A Closer Look at the Causes of Skull Fractures in Texas Daycare Centers

Did you know children under 2 years old are most susceptible to experiencing a pediatric skull fracture when left in the care of daycare centers in Texas? This is because they have thinner and more flexible skulls that are still developing, according to a 2023 study published in the National Library of Medicine.

Pediatric skull injuries limit a child’s activity, which can be frustrating for energetic toddlers, and require three to six months to heal. Some children who severely fracture their skulls may also experience a traumatic brain injury that causes a long-term disability, according to Medical News Today.

Our daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm have seen an increase in the number of cases involving infants and toddlers sustaining skull fractures and other head injuries at daycare centers. That is why our legal team is shedding light on children’s skull fractures, including how they happen at daycare centers in Texas and what you can do if your child suffers one while in daycare.

What Are the Most Common Ways Kids Fracture Their Skulls at Texas Daycare Centers?

The four most common causes of pediatric skull fractures at daycare centers that we see as daycare injury lawyers are:

1. Falls: Fall injuries are responsible for emergency room visits by 3 million children every year. At Texas daycare centers, infants can fall from a changing table, highchair, or crib when they are not properly supervised by vigilant caregivers. Toddlers at daycare centers risk falling off couches, chairs, and tall furniture like bookshelves. They can also take a serious tumble while playing on playground equipment that is not maintained or age-appropriate. 
2. Physical Abuse: Unqualified caregivers who intentionally hurt a child by pushing, shoving, or kicking them is abuse. This also includes instances of stepping on a little one, knocking a child to the ground, pushing them into a door or off of a high surface in a classroom at the daycare center. Using prohibited, corporal punishment tactics is also considered abuse and can  cause a child’s skull fracture.
3. Unsecured Furniture Falling on Top of a Child: Heavy furniture such as a bookcase, locker, shelves, and dressers are required to be anchored into a classroom wall using the instructions and materials provided by the manufacturer. Proper anchoring involves using longer screws that secure furniture into the studs of the wall. When daycare centers in Texas fail to do this, the unsecured furniture can easily topple over and onto fragile little ones, resulting in serious injuries like a skull fracture.
4. Auto Accident While Being Transported in a Daycare Van or Bus: Many daycare centers take little ones on outings or are responsible for transporting them to after-school care. Unfortunately, not all daycare vans and buses are created equal. For example, buses purchased before 2018 are not required to have seat belts. When daycare centers do not properly vet and train employees to make sure they have clean driving records and solid defensive driving skills, children can be at risk of suffering skull fractures in auto accidents.

In our experience, some negligent daycare centers try to cover up incidents of children being seriously injured while in their care. Read this article written by our team that has information about the obvious signs your child may have suffered a skull fracture at a daycare center and is in need of immediate medical attention.

What Can I Do If My Child Experienced a Skull Fracture at a Daycare Center in Texas?

Families in Texas have the right to file a lawsuit to hold a negligent daycare center and, if necessary, its caregivers accountable for causing a child’s skull fracture. The lawsuit also provides an opportunity to seek compensation, also known as damages, for any monetary, physical, emotional, or psychological impacts that resulted from the injury and recovery process. A lawsuit can also protect other children from experiencing the same serious injury while in the care of the center.

Parents may be eligible for compensation to cover: 

• Emotional damages such as pain and suffering
• Medical expenses to treat a child’s skull fracture and any long-term care or necessary treatments
• Mental anguish
• Resources to help a child heal and process emotions in a healthy way

It is important to note that the statute of limitations, or time limit to file a lawsuit, is two years from the date of the incident that caused the fracture.

Do you still have questions about taking legal action against a local daycare center for your child’s skull fracture? Call us at 214-699-4409, email us at [email protected], or fill out a contact form for a free case evaluation. We will listen to you and advise you on the best path forward for you and your family. 

Hold a Texas Daycare Center Accountable for Your Child’s Skull Fracture

Our team of experienced and compassionate daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm is dedicated to advocating for you and your family if your child experienced a skull fracture while in the care of a daycare center in Texas. We are ready to listen and fight for your family to get justice and help you move forward. Our legal team at The Button Law Firm is 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.