Step 1: Ensure Your Child Receives Immediate Medical Attention
The first and most important step after your child is injured at daycare is to ensure they receive immediate medical care. Even if the injury seems minor, having a professional evaluate your child’s condition is crucial. Injuries can sometimes have delayed symptoms, and a thorough check-up can prevent complications later on.
Whether it’s an on-site emergency or a more subtle injury like a bruise or bump, prompt medical attention ensures your child’s safety and creates a documented record of the injury, which may be necessary for legal purposes down the road.
Step 2: Document the Injury and Incident
After making sure your child is safe, the next step is to document everything. Write down details about the incident as soon as possible while the events are fresh in your mind. Take note of the date, time, location, and any witnesses present. Additionally, gather details on how the daycare staff responded to the injury. This information will help you identify what happened and how the injury occurred, which may be essential in proving negligence if legal action is necessary.
Most daycares are required to complete an incident report whenever a child is injured under their care. This report typically includes the details of the incident, the staff members involved, and any actions taken afterward. Ask the daycare for a copy of the report and review it carefully to ensure accuracy. If any discrepancies or missing details are noticed, make a note of them.
If your child is old enough to speak about the incident, ask them to describe what happened in their own words. Sometimes, children can provide valuable insights into the circumstances surrounding the injury.
Visual evidence is also a powerful tool when building a case, and photos of your child’s injuries can help illustrate the severity of the harm they experienced. If there are any dangerous conditions or equipment at the daycare that contributed to the injury, take pictures of those as well. For example, if your child was hurt on faulty playground equipment, photographs of the unsafe structure can strengthen your case.
Step 3: Report the Incident to State Authorities
Sometimes, daycare injuries result from negligence, improper supervision, or unsafe conditions. If you suspect that the daycare is at fault, it’s essential to report the incident to your state’s licensing agency, which oversees the regulation and safety standards for childcare facilities. Filing a report can initiate an investigation into the daycare’s practices and help prevent future incidents from happening to other children.
Report child daycare abuse and neglect or daycare safety violations in Texas to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). This state agency is central to ensuring your report is referred to the appropriate agency or investigator.
Step 4: Consult with a Daycare and Childcare Injury Lawyer
If your child’s injury resulted from negligence, unsafe conditions, or lack of supervision at daycare, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages. Consulting with a lawyer experienced in daycare injury cases, like those at The Button Law Firm, is a critical step in determining your legal options.
The Button Law Firm focuses on holding negligent daycare facilities accountable. Our team can guide you through the legal process, from investigating the incident to pursuing a claim against the daycare while ensuring your family’s rights are protected.
If you have more questions about daycare injuries but aren't ready to speak with us just yet, feel free to download our FREE guide: 5 Steps to Take After a Daycare Injury.
Our Daycare and Childcare Injury Attorneys Are Here to Help
If your child was harmed at a daycare or childcare center anywhere in Texas, our team of experienced and compassionate daycare and childcare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm can help. We’re dedicated to advocating for you and your family. We are ready to listen and fight for your family to get justice and 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. Get a free case evaluation by calling us at 214-699-4409, emailing us at [email protected], or filling out a contact form.