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How Do I Know If My Loved One Was Neglected or Abused Under Arizona Law?

Posted by: Craig Knapp
February 20, 2010
Topic: Nursing Homes

Neglect, abuse, serious injury, and even death are all too common in long-term care facilities.  In Arizona, we have special laws that protect most individuals that reside in nursing homes, group homes and assisted living facilities.  The purpose for our law is to help those who cannot stand up or speak for themselves.  If your loved one was "vulnerable" (18 years of age or older and unable to protect themselves from abuse or neglect by others due to a physical or mental impairment), and suffered an injury due to a caregiver's negligence that's abuse. 

"Abuse" is defined as any of the following:

  • intentional infliction of physical harm;
  • injury caused by negligent acts or omissions;
  • sexual abuse or sexual assault; or
  • unreasonable confinement

"Neglect" is defined as a pattern of conduct without the person's informed consent resulting in deprivation of food, water, medication, medical services, shelter, cooling, heating or other services necessary to maintain minimum physical or mental health. 

My firm has successfully represented the edlerly and those with special needs in cases involving drownings, sexual assault, medication errors, wandering off, fires, choking, falls, and many other situations when someone was seriously injured or killed by the negligence of a caregiver.  Your loved one has rights.  If you think someone close to you has been abused or neglected by a caregiver or facility, you can take action to make sure this doesn't happen to someone else.


The Knapp & Roberts law firm represents serious injury and wrongful death clients throughout Arizona, including the communities of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Queen Creek, Apache Junction, Goodyear, Tucson, Flagstaff, and Yuma in the Valley of the Sun - Maricopa County, Pinal County, Coconino County, Yuma County, and Gila County.