Millions of children around the country attend daycare and other childcare facilities regularly, and for most of them, the care they receive is exceptional. Unfortunately, not all daycares are created equal, and some are more concerned with profit than the children they are tasked with watching.
If you believe your child sustained an injury that was the result of negligence on behalf of a caretaker or facility, you and your child may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact a seasoned daycare negligence attorney. If you are considering taking legal action against a childcare facility, take the time to learn more about various types of daycare negligence in Maryland.
Lack of Supervision
Daycares are typically full of small children who require the supervision of an adult. When a daycare hires an adequate number of workers, monitoring is usually not a problem, but when a daycare fails to employ a sufficient number of workers, the facility may be unable to supervise the children properly. When a child is unsupervised, the following can quickly occur:
- Children can hurt themselves or others.
- Children can ingest toxic substances or dangerous objects.
- Children can wander off the premises.
- Children with allergic reactions can consume the foods they should not have.
- Children with injuries or illnesses are overlooked.
A lack of supervision is dangerous, and facilities should do everything in their power to ensure their children are monitored continuously.
Failure to Seek Medical Attention
When a child sustains an illness or injury at daycare, they may require immediate medical care. If they do not receive the care they need, their illness or injury can worsen, causing severe medical problems and complications.
Children, especially infants and toddlers, can develop a wide range of medical issues, so caretakers should be sure to administer their medications and report any injuries or illnesses to parents and administrators. Compiling important information in a report can prevent legal issues in the future.
Abuse Prevention
Negligence differs from abuse, but when a facility knowingly or unknowingly fails to notice abuse, they can be labeled as negligent. Abuse can be physical, emotional, or sexual, and over time, it can take a toll on the mental health of a child. For this reason, daycares should take reasonable steps to ensure abuse does not occur.
Unfortunately, some daycares do not take note of abuse perpetrated by children or some adults. Failing to report accurately and handle cases of abuse can be described as negligent.
Signs of Daycare Negligence
The types of daycare negligence in Maryland listed above are some of the most common, but not the only examples. Negligence, like abuse, comes in a plethora of forms, and sometimes, it can be hard to notice. However, if a parent sees the following signs, they may want to speak with their child and the caretaker responsible for them:
- Unexplained bruises, bites, or other injuries
- Unsafe objects and substances left within reach
- Few or no supervising adults
- Children are frequently hungry or thirsty
- Children appear dirty of unkept
When a daycare fails or refuses to meet the basic needs of a child, its administrators and caretakers can be labeled as negligent.
Call to Learn More About Types of Daycare Negligence in Maryland
No child should have to go to a daycare that puts profit ahead of their safety, and if a facility does, it should be held liable. Depending on the circumstances of a case, parents may be able to obtain compensation. Childcare facilities should take steps to ensure they do not hire negligent workers at any cost.
Call an attorney today if you believe your child was subjected to one or more of the types of daycare negligence in Maryland listed above.
