Helping Parents After a Child Breaks a Bone at a Texas Daycare Center

Bone fractures account for 13.9% of pediatric injuries, according to a 2023 orthopedic medical study based on emergency room admissions. In fact, 4-year-old children were at the highest risk of experiencing early pediatric fractures, as reported by a separate study that examined younger pediatric patients.  

Despite the notion of broken bones being a common notion that broken bones are just part of a child’s life, parents should be alarmed if their young child suffers any fracture. This concern is amplified especially when such injuries occur at a Texas daycare center.

That is why our Texas daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm are advocating for increased awareness about bone fractures, including how they happen at local daycare centers and the key steps parents should take if a child breaks a bone while in the care of a local facility. 

How Can a Child Break a Bone at a Texas Daycare Center?

According to the 2023 medical study, a child’s forearm is the most common type of bone fracture, impacting 19% of pediatric incidents. In our experience as daycare injury lawyers, incidents at childcare facilities that lead to a child breaking a bone are often caused by negligence, such as a lack of close supervision by untrained caregivers. Inadequate staffing or excessive child-to-caregiver ratios in classrooms are also contributing factors.

The most common causes of bone fracture injuries at Texas daycare centers include:

• Daycare Van or Bus Accidents
• Falls: Young children are dropped by a caregiver or fall from a high surface like a changing table. Falls can also happen when a daycare does not maintain a safe environment, and little ones trip and fall on uneven surfaces, slippery floors, or cluttered play areas. 
• Inappropriate Discipline Tactics: A daycare teacher may use forceful discipline tactics, such as grabbing a child by the arm, pushing a little one onto a hard surface, or other rough, physical actions that harm the child.
• Playground Incidents: A child can be injured when playground equipment at the daycare center is not properly maintained, when they are not closely supervised while playing, or when they are able to play on equipment, such as monkey bars, that is not age appropriate.
• Physical Abuse by a Caregiver: A worker at the daycare center purposely hits, kicks, shoves, or punches a child.
• Unsecured Furniture: Any large objects in a daycare classroom that are not properly anchored to the wall can easily tip over and fall on a child, breaking a child’s arm, leg, or even skull.

What Should I Do If My Child Breaks a Bone at a Daycare Center?

If you suspect your child experienced a simple or complex bone fracture while in the care of a Texas daycare center, follow these important steps:

1. Seek medical attention at your local hospital’s emergency room or an urgent care center. Texas has wonderful orthopedic departments for children at:
   • • Central Texas: Dell Children’s
     • Dallas: Children’s Health
     • Fort Worth: Cook Children’s Medical Center
     • Houston:  Texas Children’s Hospital
     • Midland: Midland Health
     • South Texas: Driscoll Children’s Hospital
2. Report abuse if you suspect your child’s bone fracture was intentionally caused by a caregiver at a local daycare center. Call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400 or submit a report online at TXAbuseHotline.org.
3. Document any information from the incident by keeping track of all correspondence from the negligent daycare center and caregiver. Screenshot text messages and save emails discussing the incident; take pictures of your child’s injury and keep detailed notes of any related phone calls. While it may be overwhelming to remember these steps when you are more concerned about your child’s health, keeping a file of correspondence and other documentation can benefit your family’s legal case to hold the negligent party accountable for your child’s fracture.
4. Reach out to our experienced Texas daycare injury lawyers by calling 214-699-4409, emailing [email protected], or filling out a contact form for a free case evaluation. In the eyes of a court, daycare injuries can be complex. Our knowledgeable legal team is ready to listen and advise your family on the best approach to hold the negligent daycare center accountable for your child’s traumatic experience and broken bone.

For more information detailing what to do after your child suffers a bone fracture at a Texas daycare center, access our free resource for parents here.

We Can Help Your Family After a Child Fractures a Bone at a Daycare Center  

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 broke a bone while in the care of a Texas childcare facility. We are ready to listen and fight for your family to get justice and move forward. 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. Get a free case evaluation by calling us at 214-699-4409, emailing us at [email protected], or filling out a contact form.