Can I Sue an Illinois Daycare If an Employee Abused My Child?

 Posted on May 30, 2022 in Personal Injury

Busy parents with hectic schedules must do extensive research to find the perfect Illinois daycare center for their child. Leaving your little one in the hands of a third party all day may be a harrowing experience for some parents, and it is one which takes a leap of faith in the skill and compassion of the daycare staff. 

Unfortunately, daycare staff do not always live up to the expectations parents have of them; worse, they sometimes abuse the children in their care. Any kind of daycare abuse is unacceptable. If your child has been abused in their childcare center and injured or even killed, know that you have options. 

Types of Daycare Abuse

It is often difficult for children to share or talk about daycare abuse, either because they are too young or are afraid of their teachers or caregivers. An estimated 60 percent of child sexual abuse victims never tell anyone. But where there is abuse, there are often subtle signs of abuse. These include, but are not limited to:

• Physical abuse - Odd cuts, bruises, or broken bones; injuries that seem not to match the explanation given by the daycare worker; injuries that do not seem to heal; severe discipline; clear signs of fear or anxiety when the child goes to daycare
• Sexual abuse - Odd or recent knowledge of sexual topics, vocabulary, or terms for body parts that you do not use at home; descriptions of odd “playing” with other children that sound sexual in nature; injuries to the child’s genitals; torn or stained undergarments
• Emotional abuse - Inappropriate isolation, like being placed in a closet or dark room; insulting or belittling words or actions; anxiety, depression, or decreased happiness on the part of a child

What Should I Do If I Suspect Abuse? 

Parents often second-guess their intuition because they are worried about causing problems or being overly paranoid about their child. But if something seems wrong, it is always worth paying more attention to, especially if your child seems to be suffering serious harm. Even if you are not completely sure, you can speak with a personal injury attorney who can help you examine your situation and collect any relevant evidence of abuse. 

Contact a Winnebago County Daycare Abuse Lawyer

Learning that your child’s safety, health, and trust have been violated by an employee you relied on to provide your child with care can be a life-shattering experience. At Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law, we take allegations of daycare abuse and neglect very seriously and will help you investigate credible claims so you can seek the compensation and justice to which you are entitled. Call our Rockford, IL daycare abuse attorneys today at 815-215-7561 to schedule a free strategy session and learn more about what we may be able to do to help. 

Source: 

https://www.d2l.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Statistics_1_Magnitude.pdf