Nearly 1 in 4 children under 5 regularly attend daycares, making special care and attention a requirement for the prevention of daycare injuries. Not only are children naturally energetic, but they also tend to be more carefree and willing to take risks while playing with one another as well, which can spell disaster if hazardous conditions or negligent caretakers are involved.
While many parents and guardians trust daycare employees to keep their children safe from harm, the reality is that a child can still suffer moderate to severe personal injury even under the most watchful of eyes. Be it a broken bone, a concussion or something worse, nothing strikes more fear into the hearts of parents everywhere than the thought of something terrible happening to their children.
At Greathouse Trial Law, we understand that injuries and accidents happen everyone—no matter how young—and hope that by highlighting common daycare injuries to look out for, you can ensure the safety of your children when they are left in the care of daycare employees or facility leaders.
Common Daycare Injuries
Common daycare injuries can range from accidental playground injuries—minor cuts, bruises or scraps from a slip-and-fall—to much more serious injuries such as a broken bone or a concussion. Fortunately, the most common injuries are typically accidental—happening due to the playful and energetic nature of children as opposed to malicious wrongdoing or gross negligence. Injuries that commonly occur in daycares include:
- Minor injuries (cuts, bruises and scrapes);
- Severe injuries (dislocations, broken bones, head/neck injuries, internal injuries and dental injuries);
- Unintentional poisoning;
- Drowning or near-drowning;
- Burns; and
- Choking or suffocation
As caretakers, facility leaders and daycare employees will typically do their best to ensure that all potential premises hazards are dealt with in an appropriate timeframe, and that any hazardous materials (such as chemicals, medications or unsafe and defective toys) are kept out of reach from children at all times.
Who is Responsible When Daycare Injuries Occur?
Until children are able to begin attending school around the age of 5, some parents may choose to drop them off at a daycare facility while they are at work. Others may hire a nanny or similar “at-home caretaker” to watch over their children within their own homes. Regardless of what arrangements are made for childcare, all daycare employees, facility leaders or nannies have a legal obligation to ensure the protection and safety of your child.
Any injuries stemming from negligence—that is, injuries that result from inattentiveness, irresponsibility or from an unsafe property on the caretakers’ part—can be legally held against them in a personal injury claim.
At Greathouse Trial Law, we know how important your children can be to you—and that you’ll stop at nothing to protect them from needless harm. If your child was injured while at a daycare and you suspect negligence may be involved, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your child’s injuries. Contact us to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case today.
