Laredo Daycare Negligence & Abuse Attorneys

Discovering your child has been sexually abused in daycare is a nightmare scenario for any parent in Laredo Tx. When you drop your child off, you assume you’re leaving them somewhere safe with people you can trust. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over 60,000 children every year are victims of sexual abuse. Over 7,000 of those cases originated here in Texas, with a significant number reported in daycare.

If your child is the victim of child care abuse, the Texas child injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw are here to help.

There are nearly 800,000 facilities that provide child care services in Texas, with around 200 licensed centers in the Laredo area alone. Last year, the state investigated over 1,000 allegations of child abuse in daycare. One-fifth of all claims involved sexual abuse.

A Department of Justice study found the most common form of sexual abuse in daycare is inappropriate touching, with a daycare employee being the abuser in a majority of cases. The signs of abuse aren’t always obvious, but you can spot them if you know where to look. Here are a few:

• The child has bruising or unusual redness in sensitive areas
• The child uses sexual language beyond their developmental stage
• The child imitates sexual acts with other children or toys
• The child shows a sudden fear of going to daycare or of a specific employee
• The child refuses to take off clothing at bath or bedtime
• The child has unexplained stomach pain or headaches, which could be psychosomatic symptoms of stress

If you’ve noticed any of the above signs, your child may be a victim, and you should consult with one of our Laredo sexual abuse lawyers.

If you suspect your child has been sexually abused in daycare, it’s important to fight the urge to confront the abuser yourself. Not only could you get into legal trouble, but you could also jeopardize your chances of filing a lawsuit with one of our Laredo daycare negligence & abuse attorneys. Instead, you should call the police.

Second, you should report the abuse to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The DFPS has both a toll-free hotline and a simple online reporting form available 24 hours per day.

Once you’ve taken those steps to stop the abuse, you should contact one of the Texas child injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw. They can review the specifics of your case and help you map out your next steps.

The long-term effects of sexual abuse include behavioral problems, stunted emotional development, academic problems, and more. Fortunately, there are several trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy programs that have proven effective in combating those effects. Unfortunately, treatment can be a financial burden for families.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the cost of treating mental health and trauma-related conditions has increased more than any other over the past decade, with over $200 billion in spending per year.

Out-of-pocket payments for mental health treatment are higher than any other condition. Behavioral therapy can cost anywhere from $50 to $300 per session, with many families paying thousands of dollars per year. Our Laredo child abuse attorneys understand that financial burden should be carried by the abuser, not the victim.

If your child is the victim of child care abuse, the lawyers at Carabin Shaw are here for you. They have the knowledge and experience to get your family the justice it deserves and the compensation it needs.

Call us at toll-free 800-862-1260. Our English and Spanish-speaking staff are available 24/7 to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys.