Child Care Accidents

Parents all over Atlanta regularly turn to daycare centers for oversight of their children, and State law in Georgia requires the owners and operators of child care centers to follow certain rules in order to ensure the safety of such children. When a child care provider fails to comply with State standards, it can lead to children suffering serious injuries because of accidents, physical abuse, or other forms of negligence.

Severe injuries resulting from child care accidents can often lead to major medical expenses as well as other unexpected costs, and a negligent child care facility or provider may be liable for the financial harm. Catastrophic injuries may involve a lifetime of extended care, and families should make sure to seek legal representation before engaging in any type of settlement discussions.

Lawyer for Child Care Accidents in Atlanta, GA

Did you child suffer serious injuries because of a child care provider’s negligence? You will want to contact Marcus A. Roberts & Associates as soon as possible for help obtaining all of the compensation you need and deserve.

Marcus A. Roberts is an experienced personal injury attorney in Atlanta who fights for the families of seriously injured individuals in Clayton County, DeKalb County, Cobb County, Gwinnett County, and Fulton County. Our lawyer will provide an honest and thorough evaluation of your case when you call 404-577-4444 to take advantage of a free initial consultation.

Overview of Child Care Accidents in Fulton County

• How are children usually hurt in Atlanta child care facilities?
• What is the difference between child care learning centers and family child care learning homes?
• Where can I learn more about child care accidents in Atlanta?

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Types of Child Care Accidents in Atlanta

Children can sustain any one of a number of injuries, depending on the child care setting and the child’s age. Some of the most severe types of injuries children suffer in child care accidents include, but are not limited to:

• Burns;
• Fractures (broken bones);
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs);
• Shaken baby syndrome;
• Spinal cord injuries;
• Dog bites;
• Drowning; or
• Poisoning.

Several different forms of negligence can result in a child suffering catastrophic injuries. Parents can be entitled to compensation for economic damages such as medical expenses and noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering when their children are harmed as the result of any of the following:

• Bus accidents;
• Failure to supervise a child;
• Unsafe playground;
• Failing to secure facility;
• Allowing children to harm one other;
• Attractive nuisances (objects likely to attract children that pose risk of death or serious bodily harm);
• Physical abuse;
• Sexual abuse.

Certain accidents may even be fatal. Marcus A. Roberts & Associates empathizes with the profound grief that an entire family feels when a child is killed as the result of another party’s negligence. Our attorney handles all of the paperwork necessary for wrongful death claims so families can take the time they need to grieve.

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Georgia Child Care Rules and Laws

Georgia Code § 20-1A-1 created the Department of Early Care “as a department of the executive branch of State government and shall have the duties, responsibilities, functions, powers, and authority set forth in this chapter and otherwise provided by law.” The Department of Early Care is more commonly known as Bright from the Start.

The Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning has two sets of rules and regulations for registered Support Centers and licensed child care programs. One is for child care learning centers, and the other set is for family child care learning homes.

Those terms are defined as follows:

• Child Care Learning Center (or Center) — Any place operated by an individual or any business entity recognized under Georgia law wherein are received for pay for group care, for fewer than 24 hours per day without transfer of legal custody, seven or more children under 18 years of age and which is required to be licensed. Child Care Learning Center also includes any day care center previously licensed by the Department of Human Resources and transferred pursuant to Georgia Code § 20-1A-1.
• Family Child Care Learning Home (or Home) — A private residence operated by any person who receives therein for pay for supervision and care fewer than 24 hours per day, without transfer of legal custody, at least three but not more than six children under 13 years of age who are not related to such persons and whose parent(s) are not residents in the same private residence as the provider and which is required to be licensed; provided, however, that the total number of unrelated children cared for in such home, for pay and not for pay, may not exceed six children under 13 years of age at one time, except that a provider may care for two additional children three years of age or older for two designated one hour periods daily upon approval by the department.

Child care learning centers and family child care learning homes can be subject to different regulations, so it is important for the family of any injured child to work with a knowledgeable lawyer who understands the complexity of these types of legal claims.

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Georgia Child Care Accident Resources

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning | Bright from the Start — Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is the state agency “responsible for meeting the child care and early education needs of Georgia’s children and their families.” You can use this website to find a child care provider and learn more about types of providers. You can also find answers to frequently asked questions, view monthly newsletters, and access information about Bright from the Start programs.

Child Fatality Review Program | Georgia Bureau of Investigation — Georgia’s Child Fatality Review (CFR) Program was established in 1990 by statute and is an independent program currently administered out of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). On this website, you can learn more about the state and local teams, as well as reviews and the purpose of the CFR Program. The website also has links to access previous years’ reports and submit a child death review report.

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Marcus A. Roberts & Associates | Atlanta Child Care Accidents Attorney

If your child suffered any kind of serious injury as the result of a negligent child care provider, it would be in your best interest to quickly retain legal counsel. Marcus A. Roberts & Associates represents clients in communities all over Gwinnett County, DeKalb County, Clayton County, Cobb County, and Fulton County.

Atlanta personal injury lawyer Marcus A. Roberts can investigate the circumstances surrounding your child’s injuries and hold all negligent parties accountable. Our attorney can review your case and answer all of your legal questions when you call 404-577-4444 or complete an online contact form to receive a free, no obligation consultation.