Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Washington “They showed my family true compassion and made a hard process easy.”
– Brenden Duncan, 5-star review
- Ranked a Best Law Firm for 2025
- Millions won on behalf of our clients
- Nearly 200 5-star reviews
You Can Afford Strong Representation
With mounting medical bills and other unexpected financial strains, the very idea of legal fees might be overwhelming. We make sure paying us will never be a burden. We offer free case reviews, don’t ask for retainer fees, and won’t charge extra if your case goes to trial.
“I couldn’t be happier!”
“I can’t say enough amazing things in this review. I feel so relieved that I went with this firm and not some other random one I could have found on google. I definitely feel like this firm worked tirelessly for me and absolutely secured as much of a settlement as possible. I couldn’t be happier! Thank you!” – Angela Armestar, 5-Star Review
Focus on Your Family Reach Out to Cochran Douglas
If you suspect your loved one has suffered at the hands of a trusted care facility, it can turn your world upside down. Trusting others to care for your family takes a huge amount of faith, and when this commitment is broken, it can feel like an unspeakable violation.
Cochran Douglas is here for you. We can be the beacon of light when you’re unsure where to turn for support. Working alongside personal injury attorney Tiffany Wilke, Loren Cochran, and Cole Douglas bring years of experience in similar cases. Clients choose and recommend us because we have:
✔ No legal fees whatsoever unless we win your case
✔ Been recognized as a Best Law Firm and Best Lawyers
✔ Won millions of dollars in settlements and jury awards
Time is of the essence. The sooner we can get to work preserving evidence and strengthening your case, the better. We’re happy to meet you wherever it is most convenient, including the hospital.
You Have 3 Years to File
Nursing home abuse cases in Washington state must generally be filed within three years. In some cases, however, you may have less time. Involving an attorney as soon as possible will ensure no important deadlines are missed—deadlines that mean you completely lose your right to any legal action if they are missed.
Loren Cochran Explains How Our Team Can Help
The legal team at Cochran Douglas has experience handling these types of cases, and unfortunately, we've seen it all, from the serious effects of preventable falls to sexual abuse. We'll work hard to uncover the facts, demonstrating exactly what happened and where care providers have fallen short.
Meet Our Attorneys Dedicated to Your Recovery
A Tacoma native, attorney Loren Cochran has been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2014. He has been practicing in the state of Washington since 2002.
Cole Douglas was recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star and was also listed on the prestigious 40 Under 40 list by the South Sound Business Journal in 2022.
Tiffany Wilke graduated cum laude from Seattle University Law School, won an award for Trial Advocacy, and brings unique insight, as she worked on the insurance side for seven years.
Signs of Negligence & Abuse
Thinking about your elderly loved one being harmed can be utterly devastating, and it’s easy to attribute the signs to other causes. If you suspect they’re suffering abuse, it’s important to know what to look for.
Mood Changes
Nursing home residents who are suddenly angry, tearful, or experiencing other mood patterns that are not normal for them might be reacting to harmful conditions.
Becoming Withdrawn
Elder abuse can cause seniors to feel fearful and mistrustful. Even if you attempt to discuss uncomfortable subjects with them, they might simply withdraw.
Unexplained Injuries
Bed sores can indicate an immobile patient is not being properly taken care of. Bruises that can’t be attributed to falls or other similar causes could be caused by a caregiver who is roughly handling patients.
Nervousness
Heightened anxiety is a natural response to feeling unsafe around nursing home staff or other care providers. Take note of how your loved one acts around routine visits from staff members.
Rapid Weight Loss
Weight loss can occur when patients experience heightened stress or become withdrawn. If their medical care is lacking, they might also not be getting the proper nutrition.
Preventable Falls
Falls pose a serious risk to seniors. They might experience broken bones, head injuries, and more. This is one example of an injury that might be preventable if the conditions were improved regarding lighting, hand rails, or other safety precautions.
“Cochran Douglas law firm provided exceptional legal support, demonstrating professionalism, expertise, and clear communication. Highly recommend!.” – Edward S, 5-Star Review
Understanding Washington's “Standard of Care”
The unfortunate reality is seniors are at a much higher risk of injuries like falls and medical complications. So how do our Washington nursing home abuse attorneys prove that any negative effects were in fact due to neglect or outright abuse?
They rely on an important concept called the “standard of care.” This describes the acceptable (and legal) quality of assistance and oversight that patients are supposed to be receiving. For example, under Washington state law, nursing home residents must receive 3.4 hours of direct care per day.
This concept covers areas such as:
✔ Adequate medical care
✔ Adequate assistance in areas like hygiene
✔ Ensuring proper nutrition and adequate hydration
✔ Providing safe conditions to prevent falls and other injuries
✔ Treating patients with respect and dignity
When our Washington nursing home abuse attorneys can analyze the facts and clearly demonstrate the gap between the standard of care your loved one should have been receiving and what was actually provided, that is the foundation of a successful nursing home abuse case.
"Having Cole in my corner was huge."
In this car accident attorney testimonial, Kathy explains how a rear-end collision left her injured. She enlisted Cochran Douglas to help her collect compensation. The restitution she received with her attorney's help was far beyond what she expected.
“I can't recommend Cochran Douglas enough. They were incredibly on top of my case and they helped me reach a larger settlement than anticipated. Everyone was so kind, helpful, and professional ❤ eternally appreciative of their efforts.” – Savannah Lauritzen, 5-Star Review
Is This Actually Abuse? Understanding Types of Elder Abuse
It’s completely understandable when our clients are unsure whether they even have a case. Sometimes, actions are egregious and abhorrent. In others, it might not be so obvious. Until one of our Washington nursing home abuse attorneys can meet with you, consider these examples:
Neglect
If you’re unsure whether your loved one is actually being mistreated, there’s a good chance it falls under the category of neglect. This is why evaluating whether the standard of care was met is so important. Examples of neglect include a resident becoming dehydrated because they need reminders to drink liquids throughout the day or inadequate hygiene resulting in a skin infection.
Physical Abuse
Nursing home staff might unnecessarily restrain patients if they are not cooperative, leaving marks on the skin. In other situations, they might be outright aggressive in their actions. Residents might be subjected to pinching, hitting, slapping, or being roughly handled in any way.
Verbal Abuse
Each and every nursing home resident has the right to be treated with dignity and respect, and this extends to the way they are spoken to. Caregivers might use racial slurs, call them names, belittle or humiliate them, or speak to them in other ways that undermine their self worth and sense of confidence.
Emotional Abuse
Similar to verbal abuse, these types of actions cause psychological harm to nursing home patients. Emotional abuse might be more overt, such as verbal abuse or bullying, or any more nuanced action (or inaction) that causes someone to feel bad about or doubt themselves. Care providers are also responsible for meeting the emotional needs of their patients, demonstrating compassion and empathy when it is needed.
Sexual Abuse
It seems inconceivable, but our attorneys have dealt with sexual abuse cases in a nursing home setting firsthand. Given the fact that many patients in these types of institutions have limited mobility issues, they can be particularly vulnerable to heinous acts. Patients might become withdrawn, depressed, or anxious, or even develop a sexually transmitted infection.
Financial Abuse
Seniors in assisted living facilities and nursing homes can be susceptible to financial abuse, especially in cases where this is an area they choose to handle independently instead of with the help of family members. If their money or other assets are used for anything other than their housing, medical care, or similar expenses, it is a violation. They might also see duplicate charges to credit cards, fees for procedures they didn’t have performed, and more.
“I had the pleasure of working with Cochran Douglas Attorneys at Law, and I can confidently say that they exceeded my expectations in every way. From the moment I reached out for legal assistance, their team demonstrated unparalleled professionalism, expertise, and a support. I felt heard, guided, and well taken care of while working with their awesome team. Their expertise, communication, and dedication to achieving favorable outcomes make them a standout choice in the legal field.” – Alexander Orlov, 5-Star Review
How You Can Help Our Attorneys
Even in seemingly clear-cut cases of nursing home neglect or abuse in Washington State, it’s never advisable to try and take action against assisted living facilities or similar institutions on your own. At the same time, you play an important role, and there are several steps you can take:
Keep in mind, in some cases, the facility might not deny any wrongdoing. They might try to settle and make you an offer, but it will almost certainly be far less than what you are actually owed. It takes a skilled attorney to calculate current losses as well as any future effects on you and your family.
Did Your Loved One Suffer a Fatal Injury?
Given the fragile health of our older family members, a preventable infection or fall can tragically prove too much for their bodies to handle. If your loved one passed, you have our deepest condolences. You should never have to shoulder the financial burden in this type of situation. Our Washington nursing home abuse attorneys handle wrongful death cases and will stand by you during this difficult time. We’ll fight for everything you are owed and more so you can focus on grieving and moving forward.
