Nursing Home Wrongful Death Lawyer, San Francisco Bay Area

Standing alongside families who have lost loved ones to wrongful death in nursing homes, Susan Kang Gordon, A Professional Law Corporation offers compassionate support. Reach out to us today as we advocate for justice.
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2021 Trial Lawyer of the Year
Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association
Medal
2022 Trial Lawyer of the Year
San Francisco County TrialLawyers Association

Advocating for Nursing Home Wrongful Death Victims

At Susan Kang Gordon, A Professional Law Corporation, we stand as unwavering advocates for the families of individuals who have tragically lost their lives due to wrongful circumstances in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Rooted in compassion, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to justice, our firm empathizes deeply with the profound grief and injustice experienced by families in such situations. The groundbreaking verdict of $13.5 million we achieved in 2021 underscores this dedication.

We hold steadfast to the belief that every nursing home resident deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and we hold accountable any staff members found negligent or engaging in misconduct. Our professional team is devoted and diligent, working tirelessly to ensure that justice is served and the rights of the vulnerable are protected.
Hammer
$13.5 Million
Jury Verdict 2021
Balance
$6 Million
Jury Verdict 2021
Book
Over $40 Million
Recovered for Families
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Causes and Circumstances Leading to Wrongful Deaths in Nursing Homes

Wrongful deaths in nursing homes are often linked to inadequate care, negligence from the nursing staff, or insufficient supervision.

Falls and Fractures

Falls are a common reason behind wrongful death claims in nursing homes. Facilities are required to have fall prevention protocols to safeguard residents, but poor care or negligence can result in dangerous injuries.

Weight Loss and Dehydration

A significant number of nursing home residents need help with eating and drinking. Insufficient staffing and inadequate training can lead to severe malnutrition and dehydration, which may prove fatal.

Infections

Inadequate response to infections is another frequent cause of wrongful death. While infections are common among seniors, failing to treat them properly can lead to deadly outcomes.

Medication Errors

Although physicians generally aim to avoid harm, overlooked medication errors can result in a resident's wrongful death. Excessive dosing or incorrect medication administration by nursing staff can lead to overdoses or adverse reactions.

Bedsores

Pressure sores, also known as bedsores, are preventable but can turn into serious health threats if neglected. Untreated, they can cause infections that may reach the bone, potentially leading to amputation or death.

Aspiration Pneumonia

Aspiration pneumonia occurs when food, saliva, liquids, or vomit is inhaled into the lungs instead of being swallowed. Failure to recognize and treat these symptoms can result in death.

Choking

Due to age-related complications with eating and swallowing, elderly individuals are particularly susceptible to choking. Nursing home staff must implement appropriate measures to reduce this risk.

Wandering and Elopement

Residents experiencing dementia may wander from their facilities without supervision, potentially encountering perilous situations, such as accidents or exposure to harsh weather conditions. Such circumstances outside a facility can tragically lead to fatal outcomes.

Physical Abuse

Residents may endure harm or injury as a result of deliberate acts of violence or mistreatment perpetrated by staff members or fellow residents. Such abusive behavior can lead to significant physical injuries, including brain bleeds that result in wrongful deaths.

Demand Justice for Your Loved One's Wrongful Death

Reach out to our dedicated nursing home death lawyer now to discuss your case and explore your legal options.

Determining Responsibility for a Wrongful Death in a Nursing Home

To seek recompense for the wrongful death of your loved one, filing a nursing home wrongful death lawsuit is often imperative. Yet, identifying the accountable entities is paramount for your case's success.

Below are the potential parties culpable:

  • The nursing home itself, as the primary establishment responsible for providing care and safeguarding residents' well-being.
  • The nursing home's parent company, if applicable, may also shoulder liability for the nursing home's actions or protocols.
  • Individual staff members at the nursing home directly implicated in negligent or reckless conduct leading to the resident's passing.
  • External contractors operating within the nursing home, such as maintenance or catering services, may bear responsibility if their actions or neglect contributed to the fatality.
  • Healthcare practitioners within the nursing home, including physicians, nurses, or specialists, could be held liable if their treatment or lack thereof results in harm.
  • Manufacturers of defective equipment or products used in the nursing home, like flawed medical devices or medications, which contributed to the resident's death.

In certain scenarios, multiple parties may share culpability for the wrongful death. Your legal counsel will aid in navigating the nuances of your individual circumstances to ensure all responsible parties are held answerable.

Who Has the Right to File a Nursing Home Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

When seeking justice for a loved one's wrongful death caused by nursing home negligence, it's crucial to understand who can legally initiate the lawsuit.

In California, eligible parties include:

  • The deceased's spouse or domestic partner
  • The deceased's children
  • The deceased's grandchildren (if all children are deceased)
  • Those entitled to the deceased's property under inheritance laws (if no surviving spouse, children, or grandchildren exist)
  • Those recognized as financial dependents who are suffering financially due to lost support
  • Siblings of the deceased

If you have questions about your eligibility, contact Susan Kang Gordon, A Professional Law Corporation for guidance.

Compensation for Nursing Home Wrongful Death Cases

When a loved one passes away due to nursing home negligence, families may seek financial compensation to alleviate the profound emotional and financial toll of their loss.

The available compensation typically includes:

  • Funeral expenses
  • Loss of consortium (acknowledging the emotional impact of losing a close relationship)
  • Medical bills resulting from the nursing home's negligence
  • Pain and suffering
  • Punitive damages (aimed at penalizing the facility for egregious negligence)

Receiving a settlement cannot undo the emotional pain you’ve experienced due to the loss of your loved one, but it can help you find a sense of justice and get back on your feet financially.

How to Establish Negligence in Nursing Home Wrongful Death Litigation

For a successful wrongful death claim, it's essential to demonstrate the presence of four key legal elements:

Duty of Care

This foundational element is generally straightforward to establish. Nursing homes are expected to maintain a safe, clean, and hospitable environment for their residents. Additionally, caring for the health of residents is often a part of a nursing home’s duties, as staff members administer medication, perform rehabilitative care, and monitor residents’ symptoms.

Breach of Duty

It must be shown that the facility failed in its duty in some manner. This could be through neglect, such as inadequate patient monitoring leading to preventable bedsores or deaths, medication errors, or insufficient staffing, which could lead to serious accidents or neglect.

Causation

A direct connection between the facility’s breach of duty and the death of the resident must be proven. For instance, incorrect medication could cause a fatal allergic reaction, or a lack of supervision could result in a deadly fall. Establishing causation may require detailed legal and medical analysis, especially when the negligence isn’t directly obvious.

Damages

In nursing home wrongful death cases, proving damages typically involves less dispute since the loss of life is undeniable. Your grief over the loss of your loved one will be factored into your claim. Your loved one may also have incurred medical bills to treat their injuries before their passing — a cost that you should not have to bear.

Understanding Nursing Home Wrongful Death Settlements in California

Nursing home wrongful death resolutions in California often conclude either via judicial decisions or, more frequently, through out-of-court agreements. These agreements are reached when the involved parties consent to a compensation figure without proceeding to trial, typically to circumvent the unpredictability and public scrutiny associated with court cases.

The specifics of each case, such as the extent of negligence, the pre-existing health and age of the deceased, and the emotional and financial toll on the family, greatly influence the settlement amounts and conditions.

Such settlements usually finalize more rapidly than court verdicts, offering bereaved families quicker closure and financial relief. Nonetheless, families must engage experienced legal counsel who can adeptly negotiate equitable settlements that accurately reflect the severity of their loss.

Why Trust Susan Kang Gordon as Your Lawyer for a Nursing Home Death Case?

At Susan Kang Gordon, A Professional Law Corporation, we are dedicated to supporting family members dealing with the tragic consequences of wrongful deaths in California nursing homes. Our firm is spearheaded by Susan Kang Gordon, an attorney whose commitment and skill have earned her the prestigious title of Trial Lawyer of the Year from several notable legal organizations.

Our approach targets the systemic issues that contribute to abuse in nursing facilities, such as corporate negligence and insufficient staffing. By focusing on these root causes, we strive to achieve justice for individual families and drive industry-wide changes to prevent future incidents.

Susan Kang Gordon, A Professional Law Corporation is a trusted partner in nursing home abuse litigation. We offer personalized and compassionate legal services, ensuring each client feels heard and empowered.

Our Recent Cases

$13.5 Million Verdict

10 elderly residents sued a nursing home for the neglect and abuse suffered at the hands of the operators. They alleged the failure to provide proper care for fall prevention, wounds, nutrition and hydration and medication management.

$6 Million Fee Award

For the cases which go to trial, we will always seek attorney’s fees directly from the defendant so that you do not have to pay us any fees from your award. In other words, we ask the Court to order the defendants to pay us our hourly fees. Fee awards are not granted for cases that result in a private settlement.

$1,675,000

Confidential Settlement - resident is found dead in a bathtub. - $1,675,000.

$1,500,000

Confidential Settlement - fall in residential care facility. - $1,500,000.

$975,000

Confidential Settlement - fall in residential care facility - $975,000.

$800,000

Confidential Settlement - A physical therapist's failure to transfer body properly results in hairline fracture to the leg - $800,000.

Testimonials

Stars
5

Susan did an amazing job representing our family in a complex and emotionally challenging legal matter. Susan was in it for the long haul, becoming both a trusted advisor and a voice of compassion throughout the process. Susan and her team always brought professionalism, empathy, dedication and skill to our case. She achieved a very positive outcome for us, and we couldn't have been happier with her representation. I would absolutely recommend her and SKG Law.

Tom Smith, Lafayette
Stars
5

Susan was great. She really cares and it shows. We won our case. We really appreciate Susan standing up for the little people.

Brent Baisch, Brentwood
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Let Us Help You Fight for Justice and Accountability

If you believe wrongful actions caused a loved one's death in a nursing home, take action today. Contact Susan Kang Gordon, A Professional Law Corporation by filling out our online form to start your wrongful death lawsuit.
Physical Address
2 Theatre Square, Suite 217, Orinda, CA 94563
Phone
(510) 400-6146
Fax
(510) 400-6148
Mailing Address
21C Orinda Way #162 Orinda, CA 94563
Email
susan@skg-law.com
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