Tacoma Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

It’s difficult to imagine that an elderly loved one could be abused in a nursing care facility – the very place that is supposed to keep them safe. Sadly, we know that elder abuse is on the rise. Do you suspect that your loved one may be a victim? A Tacoma nursing home abuse lawyer can investigate and determine who may be legally responsible.

In the State of Washington, an abused or neglected resident can file a claim against their nursing home. But, proving liability isn’t always a fair or easy process. For this reason, we recommend that you reach out to a compassionate lawyer from our team for help.

Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse can take several different forms:

• Physical abuse. Tell-tale signs to watch for include bruising, cuts, signs of malnutrition or dehydration, dirty bed linens, soiled undergarments, sexually transmitted diseases or infections, broken bones, and unexplained weight loss. We’ve also written before how bedsores can be a sign of elder neglect.
• Emotional abuse. Have you noticed that your loved one has recently become withdrawn, fearful, or anxious? Or perhaps has stopped participating in social activities? These could be indicators of emotional abuse.
• Financial abuse. Obvious warning signs include sudden changes to a resident’s power of attorney documents or will or adding a previously unauthorized signatory to financial accounts. Belongings or money might also go missing. Pay attention to any relationships with staff that feel imbalanced or improper.

It may be hard to know for sure if abuse is taking place. A qualified attorney from our team is available for a free, confidential consultation. After hearing what happened, we can determine what legal steps may be necessary to protect your loved one.

Deadline to File a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Tacoma

The deadline to file a negligence claim for nursing home abuse in Tacoma is three years, per Revised Code of Washington § 4.16.080. When a resident dies due to abuse, the law provides their family three years from the date of the individual’s death to file a wrongful death action for damages.

The sooner you can involve a lawyer from our team, the better chance we have in being able to help you. So please, don’t hesitate or delay in reaching out.

Establishing Negligence in a Tacoma Nursing Home Abuse Claim

There are several parties could be guilty of negligence in a nursing home abuse claim. To prove that a nursing home employee and/or the facility was negligent, we need to be able to prove:

1. The standard of care was breached. Put another way, your loved one did not receive the expected level of care he should have received.
2. As a result of the breach of care, your loved one was injured. There needs to be a direct correlation between the improper care and your loved one’s injury.
3. The injury resulted in damages. Damages could include medical care or accommodations, other out-of-pocket expenses, pain, and suffering.

Here’s where a nursing home abuse lawyer comes in. A lawyer can look at the facts of the case and determine if there is enough evidence to prove that negligence occurred. If so, the lawyer can then advocate for a fair settlement on the victim’s behalf to recover the financial losses. Also, a settlement often provides the victims with a sense of justice.

Nursing Home Resident Rights in Washington State

The law provides nursing and assisted home facility residents with certain, key rights. Here are a few notable Washington State laws related to long-term care residents:

1. Facilities can’t ask residents sign to waivers that shield them from being sued for injuries or property losses. In other words, nothing a nursing home resident might have signed means they can’t pursue legal action if they’ve been harmed by that facility. (See RCW 70.129.105.)
2. Residents have the right to be free of all forms of abuse. No resident shall be subject to any form of abuse – verbal, sexual, physical, or mental. Furthermore, facilities should obtain background checks for all workers. (See RCW 70.129.130.)
3. Facilities should provide residents with quality of life. Facilities should recognize the dignity of life of all of their residents. They should make reasonable accommodations, provide activities, and allow residents to make choices about aspects of their lives. (See RCW 70.129.140.)

Compensation for Abused Residents

Every case is different. There are many possible types of damages that an abused resident could recover in a personal injury case, including:

• Hospital bills
• Doctor visits
• Physical therapy visits
• Prescription medications
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

A skilled lawyer can help determine the potential value of your case based on your total damages.

Call a Tacoma Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today

If you are concerned that a member of your family may be suffering from abuse at their nursing home, it’s time to seek legal help. A Tacoma nursing home abuse lawyer at Ladenburg Law can advise you of your legal options and help you take swift legal action to protect the safety of your loved one.

The first step is easy. Give us a call or reach out to us using the form on our contact page. Ask for a free case evaluation. Rest assured we only charge a fee if we’re able to win you a settlement. In other words, there’s nothing to pay us upfront for our time and services.