Approximately 6.8% of children aged 17 and under have suffered a concussion or brain injury, according to a medical study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And, in the March 2024 Child Injuries and Fatalities Report, there were 4,178 investigations into serious injuries that children age 4 and younger sustained at daycare centers across Texas in 2023. These staggering statistics include child brain injuries that occurred at local facilities in The Woodlands.
Our daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm are experiencing an increase in the number of inquiries we receive from parents in The Woodlands about brain injuries. Therefore, we want to arm local parents with information about these serious injuries and what to do in the event a child suffers a brain injury while in the care of a local center.
What Causes Brain Injuries at Daycare Centers in The Woodlands?
The most common causes of pediatric brain injuries at daycare centers in The Woodlands include:
- Car accidents while being transported in a daycare van or bus.
- Choking incidents at snack or mealtimes or when caregivers do not intervene quickly when a child starts playing with age-inappropriate toys.
- Drowning incidents at daycare centers with swimming pools.
- Exposure to illegal drugs or unapproved medications that are accessible to curious children.
- Falling from a high surface such as a changing table, high chair, or playground equipment.
- Heatstroke caused by being left in a hot daycare van or spending too much time outdoors on a summer day without adequate hydration or shade.
- Physical abuse at the hands of a caregiver or another child at the facility.
- Shaken Baby Syndrome caused by a caregiver violently shaking an infant.
- Unsafe infant sleep practices that prevent oxygen flow to a child’s brain for a prolonged amount of time.
How Can Daycare Centers in The Woodlands Prevent Child Brain Injuries?
Daycare operators in The Woodlands can prevent little ones from experiencing brain injuries by creating safe environments that follow Texas daycare laws, also known as minimum standards. These regulations include:
- Complying with safe sleep practices.
- Keeping a watchful eye on all children with visual and auditory proximity and intervening when necessary.
- Maintaining approved child-to-caregiver ratios in every classroom.
- Preparing age-appropriate meals and snacks that are easy for little ones to chew and swallow.
- Properly vetting all caregivers and staff before hiring them.
- Providing adequate training for caregivers and ensuring all caregivers are current on annual training requirements.
- Supervising all employees to ensure the children in their care are safe.
What Are Symptoms of a Child’s Brain Injury?
Unlike other physical child injuries, brain injuries are not always immediately apparent. Parents in The Woodlands should closely monitor their little ones and watch for the followed symptoms:
- Being unresponsive when trying to wake a child up
- Blurred or double vision
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Confusion
- Convulsions or seizures
- Decreased appetite
- Dizziness
- Excessive crying
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Mood swings
- Numbness or tingling in arms and legs
- Poor coordination or balance
- Ringing in the ears
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Slurred speech
- Trouble concentrating or memory lapse
- Vomiting
Younger children may not be able to fully communicate their feelings or medical issues, but parents know their child and their mannerisms best and will be able to tell if something is not right. It is vital that children who exhibit these symptoms are taken to Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, located at 17600 I-45 South, or a local emergency room for evaluation.
Do I Have Legal Options If My Child Suffered a Brain Injury at a Daycare Center in The Woodlands?
Brain injuries caused at a local daycare center can be life-changing for the child and the whole family. That is why it is important for parents in The Woodlands to contact our experienced daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm if your infant suffered a brain injury while in the care of a local childcare facility.
Filing a lawsuit is one step to hold the daycare center in The Woodlands accountable for a child’s brain injury. By taking legal action, parents can get answers and may be compensated for the following damages:
- Emotional distress
- Medical expenses, including a child’s ongoing or future medical treatments and therapy
- Pain and suffering
- Other unexpected costly fees
It is important for parents in The Woodlands to know taking legal action is also the only way to get justice and, hopefully, prevent other children in the community from suffering at the hands of negligent daycare centers.
The CDC estimates that 200 children are killed each year because of preventable head trauma and brain injuries. In the tragic event that a child experiences a fatal injury because of a brain injury sustained at a daycare center in The Woodlands, surviving parents may be eligible to file a wrongful death of a child lawsuit and seek compensation to cover:
- Funeral expenses
- Medical expenses incurred prior to a child’s passing away
- Loss of consortium for family members
- Loss of income
- Emotional damages such as pain and suffering
Our experienced legal team has created this free guide with detailed steps that parents can take if their child sustained a brain injury at a daycare center in The Woodlands.
If you have questions about your child’s brain injury that was caused at a daycare center in The Woodlands, call us at 214-699-4409 or email us at [email protected]. Our experienced daycare injury lawyers will listen and determine the best way to help you and your family move forward.
Getting Help After a Child Suffers a Brain Injury at a Daycare Center in The Woodlands
Our team of experienced daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm is dedicated to advocating for you and your family if your child has suffered a brain injury while in the care of a childcare facility in The Woodlands, Texas. Helping clients in Montgomery County, we are ready to listen and fight for your family. Our lawyers 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 281-857-6116 , email us at [email protected], or fill out a contact form for a free case evaluation. You can also reach a member of our team by starting a chat here.
