Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By Thomas Hastings, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
While a child is under the care of a babysitter, parent, grandparent, day care center, school, or other person or entity, the child should be provided with a safe and clean living environment. Unfortunately, there are many inexperienced or inpatient child care providers out there who use means to punish or discipline a child that can cause serious personal injuries to the child. The fact that certain disciplinary acts have a long history do not make them safe, legal, or morally right. Using scalding water as a form of discipline can lead to serious personal injuries. In addition, the person, who uses this technique of discipline, may face criminal charges especially in situations in which the abused child is hospitalized or otherwise needs medical care and treatment.
In Phoenix, Arizona and other States, parents rely on day care centers to provide a safe and clean environment while the parents are at work. The day care center has a duty to provide consistent supervision so that the children are kept safe and free from dangers and hazards. Unfortunately, some day care centers put a child at risk for personal injuries when the supervision is lacking. It is vital that day care centers have policies, procedures, and safeguards in place to prevent children from wandering out of the facility. In Phoenix, Arizona, it was reported by the local news that a child wandered away from a day care center. Fortunately, the child did not suffer any serious personal injuries and was returned safely to the day care center and ultimately to the child’s family. While there were no injuries reported, the risks were still there and actions should be taken by this facility to prevent future incidents of this nature. See 
In Nebraska and other States, parents rely on day care centers, babysitters, and schools to supervise their children and keep them safe. Unfortunately, in some instances, these child care providers neglect children under their care and cause serious personal injuries to children and sometimes even death. In Nebraska, a babysitter was sentenced to a prison term of up to 4 years. Pamela Johnson pleaded no contest to the charges of intentional child abuse and first degree assault on a child. Law enforcement officials and prosecutors pursued the case based on evidence that showed that the child victim had injuries consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome. See 
Jordan Everhart, a 21 year old Idaho man, was arrested on a felony injury to a child charge. Everhart was accused of physically abusing and 18 month old child. Everhart was babysitting his girlfriend’s child when the toddler was rushed to St. Lukes Regional Hospital. A rescue team rushed to the child’s home, after they received a call regarding an unconscious child. Paramedics assessed the child and determined the injuries were consistent with head trauma. The child underwent surgery, however she did not survive.
In Ohio and other States, children continue to be the unfortunate victims of abuse and neglect at the hands of their parents, family friends, relatives, babysitters, teachers, and / or day care providers. Often times, a caregiver will present a child to an emergency room or a pediatrician and invent a story regarding how the injuries took place. When the history provided does not match the suspected mechanism of injury, state officials should be contacted to further investigate the injuries. The safety and best interests of the child are paramount to any other concerns or issues. Furthermore, a child, who is residing in a potentially abusive or neglected environment, should be removed and cared for in a safe and secure living situation.