As growing children run and play, they are often prone to falling down. Most of the time, when kids slip and fall, they get right back up and continue with their day. We expect the same to happen when our children are at daycare. But sometimes slip and falls happen because children are left unsupervised or their environment isn’t safe.
Examples of Daycare Slip and Falls at Texas Daycares
Children of different ages are prone to different types of falls. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, pediatric unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury-related trips to the emergency room for children under the age of five. For example, toddlers are particularly prone to falls as they learn how to navigate through the world.
Other examples of potential daycare slip and falls include:
- Pushing and bullying by other children
- Bookshelves and television stands that are not secured to the wall
- Children climbing after being left without proper supervision
- Falling objects
- Ladders that are left out
- Loose handrails on stairs
- Dangerous walkways or hallways
- Tripping over loose cords
- Unsafe or unmaintained playground equipment
- Unsafe areas outside, including sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots left unshoveled or improperly maintained
- Spills that are not cleaned up from the floor
Some accidents are unavoidable, but many can be prevented. There is no excuse for injuries that could have easily been avoided if items had been taken care of properly or put out of reach, or if children had been properly supervised. Your daycare should have rules in place to keep the environment safe for your child.
How Texas Daycares Can Be Held Liable
Daycare centers have a duty to ensure their premises are maintained and kept safe for their charges. If a daycare worker was negligent and a child was injured because of it, the daycare may be liable for damages.
Your personal injury claim could seek compensation for medical expenses and pain and suffering experienced by your child as well as other damages. Your lawyer must prove that the daycare center or school was negligent in its duties and this negligence caused the injury.
Proving a Slip and Fall Case
If the worst happens and your child is injured at daycare, caregivers should immediately report the incident to the parent. As soon as you learn what has happened, you need to gather evidence to prove your case. We recommend that you take the following steps:
- Take pictures of the scene, as well as your child’s injuries, as soon as possible after the incident.
- Report the incident to the daycare director.
- Take your child to the doctor even if the injury seems minor. It sometimes takes a while before it is clear just how severe an injury might be, particularly with injuries to the head or back. Keep copies of any medical bills and reports.
- Write down what happened after you talk with any witnesses. Be sure to get names and contact information for anyone who saw what happened. Make a note of what the scene looked like and any other pertinent information.
- Keep any evidence, such as ripped or bloody clothing, that might help confirm the accident details.
- Contact an attorney sooner rather than later. The sooner an investigation is conducted, the better the chances of proving your case.
Contact The Button Law Firm
If your child has the misfortune of a daycare slip and fall, and you believe it happened because of negligence on the part of the daycare, we invite you to contact us. The Button Law Firm can help you win a case in civil court. Bringing suit against the daycare might also help prevent other children from experiencing slip and falls.
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