DC Daycare Negligence Lawyer

Was your child injured while in the care of a negligent daycare or individual caretaker? If so, you may be able to obtain compensation for your child and their trauma. Such payment can be used to pay medical bills, lost wages (if a parent is forced to take time off from work), and any other expenses associated with the injury in question.

Filing suit against a daycare can be an arduous task, but with help from the right DC daycare negligence lawyer, parents can advocate for their children and fight back against negligent caretakers. No child should ever be harmed in a facility where they should be safe.

How Can a Lawyer Help?

The idea of representing oneself against a daycare or experienced caretaker may seem outrageous to some. Large chain daycares often have their attorneys to serve them, and if a parent or guardian is unprepared, they may not win their case. By hiring a skilled DC daycare negligence lawyer, parents can advocate for their children and improve their chances of winning their case. An attorney may also be able to help in the following ways:

  • Collect additional evidence
  • Interview witnesses and compile testimony
  • Cross-examine daycare workers
  • Provide high-quality legal advice and guidance
  • Interact with the daycare and its lawyers on behalf of parents

Interacting with attorneys can be difficult, and in reality, anything you say can be used against you in court. It is also common for defense attorneys to argue that the child’s parents caused the injury sustained by a child. This is an unfair but may be a legally accepted argument.

Liability Waivers and Out-of-Court Settlements

When parents first enroll their children in daycare, they are usually asked to sign a liability waiver. This waiver prevents parents from taking any legal action against the daycare under certain conditions. However, such exemptions are not ironclad, in cases involving gross negligence or abuse, parents may still be able to hold the daycare liable in civil and criminal court. Such waivers serve as general protection from frivolous lawsuits.

Often, a case will not make it to court because image-conscious daycare centers and caretakers may prefer to offer a settlement. A settlement is a sum of money paid to plaintiffs in exchange for the dropping of a court case. If a parent chooses to accept a settlement from a daycare center, they may not pursue litigation. Often, especially if there are no witnesses or sufficient evidence, taking a settlement may be in the best interest of a child and their parents.

Signs of Caretaker Negligence

Parents may notice signs of negligence at the daycare their child attends. Such signs are not always visible, but they can be spotted if a parent pays attention. Such signs include:

  • The child is always hungry or thirsty.
  • The child is dirty or unkempt.
  • The childcare facility is unlocked, or unsafe objects are within reach of children.
  • There are not enough workers to properly supervise the children.
  • Workers fail to report injuries and other significant incidents to parents.

If a parent notices any of the signs listed above, they may want to consider speaking with the administrator of the facility or the caretaker.

Fight Back with the Help of a DC Daycare Negligence Attorney

If your child was injured while in the care of another party, you should weigh your legal options. With the guidance and advice of a seasoned attorney, you may be able to file for compensation in a civil court. It may even be possible to hold multiple parties liable for the injury of a child.

Contact a DC daycare negligence lawyer if you are ready to fight for your child.