With more than 13 million Texans in the workforce, according to the state’s most recent comptroller report, working families across the state rely on childcare help. However, not all daycare centers are created equal.
The State of Texas conducted 1,125 neglect and abuse investigations at daycare centers in 2022 as cited by an annual report. Sadly, this report revealed that children younger than 5 suffered the highest number of neglect and abuse incidents at daycare centers in Texas. Investigations also found 848 Texas children were seriously hurt while in the care of a childcare facility, according to the Texas Health and Human Services’ most recent Serious Injuries Report.
If your child was neglected at a childcare facility anywhere in Texas, our daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm can help you get the compensation and justice your family deserves. Call us at 214-699-4409, email [email protected], or fill out a contact form for a free consultation.
What Is Child Neglect at Daycare Centers in Texas?
Daycare neglect refers to the failure of a facility and/or caregivers to meet the essential needs of children in their care. Neglect can manifest in various ways, including physical and emotional neglect.
Physical neglect happens when caregivers at a daycare center fail to meet a child’s basic needs. This involves:
- Inadequately supervising little ones in the classroom, on a playground, or while transporting children in a daycare van.
- Not providing a child with enough food or access to water throughout the day
- Not attending to a child’s hygiene and cleanliness
Instances of emotional neglect occur when caregivers at Texas daycare centers do not provide a nurturing and supportive environment for children. These traumatic incidents happen when caregivers:
- Are unqualified and ignore a child’s emotional needs or concerns such as crying for missing a parent or scared of something in the classroom
- Use harsh and improper discipline techniques on the young children in their care.
Our knowledgeable daycare neglect attorneys have seen firsthand how daycare centers that cut corners and ignore Texas safety laws are most likely to neglect children. Understaffing and surpassing mandated child-to-caregiver ratios are the root causes of most daycare neglect incidents. This is because workers are not able to properly supervise the little ones in their care, endangering them.
6 Red Flags of Child Neglect at Texas Daycare Centers
If Texas parents observe any of the following signs, the child may be experiencing instances of neglect at a daycare center:
- Babies and toddlers that are sent home with unchanged diapers
- Bruises
- Cuts or sores on the face, arms, and legs
- Diaper rash that only flares up on days the child attends daycare
- Hot cheeks or cold temperature that could indicate the child was left outside on a playground or in a daycare bus or van
- Noticeable appetite or unquenchable thirst after time at the facility
As parents, you know your child best. If you suspect your child is being neglected at a daycare center, call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400. You can also reach out to our Texas daycare injury lawyers at 214-699-4409 for a free consultation.
Can I Sue a Texas Daycare Center in Texas If My Child Was Neglected in Its Care?
In Texas, families can file a lawsuit to hold a negligent daycare center and its caregivers accountable for breaking state laws and injuring a child. In these civil cases, parents and guardians have an opportunity to seek compensation, also known as damages, for any monetary, physical, emotional, or psychological impacts that resulted from the center’s neglectful actions. Taking legal action aims to secure justice for the child’s trauma and prevent similar injuries to other children at the daycare center.
Parents and guardians in Texas may be eligible for compensation to cover:
- Emotional damages such as pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Mental anguish
Sadly, 58 children in Texas died because of neglect-related incidents at daycare centers as a result of unsafe sleep practices, drownings, and vehicle-related incidents such as leaving a child locked in a daycare van, according to the state’s Child Fatality and Near Fatality Annual Report issued in March 2023. In the tragic event that a child passes away because of severe injuries caused by neglect experienced at the daycare center, parents and guardians in Texas may file a wrongful death of a child lawsuit to seek compensation that covers:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages if the daycare’s gross negligence caused a child’s death
- The emotional toll of losing a loved one, especially a child
- Other unexpected expenses
It is important to note that a lawsuit in Texas must be filed within two years of the date when the incident of neglect occurred. Speak with our experienced Texas daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm, who will listen to you and advise you and your family on the best path forward. Call us at 214-699-4409, email [email protected], or fill out a contact form for a free consultation.
Answering Parent FAQs Following Daycare Neglect Incidents in Texas
We have also answered frequently asked questions regarding daycare injury lawsuits to help guide you after a traumatic neglect incident at a Texas daycare center:
- What Are My Rights as a Parent If My Child Was Hurt at a Daycare Center in Texas?
- Video: How Involved Will My Child Be in the Case Against the Daycare?
- Who Do I Report Daycare Abuse and Neglect to in Texas?
- My Child Was Injured While Attending Daycare. What Am I Supposed to Do?
How The Button Law Firm Helps Texas Families After Daycare Neglect Incidents
Our team of experienced and compassionate daycare injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm is dedicated to advocating for you and your family if your child was neglected by a caregiver while in the care of a Texas childcare facility. With attorneys in Dallas, Houston, and Midland, we are ready to listen and fight for your family. Our attorneys 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 or fill out a contact form for a free consultation.
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