Busy parents who want to work out often leave their children in the care of the childcare center at their gym. They expect their children to be safe during that time, but this may not be the case. To the surprise of many, gym daycare centers in Texas are not licensed or regulated the way regular daycare centers are.
Some gyms have high standards for keeping kids safe, but others may not. This could put your child at risk. Even if you signed a waiver when you purchased your gym membership saying that the facility is not responsible if your child is injured, most courts still hold the childcare facility liable.
What to Look for in a Gym Childcare Center
When you sign up for a gym membership and view the childcare area, you should look around to see how clean the facility is. Observe the behavior of the children who are there. Sounds of crying and scolding as opposed to happy noises could be a bad sign. Talk to other parents, if possible.
You should also be prepared to ask some questions, such as:
- What are the facility’s hours?
- What is the ratio of caregivers to children?
- What are the minimum and maximum ages of the children?
- How are staff trained and screened? Are they required to have CPR certification? Visit the childcare room to observe the caregivers in action. Do they play with the kids? Or are they paying more attention to their own cell phones?
- Are there age-appropriate toys and activities available? Are young children being parked in front of screens? Will children be taken to the pool?
- What is the policy on snacks? If snacks are given, are they healthy and age-appropriate?
What to Do If Your Child Is Hurt at a Gym Daycare Center
The most common types of daycare injuries include:
- Choking
- Poisoning
- Burns from electronics or unprotected outlets
- Falls from playground equipment that can cause minor injuries or broken bones
- Drowning accidents
- Slip and falls
- Physical abuse from daycare workers
If your child suffers an injury while at a gym daycare center, it is crucial to obtain medical help immediately—even if the injuries do not seem serious at first. Medical treatment creates the necessary paper trail for an insurance claim and a possible lawsuit if you decide to file one. Often when people do not obtain medical treatment, insurance companies will argue that the injuries must not have been very serious in an attempt to pay less on a claim.
You should also report the accident to the manager or club owners. Your report will be important evidence in your claim for compensation.
Although drop-off gym childcare centers are not regulated, you can still file a claim for negligence if your child is injured. Even without state mandates, gym daycare centers have a duty of providing reasonable care when they take on the responsibility of supervising children. Getting legal help immediately is essential. If the gym daycare center is found to be liable for your child’s injury because of negligence, they will be the ones to pay for your child’s medical bills.
Contact an Experienced Daycare Injury Attorney
We welcome you to contact The Button Law Firm soon after your child is injured while under the supervision of a gym daycare facility. We can investigate what happened and help you file a civil claim to seek compensation for medical treatment, your child’s pain and suffering, and other expenses related to the negligence.
Filing a lawsuit can help with the financial burden your child’s injuries have created, and it can also help to ensure that other children are not injured as a result of the facility’s negligence. Schedule a free, no-obligation initial consultation today to learn more.
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