St. Petersburg, FL — 2-Year-Old Suffers Broken Leg at Unlicensed Day Care

St. Petersburg, FL (September 3rd, 2024) – A toddler suffered a broken leg at a day care recently in St. Petersburg.

Doctors who treated the injury said it could not have been suffered by a fall accident, as the woman who ran the day care reported. The day care operator, a 25-year-old woman, admitted to misrepresenting her day care as licensed. She has been charged with child neglect with great bodily harm, as well as failing to obtain a license for a day care center.

Common Day Care Injuries

Even when taking the utmost care, accidents sometimes occur involving children when playing and learning at day cares in Florida, and elsewhere. While some cannot be avoided, however, others are the result of negligence on the part of the adults who are responsible for supervision.

Common day care injuries include:

Playground Injuries

Playgrounds allow young children to explore and expend energy, but also provide ample opportunities for injuries. Children may fall from play structures, slides, or uneven ground. They may also collide with other children, or have their limbs tangled in equipment. As such, they may suffer injuries, including fractures, concussions and other head injuries, or dental injuries.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Wet or slippery floors, as well as tripping hazards such as toys, uneven surfaces, or equipment, can lead to slip and fall accidents. Due to such accidents, children may suffer abrasions and scrapes, as well as more serious injuries such as sprains and strains, fractures, or head injuries.

Burns

Hot surfaces and scalding liquids that children may come into contact with while at day care can cause burns. Depending on their severity, burns can cause pain, blistering, and damage to the deeper layers of skin. 

Choking Hazards

At home and at day care, it is not unusual for children to put small objects into their mouths. Doing so, however, can cause serious choking hazards. Obstructions of their airways can be life-threatening for children at day care centers. 

Common Causes of Day Care Injuries

Day care injuries can occur for ranging reasons, many of which are preventable. Some of the most common causes include:

Supervision Issues

Issues with supervision in day care settings can allow children to get into situations in which they may be injured. Such problems may result from insufficient staff-to-child ratios, distractions, inattentiveness, and poor training.

Equipment Hazards

Broken or defective playground equipment can pose an injury risk for children at day cares. So too can equipment that was incorrectly installed, or that has fallen into disrepair due to lack of regular maintenance or repairs.

Negligence

Negligence can also contribute to day care accidents. For example, failing to address hazards, breaching the safety standards, or failing to effectively respond to emergency situations may play a role in children suffering injuries while under the supervision of day care facilities. 

Child Behavior and Development

Child behavior and development may play a role in causing some day care accidents. Naturally curious, children sometimes engage in risky behaviors such as climbing on unsafe surfaces, which can lead to accident injuries. Similarly, younger children may have limited coordination and balance, increasing their risk of falling.

What Responsibility Do Day Care Operators Have to Keep Children Safe?

Florida law places specific responsibilities on day care operators in the state to ensure the safety of the children in their care. To this end, they must obtain a license from the Florida Department of Children and Family Services, adhere with the state and local regulations, and maintain records for each child’s attendance, health, and incidents.

Additionally, day care facilities have an obligation to be safe and free from hazards, including sharp objects, poisonous substances, and broken equipment. To help reduce the spread of illness, day care facilities should follow strict sanitation standards. 

When it comes to staffing, operators should ensure they have adequate staff-to-child ratios so that all the children are supervised at all times. They must also hire staff that meet the state’s educational and training requirements, as well as provide ongoing training on child development, safety, and first aid.

If your child was injured while at a day care in Florida, and you believe negligence contributed, reach out to Magazine & Light Law Group today. Call 727-499-9900 for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our board-certified personal injury lawyer, Jim Magazine, has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of clients like you.

Jim Magazine

James (Jim) Magazine is a Florida Board Certified Civil Trial lawyer who has spent his career helping injured victims. Jim is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida since 1990 and is also admitted to practice at the Appellate level and admitted to the United States Supreme Court.

Years of Experience: More than 30 years
Florida Registration Status: Active
Bar Admissions:
Clearwater Bar Association
West Pasco Bar Association