St. Louis Daycare Injury & Negligence Attorney

Your Trusted Advocate When a Daycare Injury Changes Everything

As a parent, placing your child in the care of a daycare facility requires trust. When that trust is broken due to negligence or abuse, the consequences can be devastating. If your child has been harmed in a daycare injury, you need a skilled personal injury lawyer who understands how to fight for your child’s rights and your family’s future.

At Jett Accident & Injury Lawyers, we represent families across St. Louis whose children have suffered from child care negligence, unsafe facilities, and caregiver abuse. Let an experienced daycare injury lawyer help you hold the responsible parties accountable.

Why Choose Jett Accident & Injury Lawyers?

• Decades of experience handling complex personal injury cases
• Proven results in daycare negligence, abuse, and wrongful death claims
• Compassionate support for families and children
• No legal fees unless we win

We fight for your child like we would our own. Our team works aggressively to protect children and make negligent child care providers pay for the harm they’ve caused.

What Is Daycare Negligence?

Daycare centers have a legal responsibility to keep children safe. However, with high demand for childcare, many daycare centers cut corners, leading to dangerous and risky environments for children. When they fail to provide proper supervision, maintain safe premises, or hire qualified staff, injuries and abuse can occur. Under Missouri law, parents may be entitled to pursue a personal injury claim if their child is hurt due to daycare negligence, abuse, or unsafe conditions.

Children are vulnerable and deserve to be protected. Jett Accident & Injury Lawyers strives to protect children and help families navigate these emotionally difficult cases with confidence, care, and results-driven advocacy.

At Jett, we not only want to advocate for those who have been injured, but we also want to prevent any future injuries for children as a result of daycare negligence.

Child Abuse at Daycare

Leaving your child in the care of another can be challenging enough. Parents should rightfully expect that their child is properly cared for and in a safe environment.

Abuse at a daycare facility can include hitting, shaking, yelling, humiliation, or other forms of physical or emotional trauma. If your child shows signs of unexplained injuries, fear, or behavioral changes, speak to our legal team immediately. We work to uncover the truth and hold abusive staff fully accountable under Missouri law.

At Jett Accident & Injury Lawyers, we work to help children and their families recover from the trauma of child abuse.

Child Neglect at Daycare

Children deserve to be closely watched and cared for, and families deserve to know that their child is receiving just that. However, lack of proper supervision at daycares is a common concern, potentially leading to neglect and injury.

Neglect is one of the most common—and most dangerous—forms of daycare injury. From leaving children unsupervised to failing to provide proper nutrition or hygiene, neglect can cause both physical and emotional harm. Our accident lawyers investigate caregiver conduct, staffing ratios, and facility safety protocols to prove neglect.

Although Missouri has strict requirements for daycares to adhere to, many facilities ignore these requirements completely. Missouri has high maximum group sizes for daycares, which can lead to negligent circumstances, ultimately leaving children with serious injuries.

Our lawyers know negligence when they see it. Jett is here to investigate and give you the answers you deserve.

Wrongful Death at Daycare

Most daycare facilities are safe spaces, but still, fatal incidents may occur. When a child passes away because of a preventable accident at a daycare, that is called a daycare wrongful death of a child.

No parent should suffer the loss of a child while in the care of a daycare. When a child care facility fails to protect its most vulnerable, we pursue wrongful death claims with compassion and urgency. Our goal is justice—for your child and for your family’s future.

Common causes of wrongful deaths of children at daycares include:

• Abuse, which can lead to the death of a child if the child suffers from lethal organ damage or brain damage
• Allergic reactions when a child with severe allergies to a specific food or other allergen is exposed to such
• Severe and fatal burn injuries, which may cause a strong and fatal response from the body. Strong immune and inflammatory reactions may be difficult for medical professionals to manage and may even lead to multiple organ failure.
• Drugging incidents where a daycare employee gives a child an over-the-counter or prescription medication without the approval of a parent, which may turn fatal if the provided medication is too strong for the child or if the child experiences a severe allergic reaction
• Falls caused by a daycare employee dropping a child or allowing a child to fall from a changing table or highchair may be fatal. Young children may also fall from playground equipment, which could cause fatal injuries such as traumatic brain injuries.
• Hot van deaths may occur when a child is forgotten or becomes trapped in a daycare’s van for a prolonged period on a hot day, leading to heatstroke or dehydration.
• Negligent daycare teachers and facilities are a major cause of wrongful deaths of children at daycares. Children may injure themselves or even die if there is a lack of supervision, incompetent childcare staff or an insufficient caregiver-to-child ratio.
• Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) may occur if a caregiver violently shakes a child, cutting off oxygen to the brain and resulting in severe brain damage and sometimes death.
• Sleep injuries at daycare centers may also occur. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that 3,500 infants die each year from sleep-related deaths in the United States. When a daycare puts infants down for naps in an unsafe environment, these fatal injuries may occur.

However, these incidents are all easily preventable so long as daycares:

• Create and follow careful safety procedures
• Hire qualified staff that have been background checked and trained, along with provided continuing education opportunities
• Maintain safe spaces and equipment to prevent injuries to children

Jett Accident & Injury Lawyers will fight for your family to hold those responsible for the death of your loved one accountable. While we know losing a child is difficult and nothing can replace such a loss, a daycare wrongful death claim may help your family move forward and protect other children and families from experiencing the same fate. Your family may be eligible for compensation to cover:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• The emotional toll of losing a loved one, particularly a child
• Punitive damages if the daycare’s gross negligence caused your child’s death

Child Burns at Daycare

Burns are one of the most common causes of unintentional injury, which is the leading cause of death for children under 14. Children are among the most likely to get burned and nearly 75% of all burns that happen to children are preventable, according to Johns Hopkins University.  

Burn injuries may result from spilled hot liquids, faulty equipment, or chemical exposure. These incidents are often preventable and signal a serious lapse in child care safety protocols. Burn injuries may also lead to long-term scarring and trauma, and we fight to recover full compensation for all damages.

There are numerous ways that a burn injury may happen at a daycare, but they almost all happen because of a lack of supervision or proper policies and procedures. Burns may happen because of:

• Steam
• Open flames
• Fires
• Hot beverages
• Boiling water
• Hot pans
• Heaters
• Irons
• Other hot surfaces or objects

Failure to properly supervise and maintain daycare spaces may also cause severe burns to children when they:

• Put a finger, tongue or other body part into an uncovered outlet
• Touch a broken electric cord
• Are exposed to strong acids like bleach or other cleaners

Exposure to these surfaces or objects can lead to severe burns, which may require months of treatment.

Children may be exposed to different types of burns, too, depending on what they touched or were exposed to. Children may suffer from:

• Thermal Burns – A thermal burn is what is traditionally thought of when thinking of a burn injury. These burns occur when the skin comes into contact with something hot, such as steam, open flames, fires, etc. 

• Electric Burns – An electrical burn can happen when a child puts a finger, tongue or other body part into an electric outlet or comes into contact with a broken electric cord.

• Radiation Burns – A radiation burn can occur when a child is outside under the powerful and hot sun without being kept in shade or without applying and reapplying sunscreen. Most children at daycares are too young to know when to seek shade or apply their own sunscreen.

• Chemical Burns – A chemical burn may be caused by strong acids like bleach or battery fluid. Daycares have a responsibility to keep these chemicals away from children and to prevent chemical burns.

Burns may also occur in varying degrees. If your child has been burned, a doctor will classify the burn as one of the following:

• First-Degree Burn – Symptoms include redness and pain. These are the mildest form of burns and only affect the top layer of the skin.

• Second-Degree Burns – Symptoms include redness, blistering, swelling and pain, as well as potentially opened-skin. These burns affect the top layer of the skin, as well as at least part of the layer below.

• Third-Degree and Fourth-Degree Burns – Symptoms include the skin appearing white, brown or charred. These burns are the most serious types of burns and may affect all layers of the skin and nerves. These burns can be fatal.

Burn treatment depends on the size, location and severity of the burn. Some children may require hospitalization, skin graft surgeries, antibiotics and pain medication as part of their burn treatment. Burns may result in permanent disfigurement and infections, or even death.

If your child was burned at daycare, Jett Accident & Injury Lawyers may be able to help. The road to recovery will be long, regardless of the size, severity and location of the burn. You may be eligible for compensation to help you and your family cover:

• Medical treatment for the burns
• Psychological treatment for the trauma of the burns
• Impacts of disability caused by the burns
• Impacts of change in appearance caused by the burns

Many burns that occur at a daycare are preventable. To prevent burns and keep children safe, daycares must:

• Place bottle warmers on elevated surfaces where children cannot reach them or knock them over
• Properly secure bottle warmers so that they cannot be accidentally tipped over
• Hide any loose cords so that they are out of reach of any children

Additionally, ensuring that the daycare has a safe caregiver-to-child ratio can prevent injuries to children. 

Children Overheating in Daycare Vehicles

Every year, children suffer heatstroke or worse after being left unattended in hot vehicles. If your child was left in a daycare van or bus in St. Louis, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit based on recklessness or gross negligence. We act quickly to hold all responsible parties accountable. Many children’ s deaths from being left unattended in hot vehicles could have been prevented. Over 50% of hot vehicle deaths happen because someone forgot a child in a car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  

As a parent, you have the right to expect that your child will be supervised at all times after being dropped off at daycare, even if they are taken away from the facility. However, this is not always the case. When a child is left alone in a hot car, van or bus, the child can face devastating consequences.

Even with a window cracked, the inside of a vehicle heats up rapidly, with 80% of the temperature increase occurring in just the first 10 minutes. Also in just 10 minutes, a vehicle can increase in heat 20 more degrees, meaning that in the Missouri heat, the inside of a vehicle could reach nearly 120 degrees.

Extreme heat poses a special threat to children, as their bodies overheat three to five times faster than the bodies of adults. Children may experience various types of hyperthermia, which occurs when the body can no longer regulate its own temperature. Other heat-related illnesses that may occur include:

• Heat Cramps – Often occur in the arms, hands, lower legs and feet as a result of losing a lot of electrolytes through sweating.

• Heat Exhaustion – May lead to heatstroke, as a child’s body temperature can reach up to 104 degrees.

• Heatstroke – The most serious form of hyperthermia, occurring when a child’s body temperature exceeds 104 degrees, sometimes leading to issues with the brain and other organs. Heatstroke may be life-threatening.

When a child is left in a hot vehicle, they may start to experience symptoms such as blurred vision, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting and even seizures. Once the child’s body temperature reaches 104 degrees, the child’s major organs are at risk of shutting down. Once the child’s body temperature reaches 107 degrees, the child may die.

Heatstroke is to be treated quickly. Untreated heatstroke may lead to damage to the brain, heart and kidneys, which can increase the risk of complications or death.

Sexual Abuse in Daycare

Sexual abuse is a horrific betrayal. Our legal team works closely with families, law enforcement, and mental health experts to investigate, build cases, and pursue justice. We fight not just for compensation, but for closure and change that protects future children from harm.

Parents deserve to feel like they can trust the adults taking care of their children. Sadly, sometimes these same adults are responsible for the abuse that can have a significant impact on children.

Any sexual activity with a minor is child sexual abuse because a child cannot consent. Sexual abuse may be, but does not always have to be, physical.

Daycare employees can sexually abuse children by exposing themselves, producing, owning or sharing pornographic images or movies, or by touching, fondling or engaging in intercourse with a child.

Sexual abuse is often though to only occur when a predator and a victim are left alone. However, this is not always the case. Sexual abuse can occur at a daycare even when other children or employees are nearby.

Sexual abusers often groom their victims, paying special attention to the child and attempting to earn the child’s trust. The child may feel as though they are an accomplice to the crime and fear that they may get in trouble if they tell anyone. 

The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network estimates that over 90% of victims under the age of 18 know their abuser.

Allergic Reactions in Daycare

It can be difficult enough to send your child to daycare. When a child has a severe food allergy, the situation may be even more stressful. 

Many children have food allergies or sensitivities that require strict adherence to meal plans and emergency readiness. A single act of negligence—like feeding the wrong food or failing to administer an EpiPen—can cause life-threatening reactions. We make sure negligent providers are held responsible for the consequences of their actions. 

As many as one in 13 children have a food allergy, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Daycares must be aware of these allergies and know how to recognize the signs of an allergic reaction. 

Most allergic reactions in schools happen in a daycare or preschool facility. An allergic reaction occurs when a child’s immune system responds to something it mistakenly believes to be a threat. Common allergens may include:

• Milk
• Eggs
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, pistachios, etc.)
• Wheat
• Sesame
• Soy
• Fish (bass, flounder, cod, etc.)
• Shellfish (crab, shrimp, scallops, clams, etc.)

Allergic reactions vary from being minor, such as itchy skin, redness and hives, to severe, like anaphylaxis, which can be deadly. It is crucial that daycare providers are aware of what children are doing and eating to prevent allergic reactions from occurring. 

Daycare providers must be able to identify the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction so they can respond appropriately. Signs include:

• Skin: Itching, hives, redness, swelling

• Mouth: Itching, swelling of lips or tongue

• Throat: Itching, tightness, closure, hoarseness

• Gut: Vomiting, diarrhea, cramps

• Lung: Shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing

• Heart: Weak pulse, dizziness, passing out

Anaphylaxis is a serious reaction, usually meaning that the child is experiencing symptoms in more than one area of their body. Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical attention, including an injection of epinephrine. Daycare employees should also call 9-1-1 immediately. Anaphylaxis is serious and may lead to death.

Daycare Sleep Injuries

The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that 3,500 infants die each year from sleep-related deaths in the United States. When a daycare puts infants down for naps in an unsafe environment, these fatal injuries may occur. However, these injuries and deaths can be prevented.

Improper sleep positioning, unsafe bedding, or lack of monitoring can lead to suffocation, choking, or brain injury in infants. If your child was injured during nap time due to negligent supervision, we will investigate violations of child care safety standards and fight for compensation for your family.

The safest position for an infant to sleep in is flat on their back on a level surface, according to the AAP. Those younger than four months old should not be allowed to sleep regularly on any inclined surface, including in a car seat, stroller, sling or carrier. 

When infants are allowed to sleep on an inclined surface, their risk of suffocation increases dramatically. When infants sleep on their stomachs, some research shows that there is an increased risk of “rebreathing,” which occurs when the infant breathes in air that they’re already exhaled, leading to suffocation due to a lack of new oxygen.

Swaddling may also cause injuries to infants during sleep. If an infant is not swaddled properly, the infant is at an increased risk of developing hip issues. Swaddling may make it more difficult for infants to wake up on their own, which could also put them at a higher risk of SIDS. Research suggests that caregivers stop swaddling once the baby shows signs of being able to roll over, which may occur as early as two months old.

Missouri has implemented a Safe Sleep Policy, which aims to reduce the risk of SIDS and sudden unexpected infant deaths in children under the age of one year old. The law requires that all licensed daycares that provide for children under the age of one year old have a written safe sleep policy in accordance with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Shaken Baby Syndrome in Daycare

Sometimes, your infant may just not stop crying, regardless of what you do. If a daycare provider allows their frustrations to take over and shakes the child in an attempt to quiet them, the shaking may cause severe brain damage to the infant.

Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs when an infant is violently shaken. According to The Mayo Clinic, SBS can destroy an infant’s brain cells and prevent the brain from receiving the proper amount of oxygen, possibly resulting in severe brain damage or death.

Shaken Baby Syndrome causes permanent brain damage, seizures, blindness, and even death. If your child is showing signs of trauma—such as vomiting, lethargy, or seizures—seek immediate medical help and legal guidance. We partner with pediatric neurologists and forensic experts to prove SBS and pursue the highest possible damages.

Babies less than one year old are at the greatest risk for SBS, with the highest risk children being between two and four months of age. This may be because younger babies are more likely to cry inconsolably, have weaker neck muscles that cannot support the weight of their heads, and are smaller and easier to shake.

The symptoms of SDS are wide-ranging and include:

• Extreme fussiness or irritability
• Difficulty staying awake
• Breathing problems
• Poor eating
• Vomiting
• Pale or bluish skin
• Seizures
• Paralysis
• Coma

Symptoms may not appear immediately after the baby was shaken. The Mayo Clinic reports that a child may initially seem normal, but developmental and health problems can appear over time.

Children Drugged at Daycare

At some daycares, children are given sleep aids or antihistamines to tire them out by unqualified daycare employees. Giving a child any type of medication without a parent’s knowledge or consent is a form of daycare abuse.

In some terrifying cases, daycare staff administer sedatives or allergy medication to make children “easier to handle.” This is illegal, dangerous, and life-threatening. If you suspect your child has been drugged at daycare, our team will act immediately to protect your child’s rights and ensure those responsible are prosecuted.

In some cases, a child may have an allergic reaction, such as going into anaphylaxis or experiencing a seizure, and require immediate medical attention. 

Sometimes, a daycare may administer the right medication but at the wrong dose. Too much of a medication can have deadly consequences for children.

Children drugged at daycare may not always show noticeable physical signs, so it is important for parents to pay attention to their child’s behavior. Common behavioral signs to be aware of include:

• Change in sleep patterns and behaviors, including frequent nightmares and bedwetting
• Difficulty concentrating
• Frequent temper tantrums and outbursts
• Signs of anxiety or depression
• Social anxiety

What Compensation Can Families Receive?

Our legal team helps families recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses, therapy, and hospitalization – Covering the cost of medical treatment for your child after sustaining an injury, including ER visits, physical therapy, follow-up appointments and more.
• Pain and suffering, trauma, and mental health care – Children who have experienced significant trauma or pain may receive compensation for such
• Permanent disability or disfigurement – Children with permanent scarring or lost limbs may have a claim to disfigurement restitution.
• Loss of future earning potential – If a child’s severe injury prevents their future ability to work and provide for themselves as an adult, they may be able to receive compensation for loss of future earning potential.
• Punitive damages in cases of willful harm
• Wrongful death expenses and emotional loss

We are here to help you secure the full financial and emotional relief your family deserves after a daycare injury or abuse incident.

Speak with a St. Louis Daycare Injury Lawyer Today

You trusted a daycare to care for your child—and they failed. Now it’s time to hold them accountable. At Jett Accident & Injury Lawyers, our personal injury attorneys have the experience, skill, and compassion to help you through one of the most painful times in your life.

Call 314-501-9509 or email matt@jettlegal.com for a free case review with a leading St. Louis daycare injury lawyer. We’re here to protect your child’s future—and your family’s peace of mind.