A Parent’s Worst Nightmare - What Happened at This Texas Daycare?
In 2021, a father dropped off his 3-year-old daughter at daycare on a cold, rainy day. After removing her jacket, daycare workers became distracted with checking in other children instead of escorting the girl to her classroom.
Like most toddlers, she was curious and wandered off, managing to slip through the daycare’s back exit and into the playground. The door locked behind her, leaving her trapped outside. It wasn’t until over six hours later that staff discovered the little girl—cold, wet, hysterical, and soiled.
The daycare’s actions repeatedly violated state minimum care standards:
- Failing to properly supervise the little girl
- Failing to demonstrate good judgment and competency
- Not calling her parents to report the incident once they found her (The father was informed of the incident when he picked the little girl up later in the afternoon.)
- Replacing the little girl’s soiled clothes with another child’s underwear and pants instead of using the spare change of clothes left by her parents.
The toddler was taken to a nearby emergency room, where she was evaluated and treated for prolonged exposure to cold temperatures and other dangerous weather conditions. As one can imagine, the little girl was impacted emotionally—regressing in her potty training, wetting the bed, and experiencing a loss of appetite and a fear of being left alone.
The Daycare’s History of Failures
Following this incident, it was discovered that the Arlington daycare had a history of failing to keep children safe. The center had been cited numerous times by the state of Texas for failing to meet minimum standards for childcare facilities. Citations ranged from failing to supervise children and properly train staff to display deficient safety practices.
Situations like this are why our expert child injury lawyers have created a free guide to help parents like you find a safe daycare for their children. Our experienced team has found that many childcare facilities with fancy websites fall short on their promises to keep children in their care safe. Our goal is to make communities safer, and that starts with empowering and educating parents.
More Helpful Information
For guidance on navigating the aftermath of daycare injuries, explore these articles. They offer valuable insights into understanding legal rights, addressing medical concerns, and ensuring your child's safety and well-being, providing the crucial information you need to effectively handle such situations.
- What Are My Rights as a Parent If My Child Was Hurt at a Daycare Center in Texas?
- How to File a Daycare Incident Report When Your Child is Hurt at a Texas Daycare
- 8 Commonly Asked Questions About Daycare Injuries Answered
How The Button Law Firm Can Help Your Family with a Daycare Injury Case
If your child was neglected or harmed at daycare, camp, or school, contact our compassionate child injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm. We are experts in working on cases involving children, like this case with the toddler who was left in unsafe conditions at daycare. Our attorneys will listen to you and your child to assess the situation and determine where a daycare, camp, or school failed to protect your child in its care. All of our attorneys at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 214-699-4409 or fill out a contact form below for a free consultation.
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