It is no secret that, when it comes to vocations, attorneys do not enjoy the greatest affection society-wide, and the thought of contacting an attorney for any reason is, for many people, on par with going to the dentist or shopping for a new car. Of course, there are all kinds of attorneys with all kinds of personalities offering a variety of services, but still the intimidation and uncertainty of reaching out to an unfamiliar attorney can weigh heavy, even when in service of an important cause.
As veteran elder abuse attorneys fighting on behalf of California senior citizens who have experienced abuse, we understand this hesitation quite well, and we want to do everything we can to ease the minds of the well-intentioned people seeking to protect themselves or a family member suffering elder abuse. To that end, here is a brief overview of what you can expect in a consultation with an elder abuse attorney.
Your Relationship With the Victim
Assuming you are not the elder abuse victim yourself (and it is certainly appropriate to reach out to an attorney directly if you are), the attorney will want to understand your relationship with the victim. Ultimately, the attorney will represent the victim himself or herself, but it will be important for the attorney to understand if you are a concerned family member, friend, or even an employee of the nursing home.
The Signs of Elder Abuse That Have Occurred
The attorney will want to understand what signs of elder abuse have already occurred. It is by no means necessary for there to be definitive proof of elder abuse at this point, but an attorney will want to know all such signs that you know of at this point, such as physical bruises, statements by the victim, changes in behavior, conditions at the nursing home, and so on.
Communications and Steps Already Taken to Deal With the Abuse
If you or the victim have already taken steps to address the matter, such as speaking with administrators at the nursing home or reaching out to local or state authorities, this will be important for the attorney to know in order to gauge responses (if any) and formulate next steps in investigating and addressing the abuse. If you have any records of communications, such as emails, the attorney will likely be interested in reviewing those.
An Initial Assessment of the Matter
The attorney will provide an initial assessment of the matter with regard to: 1) whether the attorney feels he or she is in a position to take on the case; 2) what steps will need to be taken to further investigate the abuse and collect evidence; and 3) a potential basic timeline of how things will proceed.
An Overview of the Representation
If the attorney does wish to represent the elder abuse victim, he or she will also explain the terms of the representation, including how the attorney will be compensated, the scope of the representation, and what the client’s rights will be going forward.
Contact the Southern California Elder Abuse Attorneys at Johnson Moore Today
At Johnson Moore, we know full well that elder abuse victims and their families often face stonewalling, denial, and even intimidation when they try to take action against elder abuse. Our attorneys are compassionate and determined defenders of the elderly, and we will take the time to fully understand your concerns and assess what steps we can take on your behalf. Even if you are unsure of whether you have a valid claim, we look forward to hearing from you to help you explore your options for obtaining the justice you deserve. Contact Johnson Moore today to schedule a free consultation.
