Washington State Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits - Information from Our Attorneys in Seattle

When our parents or loved ones are no longer capable of caring for themselves, we are faced with the difficult task of providing for their health and safety. Today’s busy modern lifestyle practically necessitates nursing homes. When you place your loved one in a nursing home, you do so with the expectation that he or she will be cared for by qualified, competent professionals. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Every year, thousands of elderly people living in nursing homes endure ongoing abuse by the very people paid to protect them. As the number of people living in assisted-care or nursing homes rise, so do the incidents of abuse and negligence. By contacting one of our experienced nursing home abuse attorneys in Seattle, Washington, we can work together to disrupt this disturbing trend.

The team of nursing home abuse lawyers at our Seattle, Washington firm has extensive experience handling nursing home abuse lawsuits and neglect litigation. If you or someone you love is the victim of abuse, contact Wiener Lambka Deutscher today to discuss your claim.

Nursing Home Abuse Defined

Nursing home abuse is a specific type of medical malpractice defined as the neglect, mistreatment, or harming of any elderly resident in the home. This abuse usually occurs because the nursing home staff is under-trained, underpaid, under-qualified, or overworked. Nursing home abuse takes on a variety of forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and financial exploitation. Because the abuse is often committed by trusted authority figures, victims in Washington State are often afraid and unwilling to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit. Therefore, family members and loved ones must keep a watchful eye for bruising, unexplained physical injuries, depression, or malnutrition. These signs of abuse should be reported immediately to the proper authorities. As soon as possible, the next step should be to contact our nursing home abuse lawyers in Seattle.

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Examples of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Contact Weiner, Lambka, & Deutscher if you or someone you know is the victim of nursing home abuse. Common examples of nursing home abuse and neglect include:

  • Failure to assist in personal hygiene
  • Failure to provide appropriate food, clothing and shelter
  • Failure to provide appropriate medical care
  • Failure to prevent or treat malnutrition and dehydration
  • Failure to prevent falls
  • Development of bed sores and ulcers
  • Excessive and/or rapid weight loss
  • Broken bones and/or unexplained falls
  • Open wounds, cuts, bruises, or welts
  • Unexplained or unexpected death
  • Injuries resulting from restraint or lack of restraint

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Nursing Home Abuse Statistics

Federal health and safety standards protect the vulnerable residents of nursing homes from physical, sexual, and verbal abuse. A congressional report issued in 2001 found that 5,283 nursing homes – almost one out of every three U.S. nursing homes – were cited for abuse violation in a two-year period. Our talented and knowledgeable nursing home abuse attorneys in Seattle, Washington are experienced in nursing home abuse and neglect lawsuits.

Over 1,600 of these violations – nearly 10 percent – were serious enough to cause actual harm to the residents or to place the residents in immediate jeopardy of death or serious injury. The congressional report described many instances of appalling physical, sexual, and verbal abuse of nursing home residents.

[To examine the complete congressional report, click here]

Because the abuse is often committed by trusted authority figures, many victims are often afraid and unwilling to report it. It is estimated that for every one case of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation reported to the authorities, about five more incidents go unreported (National Center on Elder Abuse – Fact Sheet). This neglect and mistreatment continues despite the passing of the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 by the Federal Government, which guaranteed important rights to nursing home residents.

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Reporting Nursing Home Abuse, Neglect, and Injury

If you suspect that a family member has been the victim of nursing home negligence or abuse, it is important to immediately document and report the problem for a future lawsuit. Put your report in writing, date it, and keep a copy. It is also important to bring this information with you when you meet with our nursing home abuse lawyers in Seattle. Remember to include:

  • The name, age, and address of the victim
  • The name of the facility and the people responsible for the victim's care
  • The identity of the person who you believe abused or neglected the victim
  • The nature and extent of harm and any physical signs of abuse or neglect
  • A description of any previous incidents
  • The place where the incident happened as well as the time and date of the incident

Make your report to:

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What Can Our Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Do for You?

If you are a victim of nursing home abuse, or a family member has been injured as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect, you may be entitled to recover economic damages. These include compensation for past and future medical expenses, past and future wage loss, impairment of earning capacity, and other out-of-pocket expenses. You might also recover damages through a lawsuit for non-economic damages (including inconvenience, loss of quality of life, emotional distress, pain and suffering), and physical impairment and disfigurement (including compensation for scars or physical disability as a result of the injuries you have sustained).

In order to receive sufficient compensation for your claim, it is very important that you retain experienced, aggressive legal representation as soon as possible. The nursing home abuse lawyers at Wiener Lambka Deutscher, Attorneys at Law in Seattle realize that nursing home abuse and neglect is difficult for the victims and their loved ones. Contact our offices today to arrange a consultation. We have represented many Seattle and Washington State victims in nursing home neglect and abuse lawsuits over the years.

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Contact Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Seattle

If you would like our nursing home abuse attorneys to examine your case, contact our offices in Seattle or Renton, Washington. Our lawyers will assess your case and potential nursing home abuse lawsuit, as well as answer any additional questions you may have about nursing home neglect or abuse.

If you have been victimized by a person or business's negligent behavior, contact our personal injury attorneys in Seattle, Washington. We serve all of Western Washington including Snohomish, King, and Pierce Counties. We will travel to you to help make this process easier.






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