When you bring your child to a daycare facility, you do so with the assumption that they should receive the care and supervision they need to stay safe. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Parents should always keep a watchful eye out for the signs of daycare injury or abuse in Pennsylvania.
Unexplained Bruises or Other Injuries
If a child of yours is coming home with unexplained injuries, that could indicate that they are suffering abuse at daycare or that the facility’s staff has been negligent in supervising the children, leading to accidental injuries. Pay attention to the explanation offered for any minor injuries. The caregiver should provide a clear, logical, and accurate account of how they occurred.
Changes in Behavior
Children who become withdrawn, depressed, or show signs of guilt for small misdeeds may be suffering from abuse at the hands of daycare workers. Other changes in behavior among abused children can include withdrawal or aggressive outbursts, including kicking, biting, or scratching.
Regressive Behaviors
Regressive behaviors in children who have outgrown them can indicate traumatic abuse. These behaviors can include bed-wetting, thumb sucking, excessive crying, clinginess, or a fear of the dark. Regression can indicate verbal or sexual abuse as well as physical abuse.
Acting Out in Social Situations
Abused children sometimes have difficulty controlling their impulses in social settings. They may be disobedient, defiant, or argumentative, or fail to show guilt or remorse after behaving badly.
Signs to Look for at the Daycare
Some of the warning signs of potential daycare injury or abuse are clear even before children actually get hurt. If you want to take a more proactive role in protecting your child, you can look for these warning signs when you pick your child up from daycare:
- Inadequate staffing
- Unsupervised children
- Lack of interaction
- Unsafe toys or playground equipment
- Lack of communication
- Frequent illness outbreaks
You don’t have to wait until your child is injured to take action. If you have general concerns about health hazards or licensing violations, you can file a complaint through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
What to Do if You Notice Injuries
There are more than 8,000 child care facilities in Pennsylvania. Daycare injury laws protect all of the children attending these facilities, but incidents of abuse and neglect can still happen. When they do, you can work with an attorney familiar with daycare abuse cases to file a Pennsylvania daycare injury claim. Filing a claim can help recover recompense for the harm your child has suffered while simultaneously holding the daycare accountable.
In some cases, daycare workers may also face criminal charges for endangering the welfare of a child. Even if the staff member responsible for your child’s injuries or abuse is not found guilty of a criminal act, you may still hold them liable in civil court.
Hire a Daycare Injury Lawyer
If you’ve spotted signs of daycare injury or abuse in Pennsylvania, it’s time to take action and hire a daycare injury lawyer. The team here at SMT Legal can help. Let us leverage our skills, experience, and strong relationships with the legal community to get your family the results you deserve. Contact us online or call attorney Christopher Thomas at 412-448-6887 to schedule an initial consultation today.
