Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By Robert Chaiken, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Texas and other States, children, at times, suffer injuries as a result of the negligent and / or intentional acts of teachers, aides, child care providers, and others in schools and day care centers. Children should be cared for and educated in a learning environment that is geared towards the best interest of the children. Acts involving hitting, punching, pushing, shoving, or corporal punishment really have no place in schools and day care centers. While corporal punishment is still allowed in some schools and jurisdictions, it is often over used and / or excessive to the point that it causes physical injuries to the child or injuries that require medical care.
In homes, day care centers, schools, camps, and other child care facilities, there is a danger of distraction that typically is accessible or in the hand of most child care providers —- You probably guessed that the item is the mobile phone, cell phone, smart phone, iPhone, Droid, etc . . . . Technology has brought us the wonder of these mobile devices that provide you the weather on the spot, text messages, e-mails, news, and the world of the Internet on the move. While these phones can be a good tool and a great mobile means of communication, the phones can also be a distraction for those parents, adults, teachers, assistants, and child care workers responsible for the care and supervision of children. Rather than concentrate their vision on the children and their activities, many adults in charge or supervision are glued to their mobile phone screen and the moment —- This, in turn, causes distraction and less than optimal or consistent child care.
In many homes, day care centers, schools, and other locations, there is a danger present for children. Simply enough, the danger presents itself in the form of an open window or a window that can be opened by a child. Whether the child crawls out a first story window or higher window, the danger is present. A child can suffer fractures, lacerations, and head injuries from a fall out of a window. Because of the risks and dangers of windows, it is vital that all child care providers including babysitters, relatives, parents, neighbors, coaches, day care centers, and schools properly secure windows accessible to children. A safety check should be performed and recommendations should be made as to all windows and doors in the building, facility, or home.
In Georgia and other States, there is a common danger present in most homes, schools, day care centers, and summer camps. The danger is the presence and access of children to medications and poisons located in or near the summer camp, school, home, or day care center. Because children are curious and often times do not recognize the dangers of medications or poisons, it is vital that homeowners, teachers, counselors, and child care providers properly store and lock up all medications and poisons that may be present at the home or facility. Otherwise, a child may end up suffering serious personal injuries or, in some instances, death.
In most every home with a baby or infant, you will find baby bottles, sippy cups, and / or pacifiers While there are many benefits to these products, there can also be dangers which result in injuries to babies and infants. Nationwide Children’s Hospital conducted a study of ER visits between 1991 and 2010. It was reported that over 45,000 children under the age of 3 years old were treated in Emergency Rooms for accidents / injuries related to these common baby / infant products. The most common body parts / regions injured included the head, face, neck, and mouth. Many children were injured by these products during a fall while the child was walking or running with the product in his or her mouth at the time of the incident. Parents should consult their pediatrician as to recommendations for use or limitations as to pacifiers. This goes the same for bottles and sippy cups. For more information, see 
Children are at risk and danger when walking to and from school. Unfortunately, child predators often times target children who are walking to and from school. One well known scam is for the predator to ask the child for help looking for a so called lost puppy or dog. It is a commonly used scheme that can be and is effective to many unknowing children who are innocent and sincere in helping out a stranger especially if there is a lost puppy or dog in need of rescuing. Parents, teachers, coaches, and other responsible adults should keep an eye out for such predators and scams.
Children are the unfortunate and tragic victims of drownings in swimming pools, bath tubs, ponds, lakes, rivers, water parks, oceans, and theme parks. Many such drownings are preventable with consistent, timely, and effective adult supervision. Children are at risk for drownings any place where water congregates. A shallow end, bath tub, and other areas are not safer than other locations. Even children who are strong swimmers and older children can drown without proper supervision. It is well known that children (from the young through teenagers) lack good safety judgment and often go near or in body of water without well reasoned thought or safety precautions.
When a child is supervised or otherwise under the care of a school or day care center, parents hope and expect that the teachers, aides, and other child education or child care providers provide a safe learning environment free from abuse and neglect. While most educators and child care providers are good people, some use this position of trust and authority to prey on children and use the very position of trust to abuse, neglect, and otherwise harm children under their care. It is most unfortunate and tragic that incidents of abuse and neglect continue to take place today by teachers and child care providers. When a child is harmed, neglected, battered, and / or assaulted by a teacher, aide, or other child care provider, there are two types of case that can be pursued: 1. Criminal Case and 2. Civil Case.
In homes, day care centers, schools, and other locations, there are common every day items that can pose a great risk of injury to a child. These items are in just about every house and most day care centers and schools. Believe it or not, the common every day items include televisions and furniture. Children are curious and often times do not recognize the danger of climbing on furniture or moving a television set. When these items are not properly positioned, safeguarded, and / or anchored, serious personal injuries can result. Because there have been a number of incidents across the nation that involve serious personal injuries from a television or furniture item that has tipped over and fallen on a child, it is vital that the home, day care center, school, and other location frequented by a child be safeguarded to the best of the ability of the property owner and / or child care provider.