When Children Are Injured At School Or Daycare
We entrust our children into the care of others, and assume that they have their best interests in mind. Unfortunately, that is not always the case when it comes to busy schools and daycares, and children can sustain injuries – or even suffer from death – due to abuse or neglect in these facilities.
In fact, according to the CDC, unintentional injuries are currently the leading cause of death for U.S. children, with falls being the leading culprit of all non-fatal injuries for them. Other injuries can stem from those related to school playgrounds, interactions with other children, falls and falling objects, direct abuse from caretakers (for example, handling children too aggressively so as to cause bruising), children inadvertently coming into contact with household poisons, injuries incurred while children are being transported from one location to another, choking, and drowning; amongst others.
What Does Abuse & Neglect Look Like?
Technically, the CDC defines child abuse and neglect as one or more acts or omissions by a caregiver or parent that results in actual harm, or the threat of or potential for harm, to a child. For example, if a child indicates that they are sick, it is the school’s responsibility to ensure their welfare and get them medical attention as soon as possible. It can be dangerous to ignore warning signs from a child, especially in the midst of a pandemic, and if a child loses their balance and falls after they are ignored or neglected, they can hit their head and sustain even more serious injuries.
What To Do
Frequently, a parent’s first step – if they suspect their child has been harmed due to conduct at their school or daycare – is to have them examined by their doctor in order to have that documented. Next, parents will often file a police report, as well as a report with Social Services, both of which should then conduct an investigation of the facility and produce a report, which is then available to the parents.
Keep in mind that abuse and neglect can have far reaching consequences, beyond just the initial incident; for example, a child who is forcibly handled by a caretaker so roughly as to leave bruises may go into shock from the trauma, and as a result, their development may be delayed.
Let Us Help You Today
If you suspect that a loved one has been the victim of an injury in a school or daycare facility, contact our Macon personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Buzzell, Welsh & Hill today to find out how we can help you process your options and discuss next steps to help ensure that you and your family obtain justice.
