Daycare Injury Lawyers Houston
Putting a child in a daycare facility is an act of trust. Many parents put significant effort into researching and gathering references for the daycare facility they choose for their child. Parents want to know their child will be kept from harm, well cared for, and nurtured by facility caregivers. Many facilities and caregivers deserve that trust, but unfortunately, daycare negligence is still a tragic reality.
No matter how you learn of an injury your child sustained at daycare, the Houston daycare injuries lawyers at Farah Law are ready to help you seek justice for daycare negligence. We will fight for compensation for your child’s medical bills. Connect with us for a free case evaluation with a Houston personal injury attorney who can guide your case through the legal process and to the most favorable resolution attainable.
How Children Are Harmed in Houston Daycare Centers
Carers should inform parents of a child’s injury immediately, but sometimes, the injury is only discovered when a parent notices bruises, cuts, or lethargic behavior. Other times, parents are put on alert when hearing of another child’s injury or when their child, to the extent they are able, talks about being hurt. Regardless of how they become aware of the negligence, they should take immediate medical and legal action.
A daycare accident can occur for a variety of reasons, including:
- Inadequate staffing: Without enough caregivers working in the right ratio to the number of children, children may fall or ingest toxic substances.
- Hazardous materials: Daycare facilities that do not meet local building codes could put children at risk of inhaling or eating dangerous fumes or materials.
- Poorly maintained equipment: Play structures or sensory stimulation equipment that is not repaired or replaced properly can cause children to fall or cut themselves. Frayed cords could lead to burns or electrocution.
- Unsanitary conditions: Without regular cleaning, food storage, and food preparation procedures, children could get sick from contagious diseases or spoiled food.
- Insufficient training: If staff members are not given the right training and education, they may be unaware of how to recognize and respond to dangers.
- Bad hiring practices: If the facility owners and managers do not perform background checks on potential staff members, dangerous or careless individuals could be left caring for your child.
If your child experiences any type of daycare accident, reach out for help from a child injury lawyer. The Houston daycare injuries lawyer from Farah Law will provide exceptional legal guidance and support as you work through this difficult time.
Common Types of Physical Injuries to Children in Daycare
Certain types of injuries, such as bumps and scrapes, are a part of every child’s life, and they will likely experience these minor mishaps when watched by parents, grandparents, or daycare facilities. Yet when children suffer serious injuries at a facility, daycare employees or owners may be liable for damages.
Burns and Poisoning
Daycare employees often have to heat up bottles for their youngest charges or prepare hot meals for toddlers. They may use stove tops or bottle warmers to get the job done. These appliances pose dangers, through flames or hot surfaces, and must be carefully guarded and kept safely off-limits for little hands and bodies. The heated liquids and food items must also be handled with care so as not to spill and splatter and cause burns.
Chemical burns are another threat. Cleaning substances can burn the skin, and if ingested or inhaled, can cause internal burns, especially to parts of the respiratory system. The Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology cites household cleaning products as the “second most common cause of unintentional poisoning” among children under age six in the United States.
Broken Bones
Broken bones or dislocated joints often result from falls. Daycares encourage play, but caregivers and facility owners must make sure play sessions are controlled and the play environments are safe. Bone breaks can quickly lead to substantial problems in very young children. Untreated damage to a growth plate can affect the growth of the fractured bone, making it crooked or shorter than it should be.
Some breaks can lead to dangerous infections, and even “clean” breaks need proper treatment and time to heal, potentially leading to expensive medical costs. Talk to a child injury lawyer if your child sustains a bone break at daycare. You should not bear the medical costs of an injury that happened on their watch.
Brain Injury
Falls can cause brain injuries. If daycare employees shake an infant, they can cause a back and forth motion of the brain and injury can occur from the brain’s strike against the inside of the skull. A brain injury is particularly devastating as it can cause permanent and severe damage to a child’s cognitive and physical capabilities.
These and other potential injuries, such as heatstroke and suffocation, can leave children and their families devastated by the physical, financial, and emotional losses that follow. Our Houston daycare injuries lawyers will fight tirelessly to see you and your child compensated for those losses and with the financial resources to access every opportunity to improve your injured child’s quality of life.
Daycare Statistics in Texas
The state of Texas cares about its children. The stated purpose of Chapter 42 of the Human Resources Code is to “protect the health, safety, and well-being of the children of the state who reside in child-care facilities by establishing statewide minimum standards for their safety and protection”. A Texas daycare, whether in a home, school, or other facility, and every daycare provider must meet the requirements for operating and staff training established in this code.
The Department of Health and Human Services for the state of Texas also keeps track of serious injuries occurring across various types of daycare facilities. The most recent year of data collection for licensed child care centers (LCCC) shows 808 serious injuries, eight near fatalities, and one fatality across Texas.
After your child sustains an injury in a daycare accident, seek immediate medical attention. Fast diagnosis and intervention are critical to your child’s well-being. Then, seek help from a child injury attorney to secure your child’s and your family’s financial stability.
How a Child Injury Attorney Can Help
The Houston daycare injuries lawyers from Farah Law offer years of experience handling daycare injury cases, full knowledge of Texas law, and the resources to investigate your child’s accident. While you care for your child, we will manage the legalities of your case, demonstrating the daycare provider’s negligence, valuing your losses, and fighting for justice and fair compensation. Just compensation not only covers your expenses and present injury-related needs, but also anticipates and covers your child’s future needs and acknowledges their physical pain, emotional suffering, and changed quality of life.
Our team will work to negotiate a fair settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance and legal representatives. Productive negotiations can resolve your case without the need for a courtroom fight and typically move faster than a trial. However, the at-fault party can make negotiations unproductive by using stall strategies, deflecting culpability, or refusing to make an acceptable settlement offer.
Your Houston daycare injuries lawyers will be well-prepared to take on the at-fault party in court if that approach proves necessary. We do not want you to settle for less than your child deserves, knowing that an injury at a young age can lead to life-changing conditions that impact them for the remainder of their life. We also help you recover financial relief for any harm your family suffers while treating and caring for your child. Whatever path your case takes, we will keep you updated, answer your questions, and address your concerns throughout the process.
Our Houston Daycare Injury Lawyers Can Help
Your child’s daycare owes your child a crucial legal obligation, called a duty of care, to keep your child safe. Daycare injury cases often result from failures in compliance or other forms of negligence, leaving children in pain and emotionally traumatized while their parents face exorbitant medical expenses and, in the most tragic cases, fear for the future of their now-disabled child.
Farah Law is a law firm you can trust to present you with your legal options and handle your case with great care. A Houston daycare injury attorney will treat you with compassion while working aggressively to secure maximum compensation for your losses. Reach out to us for a free case review and exceptional legal representation from our experienced team of Houston daycare injury lawyers.
