Sadly, incidents of daycare abuse are more common than parents in Houston can imagine. There were 1,384 licensed childcare abuse investigations conducted by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services in a single year, according to the latest agency report. This includes daycare centers throughout Houston.
If your child was abused at a childcare facility anywhere in Houston, our Houston daycare abuse attorneys at The Button Law Firm can help you get the compensation your family deserves. We fight to get justice for families in cities across the Houston metro area: Atascocita, Bellaire, Clear Lake, Conroe, Cypress, Deer Park, Friendswood, Humble, Jersey Village, Katy, Lake Jackson, League City, Missouri City, Pasadena, Pearland, Richmond, Rosenberg, Spring, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Tomball. Call us at 281-857-6116 or fill out a contact form for a free consultation.
What Is Considered Child Abuse in Houston Daycare Centers?
The state of Texas describes child abuse as a “physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child, or the genuine threat of substantial harm from physical injury to the child.” It is important to note that instances of physical abuse at a daycare center in Houston can happen at the hands of a caregiver or worker at the facility or even another child in the classroom.
Our daycare abuse attorneys have seen firsthand that instances of abuse occur when Houston daycare workers are unqualified and use improper discipline techniques on the young children in their care. Common forms of physical abuse at daycare centers in Houston include:
- Pulling or yanking a child’s arm or leg, or dragging them using an arm or leg
- Hitting a child with an object such as a belt or paddle
- Kicking a child as a form of punishment
- Purposely burning a child with a cigarette or hot water
- Shaking a baby
- Shoving a child onto the floor, into a door, or even into another child
- Slapping a child’s face or body
In the instance that one child is responsible for physically abusing a classmate, the Houston-area daycare can be held responsible for the lack of supervision in a classroom that enabled the child-on-child abuse to take place. These preventable incidents can look like:
- Biting hard enough to leave teeth marks
- Choking
- Hitting and kicking
What Types of Injuries Can Happen from Child Abuse Incidents at Houston Daycare Centers?
By recognizing the types of injuries that children can sustain from child abuse incidents at a daycare center, Houston parents can take the necessary steps to protect their children and seek the appropriate help them, while also holding the daycare accountable.
The most common injuries that raise physical abuse red flags include:
- Brain damage, which can manifest in the dilation of pupils, dizziness or loss of balance and coordination, vomiting, fatigue or drowsiness, changes in sleep habits, and mood swings
- Broken bones
- Organ damage
- Severe bruising
If parents suspect their child is being physically abused at a Houston daycare center, they should look for the following signs on a child’s body:
- Bruises
- Bumps
- Burns
- Cuts or sores on the face, arms, and legs
- Imprints or marks from handprints, belts, buckles, or other objects
- Patches of missing hair
- Scratches
In addition to the physical signs of child abuse at a Houston daycare center, a child’s traumatic experience can become evident through changes in their behaviors and personality. We have seen children exhibit the following behaviors as a coping mechanism after being physically abused by a caregiver or other children at a childcare facility:
- Aggression toward other children or family members
- Regression to infant-like behaviors such as wetting the bed or thumb-sucking
- Shifting to extreme shyness or withdrawing from others
- Sleep disturbances
- Spiked anxiety or fearfulness
Houston parents know their child best, and know what behaviors are and aren’t normal. If you suspect your child is being physically abused at a Houston daycare center, call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400 or submit a report online at TXAbuseHotline.org.
Can I Sue a Daycare Center in Houston If My Child Was Physically Abused in Its Care?
Houston families have a right to file a lawsuit to hold a daycare and relevant caregivers accountable and to seek compensation, also known as damages, from the daycare center for physically abusing a child. The lawsuit may help your family get justice for the harm your child suffered, as well as protect other Houston children from experiencing the same trauma. Texas laws state that the lawsuit must be filed within two years of the incident.
Houston parents may be eligible for compensation to cover:
- Emotional damages such as pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Mental anguish
In the tragic event that a child passes away because of severe injuries caused by physical abuse experienced at the daycare center, Houston parents may be eligible for compensation to cover:
- 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 speak with experienced Houston daycare injury attorneys, like our team at The Button Law Firm, who will listen and advise on the best path forward for you and your family.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Houston Daycare Injury Lawyers
Our team of experienced and compassionate Houston daycare injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm is dedicated to advocating for you and your family if your child was physically abused by a caregiver or another child while in the care of a Houston childcare facility. With attorneys in Houston, we are ready to listen and fight for your family in Atascocita, Bellaire, Clear Lake, Conroe, Cypress, Deer Park, Friendswood, Humble, Jersey Village, Katy, Lake Jackson, League City, Missouri City, Pasadena, Pearland, Richmond, Rosenberg, Spring, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Tomball. 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 281-857-6116 or fill out a contact form for a free consultation.
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