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In August 2024, a 2-year-old girl suffered significant bruising and scratches on her body at the hands of a caregiver at her San Antonio daycare center. The incident, which was caught on surveillance cameras, began when the toddler was unable to fall asleep during naptime.
The surveillance footage showed the caregiver physically restraining the toddler while yelling at her. Then it caught the caregiver yanking the toddler by the arm in and out of a bathroom.
When the caregiver noticed the bruises and scratches on the toddler’s body, she attempted to cover up her wrongdoing by putting the blame on someone else, asking the toddler, “Who hit you?” She also created several false incident reports that incorrectly documented the cause of the 2-year-old girl’s injuries.
Once the toddler’s parents saw her injuries and sought medical care for their daughter, they contacted our experienced Texas daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm. We fought to secure a life-changing result for the family so they could move forward.
How Did This San Antonio Daycare Center Break Childcare Laws?
All licensed daycare centers in Texas, including the San Antonio daycare center in this case, are required to follow the state’s childcare laws, also known as the minimum standards. Part of the minimum standards is dedicated to ensuring that daycare centers hire qualified caregivers who understand the standards and maintain their training on the protocols meant to provide a nurturing and safe environment for children.
In addition, daycare directors are required to monitor their caregivers to ensure they are complying with the minimum standards; if they aren’t, directors should intervene by taking swift action to protect the children in their care.
In this case, none of the proper steps were taken at the San Antonio daycare center, and a 2-year-old girl suffered because of it.
In fact, the caregiver assigned to the toddler’s class was known at the center to get frustrated, overwhelmed, and angry. Instead of recognizing the caregiver was not up to the task, they placed her in charge of a toddler classroom.
Unqualified for the job, she used prohibited punishment methods when the toddler didn’t want to nap. The minimum standards outline safe practices for daycare centers when children are unable to fall asleep, including providing them with a quiet activity to keep them occupied. Instead of doing that, the caregiver at the San Antonio daycare center used physically abusive tactics such as restraining the toddler and grabbing her by the arm. In addition, the caregiver threatened the toddler by yelling at her, which is also in violation of the state’s daycare laws.
When the caregiver realized the little girl had bruises and scratches on her body, she requested an ice pack from the San Antonio center’s management team. Instead of questioning the need for an ice pack, the cause of the toddler’s injuries or removing the child from the classroom and contacting her parents—also required by law—the daycare center turned a blind eye. This allowed the caregiver to create false incident reports to cover up her responsibility and role injuring the child.
Thankfully, the San Antonio daycare center had cameras installed in the facility that captured what really happened. The footage also revealed the numerous safety failures at the daycare center that harmed the toddler and her classmates.
An independent investigation conducted by the state cited the San Antonio daycare center for five separate safety violations in this case.
What Injuries Did the Toddler in This Case Suffer at the San Antonio Daycare Center?
When the 2-year-old girl’s parents saw the bruising and scratches on their daughter’s body, they took her to a nearby hospital. There, doctors diagnosed her with linear bruising to her upper left arm and a linear transverse bruise on her neck, which raised concerns about physical abuse. Doctors concluded that these deep bruises and their placement were not typical of accidental trauma.
As you can imagine, suffering abuse at the hands of a caregiver left significant psychological scars on the toddler. Her communication skills severely regressed following the incident at the San Antonio daycare center, and she became shy, fearful, and needy. And she put up her guard when touched around the neck.
The toddler also developed severe separation anxiety. To get ready for the day, she required quality cuddle time with her parents. After her time at the San Antonio daycare center, she had difficulty regulating her emotions and became emotionally reactive when she got upset, hitting, biting, and screaming at others.
In addition, the incident at the San Antonio daycare center also impacted the toddler’s bond with her older brother. The toddler’s attempt to regain control had her insist on items being placed in a certain way or prepared in a certain manner, which made it difficult for the siblings to play and spend time together.
How Did The Button Law Firm Help the Toddler and Her Family Move Forward?
Our experienced legal team fought to hold the San Antonio daycare center accountable for all of its safety failures that physically and emotionally harmed the toddler. We got justice by securing a life-changing result that also provided access to resources the toddler needed to move forward in a healthy way.
If your child was physically or emotionally injured at a daycare center anywhere in Texas, contact our experienced daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm. With offices in Dallas, Houston, and Midland, we are ready to listen, fight for your family, and help your family move forward. Our lawyers at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 214-699-4409, email us at intake@buttonlawfirm.com, or fill out a contact form for a free case evaluation.
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