Choosing to send a child to a daycare facility is one of the most important decisions a parent will make. Parents seek out environments where they can be sure their child will be nurtured and supported, and they rely on daycare employees to function as critical caregivers in their absence. Yet, as many parents know, not all daycare centers deliver on their promise to provide safe spaces for children.
The Department of Health and Human Services suggests that as recently as 2017, more than 2,000 daycare employees were found guilty of abusing children in their care. With alarming statistics like these, it’s no question that parents will want to know how they can best recognize and respond to tragic incidents of daycare abuse when they occur.
Thankfully parents have a range of legal options designed to help them hold perpetrators accountable and recover resources needed to facilitate their child’s recovery. The Colorado attorneys at Carabin Shaw have years of experience guiding families through this process with the highest level of professionalism and care. With the guidance of our specialized attorneys, parents can rest assured that all liable parties will be held responsible for a child’s abuse, and that they’ll secure the fair and comprehensive financial settlements they deserve.
Recognizing Daycare Sexual AbuseWhile some parents expect that their child would tell them if they were being harmed, experts claim that many children are too frightened, confused, or ashamed to vocalize the details of their sexual abuse, even to a trusted parent. Daycare abuse lawyers in Colorado suggest caregivers look for emotional and behavioral signs like sudden clinginess or resistance to separating from a parent, mood swings, regular bedwetting or nightmares, and a developmentally inappropriate interest in sex. In some cases, obvious physical indicators of abuse will be present, such as symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection (STI), torn clothing, or noticeable trauma to the genital regions.
Lawyers advise that when parents recognize these symptoms, they get their child to a healthcare facility for further evaluation and treatment as soon as possible.
Legal Options After Daycare AbuseColorado child injury lawyers receive many questions from caregivers about the legal steps they can take after discovering a child has been abused. Many parents are unaware that the legal proceedings following an incident of sexual abuse generally occur in two phases. In the first, state prosecutors will bring charges against suspected perpetrators in criminal courts. These lawsuits are designed to hold defendants criminally responsible through jail time or other penalties. However, they don’t afford victims the opportunity to pursue monetary compensation for their damages. It is only after a criminal case has been resolved that victims and their families will have the chance to forward the civil lawsuits that can result in this type of compensation.
While victims may be more likely to secure financial settlements if prior criminal cases produce a guilty verdict, this is not always a requirement. Because the standard of proof is higher for criminal lawsuits than for civil ones, it’s possible that a victim may be awarded compensation even when a defendant was not sentenced in a criminal trial. Though settlement awards vary from case to case, victims will generally be eligible to receive compensation for costs such as medical treatments, psychotherapy, alternative childcare, and their ongoing pain and suffering.
The Best Legal Option After Colorado Daycare Abuse | Free Case ReviewIf you or your child have suffered abuse at the hands of a Colorado daycare employee, reaching out for legal assistance is the best step you can take to secure the justice you deserve. The Colorado child sexual abuse attorneys at Carabin Shaw are committed to helping families like yours move forward towards recovery as soon as possible.
Call us 24/7 at 800-862-1260 to talk with our English and Spanish-speaking staff about the future of your case. We offer free case reviews to all victims of Colorado daycare sexual abuse.