochran Douglas in Tacoma, WA, have won millions for abuse victims and are here to hold any responsible party accountable for inflicting suffering on you and your family.

Contact our personal injury lawyers now for a free consultation if you suspect someone you love is suffering abuse at a nursing home or other assisted living facility. 

Identifying Nursing Home Abuse

Seniors and those with special needs depend on dedicated and compassionate caretakers for their livelihood. Should someone you care for be subjected to nursing home neglect, physical abuse, or other mistreatment, the lawyers at Cochran Douglas in Tacoma can help you recover damages and achieve justice.   

Nursing home abuse is a type of personal injury that can take many forms. It's important to recognize the signs of neglect and other harm nursing home residents may face. If you know someone who has experienced the following forms of exploitation or mistreatment, reach out to our Tacoma nursing home abuse attorneys.

Elder raising hand in defense

Watch Out For These Signs

Sad elderly man

Neglect

If the person you care for is being ignored or is provided inadequate supervision, they are likely a victim of nursing home neglect. This can include wearing dirty clothes, poor hygiene, bedsores, weight loss, untreated injuries, and unclean living quarters. Residents in nursing homes should have their basic needs met in order to maintain a good quality of life. 

Elderly man and medication

Medical Malpractice

It's common for nursing home residents to have to take medication for their health. Some people may have health conditions that require accommodations like walkers or oxygen masks. Nursing home companies and their staff who don't give residents their medication in the proper increments or correct doses, or fail to provide equipment that helps with physical limitations, can be held liable.

Elderly woman with injured arm and walker

Physical Abuse

If a caretaker hits, shakes, or restrains your loved one for a reason not related to their care, it may be considered physical abuse. If you notice bruises, injuries, depression, or a dramatic change in mood from your loved one, these can be signs that they're experiencing physical abuse. Signs of this type of personal injury can include bruises, scrapes, bandages, cuts, open wounds, and bed sores. 

Depressed elderly woman

Emotional Abuse

If a caregiver uses intimidating tones and words, threats, insults, and demeaning language, our nursing home abuse attorneys can pursue damages for emotional abuse. Emotional abuse may not be as clear to see as physical injuries, but it can be just as damaging. Symptoms like depression, general disinterest, emotional distancing, and a refusal to speak or be social may be signs that a nursing home resident is suffering emotional abuse. 

Suspicious elderly man looking at financial statements

Financial Abuse

Financial abuse is an insidious form of elder abuse that may not be immediately detectable since there are no obvious physical or behavioral signs. In some cases, it can be straightforward theft like stealing cash or a credit card. In more complex situations, financial abuse of a nursing home resident can take the form of identity theft, forgery, or even forcing an elder to change their will. Our attorneys can identify financial abuse through a careful evaluation of all of your elder's accounts.

Upset elderly woman with head in hands

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse of an elder can be so horrifying to imagine that some family members may miss signs that should indicate it. There are various forms of sexual abuse against a nursing home resident, such as the taking of sexual photographs, coercing them into committing sexual acts, or performing sexual acts in front of them. Bruises around the inner thighs, sudden genital infections or sexually transmitted diseases, and a new difficulty with motor skills can all be signs of sexual abuse.

​Recognize These Signs? Reach Out to Us Now

Our Tacoma-based personal injury lawyers are extremely well-versed in recognizing signs of nursing home neglect and all relevant nursing home laws. If you suspect that a person you care about is the victim of mistreatment, contact our nursing home abuse lawyers for a free consultation today. Call (253) 472-7777 to get started.

Our Tacoma Clients Leave Great Reviews

"I would like to highly recommend Cochran Douglas Law for your personal injury needs. The attorneys are professional yet personable.I know they take the time necessary to consider your individual circumstance and will work their hardest on your behalf. They are honest and you can be sure their legal experience is exactly what you need when you are at your most vulnerable." Virginia D. Tacoma, WA

What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse 

Document Signs of Abuse

If a nursing home resident experiences unexplained injuries, weight loss, poor hygiene, or dirty living quarters, take photos and notes. Have a doctor review your loved one's health and see if they can detect any signs of abuse. Save all videos, reports, medical records, and personal notes in a safe spot, since they can greatly help our nursing home abuse attorneys.

Talk to Administrators

If you have questions or concerns about the state your loved one is in, see if you can talk to nursing home administrators about it. Privately, you should ask your loved one if they are experiencing nursing home abuse. It may be possible that the nursing home resident is too scared to admit they are a victim of abuse. It's important to recognize the signs of abuse in case things don't match up with what you're being told.

Report Clear-Cut Abuse to Authorities

Regardless of whether your family member and staff deny any abuse, if it is clear to you that abuse is taking place, you should report it to the police. You should also report the harmful activity to the state Department of Social and Health Services. At this time, it is also recommended that you find a new facility for your family member, since they may face more abuse after you report the nursing home. 

Contact Us

The nursing home abuse lawyers at our Tacoma law office can help you file a nursing home abuse claim and pursue damages. We can protect your vulnerable family member, hold abusers liable, and advance your case through the court system. Our lawyers will fight for fair compensation and expose abusive nursing homes so they cannot take advantage of other vulnerable adults. 

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Michael Heathcote

Tacoma, WA

2023

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I just wrapped up my case with Cochran Douglas representing me and I am grateful they were the ones to do so... I was happy with he outcome of their work and will be sure to use them in the future and recommend them with full confidence. Thanks again to the whole team for all of your efforts!

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Anthony Ballenger

Tacoma, WA

2023

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Helpful and kind. If something happened to you. And you want someone with the knowledge of where you can go. And the knowledge of how to best get you help. These guys will guide you. With their hearts. I thank them for all they’ve done. Sincerely.

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Don't Wait Too Long

Washington state has a three-year limit on filing a personal injury lawsuit.

Three years may seem like a long time, but the more time that passes, the harder it can be to retain accurate and compelling evidence. If you contact us as soon as possible after you discover any signs of nursing home abuse, our attorneys can start building your case right away. 

"This is a first-class law firm." Great Reviews From Tacoma

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Daron Buxton

Tacoma, WA

2023

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This is a first-class law firm. They went above and beyond to settle my case, and greatly exceeded my expectations. They are genuine, kind, and compassionate. Cochran Douglas has an amazing staff that will keep you informed through the process and work to ease the anxiety surrounding your case. These are the people you want on your side!

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Julia Lee

Tacoma, WA

2023

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I had a fantastic experience working with Cole and his whole team. Competent, compassionate, communicative. They took great care of me and handled my case better than I could have expected. Thank you!

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We Can Help Your Loved One  Get Out of an Abusive Situation

If you're seeing unexplained injuries and a complete change in behavior from someone you care about who lives in a nursing home, they can be signs of abuse. These situations can be difficult to navigate if your loved one and the nursing home staff deny any abusive activity. 

It costs you nothing to take advantage of our free consultations. If the person you care about is a victim of nursing home abuse, our lawyers will do all we can to expose the staff and administrators who are mistreating vulnerable adults. Meanwhile, we will pursue the maximum restitution so you and your family can get the care you need to overcome this grave mistreatment.

Attorneys Cole Douglas and Loren Cochran work on a contingency basis when it comes to personal injury, which means you don't pay a dime unless we achieve a settlement or jury award on your behalf. Request a consultation online today or contact us by phone.

Call: (253) 472-7777

Cole Douglas and Loren Cochran
Our Tacoma lawyers are here to fight for victims of nursing home abuse.

Washington Law Sets Strict Staffing Requirements

Much of the elder abuse described thus far refers to individual actions taken by negligent or malicious nursing home staff. Nursing home resident abuse can also stem from the administration's failure to hire adequate, quality staff. 

Insufficient nursing home staff is a common problem nationwide that often leads employees to be overworked, causing them to fail in their basic duty of care to each resident. According to Washington law RCW 74.42.360, every nursing home in the state must have sufficient staff that carries out a minimum of 3.4 hours of direct care for each resident on a daily basis. 

There are many other requirements that, if not met, can be grounds for a negligence-based lawsuit. For example, the same law mandates that certain staff members must have a relevant degree, at least three years of care experience, and have completed certain curricula to qualify as direct care workers. 

Residents on Medicaid Are Entitled to Quality Care

Nurse helping elderly man use walker

Some nursing home administrators will reject or discriminate against Medicaid recipients because they do not receive as much payment from Medicaid as they would from residents who pay out-of-pocket or through Medicare. Washington law RCW 74.42.055 makes clear that any discrimination against a resident based on their being a Medicaid recipient by a nursing home that has contracted with the government is strictly prohibited. 

For example, no nursing home that has contracted with the government can delay admission because a potential resident is a Medicaid recipient.

If your loved one was discriminated against or refused services due to being a Medicaid recipient, and this led to quantifiable damages stemming from missed medical diagnosis, emotional abuse, or other forms of neglect, our Tacoma nursing home abuse lawyers can sue the nursing home on your loved one's behalf.

What To Do in Cases of Wrongful Death

Depending on the health of the person you care for, the nature of the abuse, and other factors, elder abuse or nursing home neglect can be deadly. You have the sympathy of our attorneys if you lost someone to nursing home abuse, and they are prepared to take action on your behalf. 

No settlement or verdict can bring back the people you care about, but a successful wrongful death case can provide the resources you need to ease burdens like funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and emotional loss. Our nursing home abuse lawyers will hold caregivers responsible for a wrongful death they have caused and pursue maximum restitution that can allow your family to heal.

Like personal injury cases in Washington, wrongful death cases have a three-year period in which to file a claim. We recommend contacting our attorneys as soon as you can so we can build a strong case for meaningful compensation. 

"They went out of their way to help my mother."

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Luba Marmazyuk

Tacoma, WA

2023

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Probably one the the best Law office out there! They went out of their way to help me and even my mother. Even when they weren’t working, they still scheduled appointments and answered my calls! They help me so much and I am thankful and blessed that they were there for me! We recently closed my case and I’m just very thankful I chose them and I think you should too. :))

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Natalie Hernandez

Tacoma, WA

2023

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If you are looking for attorneys that are sharp, care, and kind you are looking in the right place... They made me feel heard, understood. Highly recommend. 10/10. I don’t really recommend places unless I am 100% sure they are about their business and Cochran Douglas is about their business. Again, 10/10. God bless this Law-firm :)

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Cochran Douglas PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

Our personal injury attorneys have collected numerous honors and belong to noted professional organizations, ensuring they stay current with the ever-changing legal landscape. Among our honors and professional affiliations:

  • WSAJ: Washington State Association for Justice
  • WSBA: Washington State Bar Association
  • KCBA: King County Bar Association
  • TPCBA: Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association
  • Super Lawyers
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Request a free consultation with our practice by contacting us online or by calling (253) 472-7777. We can meet at a location and time convenient for you, including nights and weekends.

 

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