Leaving your child at a daycare facility is never easy. It’s emotionally challenging for parents as well as for the children. When you have to make the decision, you leave them with a facility that you expect will provide a safe, nurturing environment for your child, where they will be cared for with love and the highest standard of supervision.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Accidents and negligence are more common than they should be in Rock Hill, SC, daycare facilities. In fact, safety violations such as improper staffing, unqualified caregivers, and unsafe premises are frequent causes of preventable injuries and lawsuits. If your child was harmed as a result of negligence or abuse in a daycare facility, your family deserves justice and compensation. At Ted A. Greve & Associates, we’re dedicated to helping families get the compensation they deserve for their child’s suffering. Call us today for a free consultation.
Understanding Daycare Injuries in Rock Hill, SC
When you leave your child in a daycare, you expect them to come back unharmed. Injuries in daycare facilities can be as minor as bruises and cuts or as severe as major trauma. The most common accidents and injuries in a daycare setting include:
- Falls from playground equipment and unsecured furniture
- Broken bones and head injuries
- Choking incidents
- Allergic reactions
- Neglect-related issues like dehydration or poor hygiene
- Physical or emotional abuse by staff
These kinds of injuries can leave major emotional scars on children for the remainder of their lives, as well as trauma and financial expenses for the family. Sadly, these cases are not uncommon. One high-profile case in Rock Hill in early 2024 resulted in a $16 million settlement after the wrongful death of an infant. This horrible event was not only believed to be the largest settlement of its kind in South Carolina, but it also served as a reminder of the consequences of negligence and sparked changes in the safety standards of daycares across South Carolina. The state daycare licensing regulations have become stricter with staff-to-child ratios and thorough employee background checks.
Identifying Signs of Negligence and Abuse at Daycares
Recognizing the signs of abuse in children can be a challenge. That’s because, especially with younger children, they can’t always articulate the abuse or neglect. It may be that they don’t even recognize it because it’s coming from an authority figure. That makes it critical for parents and guardians to keep a careful lookout for the signs, which can include:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, or burns
- Sudden behavioral changes like regression, aggression, and fear
- Excessive neediness or crying
- Sleep disturbance or nightmares
- A rise in accidents
- Poor hygiene
- Signs of malnutrition
If you see any of these signs in your child, listen to your gut and act quickly. The sooner you act on your child’s behalf, the better you can prevent further harm. You’ll also strengthen your potential legal claim. After all, you and your family deserve justice for the neglect your child has been put through.
Legal Steps to Take If Your Child Is Injured
If your child has been abused or neglected at the hands of a daycare facility, the daycare should be held accountable for the injuries they caused. If you suspect this is happening, you should:
- Seek Immediate Medical Attention: A doctor’s report creates an official record of the incident, even if your child has only minor injuries. This is vital evidence in your case.
- Document Everything: Take photos of your child’s injuries and keep records of all communications with the daycare facility.
- Report the Incident: File a report with the daycare and the South Carolina Division of Early Care and Education.
- Consult an Attorney: Don’t forget, no one at the daycare or their insurance companies is your friend. Speak with an attorney who can help evaluate your case, collect evidence, and fight for you and your child.
Filing a Claim: Navigating the Legal System
Your lawyer will advise you about how to proceed, but in most cases, your claim will begin with determining the identity of all potentially liable parties. That could include the daycare facility, specific staff members, or equipment manufacturers, if the injury occurred because of malfunctioning equipment.
Next, your lawyer will send a demand letter to the liable party’s insurer. The demand letter will outline how the accident or abuse occurred, explain that the daycare had a duty of care to protect your child, how they failed that duty of care in a way that resulted in the accident or abuse, and that your child was injured in the accident or by the abuser.
The demand letter will include a dollar figure that you and your lawyer have agreed upon that would be adequate compensation for your child’s injuries. The compensation you’re demanding can include money for:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
The last thing that is vital to note when filing a lawsuit is the statute of limitations. In South Carolina, the law allows an injured party three years from the date of an accident to file a claim against a daycare. Acting quickly, though, is critical. Speak to a lawyer in South Carolina as soon as you know your child is suffering abuse at the hands of a daycare facility. Preserving evidence is key. If too much time passes, that evidence might be lost or destroyed.
Contact Ted A. Greve & Associates for a Free Consultation
It’s a tragedy when a child suffers injuries and emotional trauma in a daycare facility that was meant to keep them safe. If this happened to your child in Rock Hill, South Carolina, contact Ted A Greve & Associates today. We understand the heartache and financial toll this can take on your family, and we’re here to handle the legal process for you.
We offer aggressive representation because your child deserves justice. We won’t settle until you receive fair compensation, and since we operate on a contingency fee basis, you won’t pay a dime unless we win your case. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us help you hold the negligent daycare facility accountable.
