What Happens if Your Kid is Injured by a Babysitter?
When you leave your child with a babysitter, you are trusting that the person you hired will keep your child safe in your absence. You also assume that the person you have trusted will treat your child as good as you do. Unfortunately, sometimes accidents happen and children are hurt. What happens when your little one is hurt while with the babysitter?
Negligence
Accidents happen. Chances are that your child has received a scraped knee, bruised shin or even a bump on the head in your presence. There is a difference between a true accident and an injury that can be attributed to negligence.
When your babysitter takes over the care of your child, they are doing so while undertaking a duty of care. Negligence is when the babysitter fails to act as another babysitter would have in a similar situation under similar circumstances. If you can prove this breach of care, you may have a case for a personal injury claim.
Insurance
Many babysitters and nannies have insurance policies that cover them in case of emergencies or accidents. This typically applies to professional babysitters. Teens who are babysitting for side money obviously don’t have insurance. When a babysitter has insurance, you may be more likely to file a claim when your child is injured. When you are choosing a full-time babysitter for your child, finding a person who has coverage may be in your best interest.
Get an Attorney
If you aren’t sure about your legal rights, an attorney can answer your questions. Most personal injury attorneys will consult with you for no charge. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to help you determine if your child was injured because of a “normal” accident or if the babysitter you chose performed their duties in a negligent manner.
If you are dealing with a child injury in Austin, call our office. A member of our team will review the details of your case at no cost to you and advise you of your options. Call today or view our website at your convenience for more information about our firm and what we can do for you and your family.