Fort Worth Child Injury Lawsuit After Child Care Abuse

Child sexual abuse is a heartbreaking reality for too many families in Fort Worth Tx. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates 60,000 children per year are sexually abused. That means one in 10 children experience abuse before age 18, many in daycare facilities.

Discovering sexual abuse is often followed by feelings of anger, confusion, regret, and a strong desire for justice.

The Texas child injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw share that desire. If your child has suffered abuse at the hands of a daycare employee, our attorneys have the knowledge and experience to help you get the justice your family deserves.

There are over 780,000 child care centers in Texas. In this case, “child care” refers to any facility that cares for two or more children outside of the home, such as a daycare, nursery, church, preschool, or after-school program. There are nearly 800 licensed facilities in Tarrant County alone.

Last year, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services investigated around 39,000 cases of negligence and child abuse.

• Over 1,000 abuse investigations involved daycare centers.
• Over 100 investigations occurred in Tarrant County, the third-highest number in the state.
• One-fifth of all reports were related to sexual abuse.
• One-fifth of all reports were validated, with charges filed.

Those numbers show that Fort Worth daycare abuse is a problem that’s far too common.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the most common form of sexual abuse in daycare is inappropriate touching or fondling by an employee while the victim is isolated from other children.

Several studies have also found that less than 40% of all victims report their abuse, so it’s important that parents watch closely for any signs.

If you suspect your child is a victim, you should immediately call the police to put a stop to the abuse. Then, you should file a report with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The DFPS has a toll-free hotline and an online reporting form, both available 24/7.

Next, you should contact one of the Texas child injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw. Child abuse laws differ by state, so our local lawyers are the most qualified to advise you on your next steps.

Every case is different, but in general, a successful Fort Worth child injury lawsuit after child care abuse will need to establish the following five things:

• The child care provider had a duty to protect your child.
• The child care provider violated that duty.
• That violation was the cause of your child’s injury.
• The injury was foreseeable and preventable by the staff or management.
• You have proof of the nature and value of damages.

Generally, a verified case of sexual abuse satisfies all five of these. You paid the daycare to keep your child safe and sexual abuse is a clear violation of that responsibility. It is also the main cause of the injury (physical and/or psychological).

Sexual abuse doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a deliberate act and is therefore preventable. The “damages” are the losses sustained as a result of the abuse, such as medical care, mental health treatment, and pain and suffering.

No amount of money will make up for the pain of abuse, but it can go a long way toward getting your child the necessary treatment to heal and move on from the trauma. If your child is a victim, our child sexual abuse attorneys in Fort Worth are ready to fight for the compensation your family deserves.

Call us at toll-free 800-862-1260. We have English and Spanish-speaking staff available 24/7 to schedule a free initial consultation.