Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Utah
When the People Who Should Be Caring for Your Loved One Are Not
- $1.83M Nursing Home Verdict
- Multilingual Attorneys on Staff
- Free Case Review, No Fee Unless We Win
Why Utah Families Trust
Younker Hyde Macfarlane
"John Mcfarlane believes in fighting for what is right. I can't thank this firm enough for the amazing work they've done. Amazing, warm and professional team that I highly recommend!" —Sonya R., 5-Star Review
Nursing home abuse cases are not won on outrage. They are won on documentation, medical expert testimony, and patient law firms that can sustain a multi-year fight against facility defense teams. Three things shape how we handle these cases.
- A Network of 1,000+ Medical Experts
Every nursing home case rises or falls on whether another qualified medical professional, looking at the same care record, would have done the same thing. We work with a network of more than 1,000 outside medical consultants who review the records and tell us where the standard of care was breached. - Multilingual Attorneys
Our attorneys speak Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, and Portuguese in addition to English. Nursing home cases frequently involve immigrant families navigating elder-care decisions in a language they did not grow up speaking. We do not want language to be the reason a family stays silent. - Three-Quarters of Our Clients Come From Peer Referrals
Roughly three out of every four clients we represent were referred to us by another law firm that recognized the case needed a specialist. That reputation among peer attorneys is one we are proudest of.
"Younker Hyde Macfarlane definitely took care of me. My case thankfully moved rather quickly, and they made sure to make it happen. I ended up receiving more than they initially thought and for their hard work im extremely grateful, I highly recommend Younker Hyde Macfarlane for any malpractice case." —Bretton, 5-Star Review
What Is Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse is a specific kind of elder abuse that nursing home residents may face. Depending on the degree of that abuse, you may need assistance with a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Both have varying amounts of time in which to file, so it's critical that you act now.
We Can Fight for Your Family
The attorneys at our law firm have filed and handled more medical malpractice claims than anyone else in the state of Utah. We draw upon an extensive network of expert witnesses as well as our own case knowledge to prove nursing home negligence and abuse.
Do you need assistance in something other than English? We can help. Our multilingual nursing home abuse attorneys speak Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, and Portuguese.
The Two Main Types of
Nursing Home Abuse
Negligence
Many instances of nursing home abuse occur due to negligence on the part of nurses, healthcare assistants, and doctors when they breach the standard of care. The results of negligence can range from worsening injuries, like bedsores, to wrongful death.
Deliberate Abuse
Deliberate abuse is an intentional action or pattern of actions designed to harm and intimidate. It can include physical and non-physical abuse, as well as sexual abuse. Because of the danger of harm or death, it may lead victims to remain silent, even if family members notice something suspicious.
"Our experience with Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC was easy & stress-free. We filed a Wrongful Death suit in late 2020 & was settled out of court in late 2022. The people we worked with, Brittney Bohne, McKay Corbett, & John MacFarlane were very professional & explained everything from start to finish. This team did an outstanding job of representing our interests. I would not hesitate to recommend this law firm to handle any legal problems, questions, lawsuits, etc." —Cathy Kelly, 5-Star Review
Examples of Nursing Home Abuse
Due to age and other factors, nursing home injuries often have a significant impact on the victim's health, and in many instances can result in premature death. They may stem from neglect, abuse, or a combination of both.
- Deliberate Injury or Untreated Injuries
Tragically, some nursing home staff may cause physical harm to residents. Elder injuries are especially dangerous as older people may struggle to heal, have longer recovery times, or pass away from their injuries. - Poor Hygiene & Bedsores
Lack of care can result in injuries and distress. It can also create an unsuitable or dangerous environment. Bedsores, untreated injuries, and unclean living conditions are some of the most common forms of nursing home neglect. - Sexual Abuse
Many elderly people may have trouble communicating or they may experience memory loss due to conditions like dementia. Tragically, this makes them vulnerable to sexual abuse from nursing home staff. - Wrongful Death
Sadly, nursing home residents may pass away due to overmedication or the general neglect and abuse they suffer at the hands of staff. If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or malicious acts of caregivers, our nursing home abuse lawyers can help you seek justice and compensation.
Common Causes of
Nursing Home Injuries
- Unqualified Staff
Unqualified staff may be unable to provide the often complex care nursing home residents require. They may be inadequately trained on how to respond to common elder behaviors. They may also be unaware of nursing home rights. A lack of awareness is no excuse for committing elder abuse. - Deliberate Abuse
Deliberate abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, or financial. Bruising can be a clear sign your loved one was harmed. Other forms of deliberate abuse may be harder to spot. Examples of this include nursing home staff verbally abusing your loved one or restricting them from seeing visitors. - Understaffing
Understaffing has been an open secret in the nursing home industry for decades. Understaffing can lead to overworked medical professionals who are unable to provide reasonable care. They may miss patient changes due to exhaustion, make unnecessary errors, or ignore some patients entirely.
"Younker Hyde Macfarlane made it easier to navigate a difficult time in my life. They were professional and attentive to any questions that I had. McKay Corbett was the attorney that I primarily worked with. He explained things in a way that I could easily understand and was very personable. Younker Hyde Macfarlane made me feel like family and that I was being taken care of." —Gilbert, 5-Star Review
Who May Be Complicit in
Nursing Home Abuse?
- Nurses
- Healthcare Assistants
- Doctors
- Leadership
Working With Experts
We work with medical and healthcare professionals to determine if the standard of care has been upheld and duties performed. Our network of witnesses in Utah and beyond can help us establish liability beyond doubt.
With more than 30 years of experience and a network of over 1,000 consultants, you can trust us to thoroughly evaluate your case, determine fault, and take appropriate action against the liable parties. Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC offers free, no-obligation consultations, so there's no drawback to learning what our firm and its resources can do for your case.
How Can Younker Hyde Macfarlane Establish That Nursing Home Abuse Has Occurred?
Medical professionals owe a duty to their patients and have a professional obligation to abide by a reasonable standard of care.
In any instance of potential malpractice, the defendant's actions will be weighed against what their peers would have done in the same position.
At our Salt Lake City, UT, injury law office, we fully investigate our cases, consulting medical professionals and other experts to determine who is liable. If it can be shown that a party failed to abide by a reasonable standard of care and did not act in accordance with peer-accepted behavior, they may be considered liable for negligence.
Non-Physical Abuse
Nursing home residents rely on staff to treat them with kindness and dignity. When that duty is breached, the results can take a toll on both physical and mental health. The state of Utah approaches emotional abuse differently in lawsuits.
While it's unlikely that you can sue for emotional abuse alone, it can make an impact on the damages received in a personal injury or wrongful death case.
Non-physical abuse can cause emotional distress, which may result in additional damages in your verdict. Types of non-physical abuse include:
- Verbal Abuse
- Intimidation
- Lies and Manipulation
- Threats
- Preventing Visitors
- Theft
Proof You Can Provide to
Strengthen Your Case
Though you and your loved ones may feel helpless, you may already possess the evidence you need to win your nursing home abuse lawsuit. Family members can collect crucial proof like:
- Diaries or Accounts
- Pictures of Injuries
- Videos
- Communications With Staff
- Prescriptions
- Medical Records
Progressive Health Decline:
The Hidden Danger of
Nursing Home Abuse
As we age, it can be common to lose motor function and memory. However, this progression can sometimes conceal the effects of nursing home abuse.
In the case of nursing home neglect, it can result in worsening illness or injuries that could have been resolved or alleviated with treatment. For intentional abuse, the expected effects of aging may also allow abusers to hide the truth of their crimes.
Additionally, nursing homes are required to have a doctor on staff, but in many cases, the doctor works on a contract basis and is not an employee of the nursing home or assisted living facility. They may also rely on unqualified or less-involved individuals, to disastrous results. This can lead to an avoidable progressive health decline.
During the Stress and Pain of a Wrongful Death, Younker Hyde Macfarlane Can Help
Our loved ones are irreplaceable. Though a wrongful death lawsuit can never make up for the time lost with them, it can save lives in the future and give your family the means to cope with your loss. Younker Hyde Macfarlane can guide you through the process at our Salt Lake City law office.
"The firm was a pleasure to work with, very professional, responsive and really helped us through the process. This was a first time experience for us and they really set us at easy through entire process and help us reach an agreeable settlement. We would highly recommend Yonker Hyde Macfarlane. PLLC." —Greg, 5-Star Review
