Pursuing a Child Care Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in Dallas

Few topics are harder to talk about than child sexual abuse. Unfortunately, it’s a subject that too many parents in Dallas Tx are forced to address. According to data compiled by state Child Protective Service agencies, over 60,000 children per year are the victim of sexual abuse.

Nearly 7,000 of those cases were reported in the state of Texas alone, with a significant number occurring in daycare facilities. If your child is the victim of inappropriate touching by a daycare employee, the Texas child injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw are here to help.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that nearly 25% of children are in organized childcare, which includes daycares, nurseries, preschools, churches, or any other facility that cares for children outside of the home. Dallas alone has over 2,000 licensed child care centers. Fortunately, the number of sexual abuse cases in daycare is low compared to other sources.

Of the 39,000 total maltreatment cases reported in Texas last year, 300 originated from daycare facilities. On average, 20% of all CPS reports involve sexual abuse.

So, while the number of victims is low relative to the total number of children in facilities statewide, daycare abuse in Dallas Tx does occur. When it happens, it’s important that the perpetrators are held accountable.

A U.S. Department of Justice study on the issue found that a majority of abusers in daycare were caregivers, their family members, volunteers, or employees outside of the classroom such as janitors or bus drivers.

The signs of child sexual abuse aren’t always physical. They rarely are. Warning signs are more likely to be emotional or behavioral in nature. Some of the most common include:

Many victims of abuse exhibit common signs of anxiety and depression such as restlessness, irritability, excessive crying, and social isolation.

Some children experience chronic stomach pain and headaches that seem to have no explainable cause, often a psychosomatic reaction to the stress of abuse.

Often children who have been abused will revert to outgrown behaviors such as bedwetting or thumb sucking.

Recurring nightmares and a sudden onset of night terrors can be a sign of sexual abuse.

Children who engage in inappropriate sexual acts or demonstrate knowledge of mature sexual language and behaviors may be the victim of abuse.

The long-term effects of sexual abuse can include behavioral problems, academic problems, substance abuse, and more. It’s important to recognize these warning signs, so the trauma can be addressed through appropriate therapies.

If you think your child is the victim of sexual abuse in daycare, you should never confront the suspected abuser. You could get yourself into legal trouble as well as jeopardize your chances of pursuing a child care sexual abuse lawsuit in Dallas.

Your first calls should be to the police and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The DFPS has a toll-free number and online reporting system that are available 24/7.

Once you have an official report filed, you should contact one of the experienced Texas child injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw. Child abuse laws vary by state, so our local attorneys are uniquely qualified to help.

If your child is a victim of child care abuse, our Dallas child sexual abuse attorneys are ready to fight for the justice you deserve and the compensation you need for treatment.

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