It can be difficult for working parents to leave their children at daycare. Finding a facility you trust takes time, effort, and a big leap of faith when you say goodbye at the door. Yet for many, daycare is the best or only option for childcare while parents are away from home.
Accidents can happen at even the best facilities, as children are magnets for the unexpected. Should your child experience an injury at their daycare, it helps to have a plan of action in place. That way, should an emergency occur, you can focus on your family, not your next steps.
First Things First – Get Care for Your Child
If your child is injured at their daycare, the most important first step is medical care. While the chief concern is to guarantee your child’s health and safety, it serves another purpose as well. A doctor’s report can serve as the first piece of proof in any legal action you may need to file.
Personal injury claims will require evidence that your child sustained an injury. Financial damages will also include any expenses incurred in your child’s medical care. Do not hesitate to see a doctor, even if you believe the injury is minor.
Document All Evidence
Once you have seen to your child’s health, take a moment to write down everything you know and observe about the injury your child sustains. Pictures, medical records, and a written journal of events and pain levels are important. Gather names and contact information for any witnesses who can speak to what happened.
Information is your most powerful tool for any legal action you must take. Save everything and keep it in a safe place where you know you can find it.
Speak to the Daycare Employees
Having a word with the daycare employees about what occurred when your child sustained injuries plays a vital role in your investigations. You may discover unexpected information that can inform your decisions. You may even uncover facts that lead to a personal injury claim.
Daycare employees may admit to a role in your child’s injury inadvertently. You may discover their staffing did not meet minimum requirements or other obscure details. Record your conversation with them and inform them you are doing so.
Not every injury at a daycare center is foreseeable or preventable, but if the injury is caused by the negligence of the daycare facility or its employees, you may have a legal action and you should consult an attorney.
Engaging a Personal Injury Attorney
Once you have gathered your medical records, your collection of details about the event, and the story the daycare provider is offering, you need to find out what legal options you have available. Contacting a personal injury law firm such as Steven A. Bagen & Associates is one of the most crucial steps following a daycare injury. If your child has been injured at daycare, contact us for a consultation today.
