Daycare services are essential for working parents. Nearly 30% percent of infants and toddlers attend some form of childcare in the United States and the numbers continues to increase. You rely on the child-care provider to nurture your child and ensure their safety by providing consistent and reasonable supervision.
Unfortunately, your child may suffer a minor or even serious injury because the care provider failed to provide the quality of care they are legally obligated to provide. If your child is physically or psychologically injured, you can sue for child care negligence. In such a lawsuit there are many potential defendants including the person who has caused the injury, the person responsible for supervising your child as well as the owners of the daycare facility.
How do you choose a daycare facility for your child?
Cases of children being neglected and/or abused in daycare facilities are prevalent today. To avoid this, you should;
Use available resources
Many states today provide free resources to parents who want to enroll their children in daycare programs. Many states provide online monitoring and inspection reports of child care centers. With such information, you are able to make an informed decision on the potential facilities that are suitable for your child.
Tour the daycare facility
Even after gathering information on a facility; before you enroll your child, it is advised that you tour the facility to determine if it meets your standards. Inquire about the health and safety policy of the facility, discipline, food and all other activities. Thoroughly inspect the facility to look out for anything that may put you off. Observe how the staff interacts with the children.
Check the licensing and accreditation
You can check if the daycare facility is properly licensed and accredited by the state. Determine if the staff are properly trained and have the required qualifications to work in a daycare facility.
You can always change your mind
There are many cases where children have suffered in daycare facilities. Entrusting your child with the wrong people can have dire consequences. No parent wants to place their child in harm’s way. If something puts you off about a facility, you can always search for a better facility for your child.
What is negligence?
Most people don’t fully understand what childcare negligence entails. Though negligence may take many forms, most people misconstrue daycare negligence as physical abuse. Negligence in a daycare facility is the breach of duty of care to a child. This duty of care includes ensuring the safety of the child and meeting their physical, emotional and psychological needs.
What are the signs of negligence in a daycare facility?
- Understaffed facility
- Harmful objects within children’s reach
- Unsafe buildings and spaces
- Physical injuries
- Malnourished child
- Withdrawn child
If your child or a loved one has been injured in a daycare facility, it is critical that you seek the services of an experienced personal injury attorney to understand your legal options. If you have evidence of or believe there was a breach of duty of care, you have to prove that the child suffered harm as a result of the daycare provider’s negligence. If this is the case, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for damages suffered. Remember there is a statute of limitations for such cases, so be sure to contact your personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.