Advocating for Children in Florida Daycare Injury Claims
When a child is injured while in the care of a daycare or other childcare facility, it can be a frustrating and distressing experience. Parents and guardians who put their young children in a childcare facility are placing a significant amount of trust in people who should be equipped to watch and protect their kids, so when serious harm comes to their child, it can turn their entire world upside down.
At Ginnis, Krathen, & Zelnick, P.A., we can help you hold the at-fault party accountable and receive compensation for any damages you have suffered in the event serious harm has come to your child while in daycare. Our childcare injury attorneys in Fort Lauderdale take such cases very seriously and understand how to build a strong claim, collect evidence to back it up, and accurately calculate the compensation you are owed. We can fight to attain the compensation and justice you and your family deserve after suffering through this painful ordeal.
Call (954) 905-4600 or contact us online to learn more about how our childcare injury lawyers in Fort Lauderdale can help. All consultations are completely free and there are no legal fees unless we win your case.
Common Childcare Injuries
If you have a child, you are already aware they are extremely prone to injury as it is. Add several other similarly aged children to the mix and a host of toys, equipment, and other playthings to enjoy, and it’s easy to see how childcare injuries can occur.
That said, childcare facilities have a duty to mitigate the chances of a serious accident as much as possible. If they fail to follow safety regulations and monitor their charges constantly, they can be held responsible for a child’s injuries.
Some of the most common injuries children suffer at childcare facilities include:
- Broken bones
- Bruises, cuts, and scrapes
- Burns
- Choking
- Drowning
- Poisoning
- Traumatic brain injury
When an injury is serious enough to incur medical bills, cause pain and suffering to you and your child, and significantly affect your life in other ways, you may be able to sue the person or company responsible.
How Childcare Injuries Happen
Parents pay childcare services to care for their children when they can’t do it themselves, often due to obligations such as work and school. They need to know that their children will be safe during the time they are away, so there is a reasonable expectation that the best of care will be provided and their child supervised at all times. Injuries can still happen even with competent care, of course. Yet when serious harm comes to a child, oftentimes it can be traced back to neglect—and for that there is no excuse.
Childcare injuries are often associated with the following activities and items:
- Indoor play areas: A lack of barricades, soft surfaces, and preventative measures against injury in play areas can be a sign that the facility isn’t as concerned about safety as it should be.
- Playgrounds: Outdoor playgrounds can be dangerous—if not deadly—without constant adult supervision.
- Pools: If a child is not wearing a life vest, doesn’t know how to swim, and/or is left unattended in or near a swimming pool, they could easily injure themselves or even drown.
- Toys: Children can easily choke on toys if they are not properly supervised around them. Toys can also bruise, scratch, and hurt children in other ways, especially if age-appropriate items are not provided.
Other factors that can lead to childcare injuries include fights breaking out between children and abuse and neglect at the hands of caregivers. If your child’s injury can be traced to a negligent childcare provider or facility, you may be able to bring a lawsuit against the responsible party.
Are Daycares Responsible for Injuries?
In the state of Florida, daycares and other licensed childcare providers are subject to what is known as a “duty of care,” which states that they must provide a safe environment for their young charges; otherwise, they can be found legally liable for a child’s injuries and owe compensation to the family of the injured child. Recoverable damages can be used to offset the cost of medical expenses, time off from work to care for the child’s injuries, and pain and suffering endured by the child and their family.
However, you must be able to show that the daycare was at fault for your child’s injury and that the injury would not have occurred if your child was being properly cared for. In order to prove negligence, you will likely have to collect evidence such as surveillance footage, witness statements, and testimony from experts in the medical and/or childcare fields.
Ginnis, Krathen, & Zelnick, P.A. has handled many different types of daycare accident and injury cases. We work closely with families to minimize the stress and pain of such cases and will provide quality, personalized representation throughout the duration of your claim. Our Fort Lauderdale childcare injury lawyers can ensure every component of your claim is taken care of by a trusted partner at our firm so you and your loved ones can get your lives back to normal as quickly and seamlessly as possible.
