Children in The Woodlands ages 4 and younger are at the greatest risk of experiencing severe finger injuries. This age group is developing fine motor skills like hand control to use objects and discovering how to move fingers in isolation, meaning controlling one or more digits at a time for activities like holding a utensil at mealtimes, coloring with a crayon or marker, or turning the page of a picture book. Thus, they often use their little hands and fingers to explore.
When daycare centers in The Woodlands choose not to comply with the minimum standards, also known as the state’s daycare safety laws, little ones can experience serious finger injuries. These severe injuries can happen at the highest-rated facilities or those most recommended by popular parent groups on social media, such as the REAL Moms of The Woodlands Facebook group.
For this reason, our daycare injury lawyers are raising awareness among local parents about finger injuries, one of the most common injuries at daycare centers. This article also provides actionable steps to take if your child experiences a severe finger injury at a daycare center in The Woodlands.
How Do Finger Injuries Happen at Daycare Centers in The Woodlands?
Children’s finger injuries that occur at daycare centers in The Woodlands fall into five different categories:
- Crushed Fingers: Fingers are smashed, often between two hard surfaces.
- Dislocations: The finger is forced or pushed out of its joint.
- Fractures: A bone within the finger is broken.
- Lacerations: Cuts on the fingers that can sever tendons and ligaments or result in wounds becoming infected. In serious cases, lacerations can be so deep they can lead to an amputation.
- Jammed Fingers: Starting at the tip, a child’s finger is compressed toward the palm of the hand.
Our daycare injury lawyers see preventable finger injuries happen most often when facilities in The Woodlands are negligent and fail to provide adequate supervision of children, maintain proper child-to-caregiver ratios in daycare classrooms, or hire unqualified workers.
Children's fingers can be injured when:
- Bitten by other children
- Caught in a crib rail or stroller
- Caught in a closed door, door hinge, or other piece of furniture or equipment at daycare
- Crushed by unsecured furniture or falling heavy objects at the daycare center, such as a rocking chair, bookcase, or dresser
- Cut by sharp objects like scissors when given to unsupervised children
- Pinched-in folding or accordion-style doors
- Slammed in drawers or open windows at daycare
- Sliced by sharp edges on unmaintained playground equipment
- Stepped on by a child or an adult at the daycare center
What Should I Do After My Child Suffers a Finger Injury at a Daycare Center in The Woodlands?
After your child experiences a severe finger injury at a daycare center in The Woodlands, it is important to follow these four steps:
- Seek medical attention for your child at Texas Children’s Hospital in The Woodlands. You’ll want your child to be properly evaluated, get necessary X-rays to treat broken bones or receive stitches to treat severe lacerations and avoid unnecessary amputations.
- Report the incident to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) by calling the Texas Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400 or by filing a report at txabusehotlline.org so that the incident can be investigated. Tracking deficiencies at the daycare center can help your child’s daycare finger injury case and potentially protect other children from experiencing these preventable injuries.
- Inform yourself and investigate. Talk to the daycare center’s employees and administrators to find out as much information as possible about the incident that led to your child’s severe finger injury. Also, speak with the parents of other children in your child’s class to see if other children have experienced similar injuries at the daycare center.
- Contact our experienced daycare injury lawyers in The Woodlands by calling 281-857-6116 or emailing [email protected]. Your family may be eligible for compensation to cover the medical expenses, therapy, and other current and long-term resources that help your child heal from their severe finger injury. We are ready to listen and advise your family on the best approach to hold the daycare accountable and get justice for your child’s traumatic experience and injuries. However, there is a two-year time limit for filing a personal injury claim in Texas, so we advise contacting our team sooner rather than later.
Does BLF Have More Resources About Daycare Finger Injuries for Parents in The Woodlands?
Our experienced daycare injury lawyers in The Woodlands have created several free resources to educate parents about what to do if their child suffers a finger injury at a local childcare facility:
- Key Facts About Crushed-Finger Injuries at Daycare Centers in The Woodlands
- A 5-Step Guide for Parents After a Daycare Injury
- FAQ: Parental Rights After a Child Was Hurt at a Daycare Center
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