Daycare Injury Lawyer Genesee County: When Neglect Isn’t Just an Accident

You drop your child off at daycare expecting them to be safe, cared for, and watched closely. But instead, your phone rings—and it’s the call every parent dreads. Your child has been injured.

Was it a preventable fall? A bite from another unsupervised child? A burn from a bottle warmer or hot food? Or something even more horrifying—a lack of supervision that led to serious harm?

These aren’t just “accidents.” Many times, they’re the result of negligence, understaffing, or outright violations of Michigan childcare safety laws. And when that happens, it’s not just your child who suffers. You do, too.

Parents often tell us they feel:

• Guilt—“Should I have seen this coming?”
• Fear—“What if it happens again?”
• Rage—“How could this be allowed to happen?”
• Betrayal—“I trusted them with my child.”

You are not alone. At Marko Law, we’ve represented Genesee County families just like yours—families who trusted a licensed daycare, preschool, or childcare provider, only to be devastated when that trust was shattered.

These aren’t minor incidents. These are life-altering injuries to your child—and they require legal action, not just apologies.

If your child was hurt at a daycare center in Flint, Grand Blanc, Burton, or anywhere in Genesee County, Michigan, you may have a powerful legal claim. Marko Law is here to listen, investigate, and hold every negligent party accountable.

Michigan Daycare Regulations: What Every Parent Should Know

Legal Caregiver-to-Child Ratios

The State of Michigan mandates minimum staffing ratios based on the age of the children. For example:

• Infants (under 1 year): 1 caregiver per 4 children
• Toddlers (1–2.5 years): 1 caregiver per 4 children
• Preschoolers (2.5–4 years): 1 caregiver per 8 children
• School-age (4+): 1 caregiver per 10 children

If a daycare is understaffed, even for part of the day, your child may be at serious risk for injury due to lack of supervision—and that can be a legal violation.

Mandatory Safety Protocols

Licensed daycares must meet strict safety rules under Michigan’s Child Care Licensing Act, including:

• Regular facility inspections
• Age-appropriate playground equipment and indoor furnishings
• Sanitation standards to prevent illness and infection
• Secured storage of hazardous materials and choking hazards

Reporting Injuries or Incidents

When a child is injured, Michigan law requires the daycare to:

• Notify the parent or guardian immediately
• File an incident report documenting what happened
• Maintain records for state inspection

The Role of LARA (Licensing and Regulatory Affairs)

LARA is the state agency that licenses, regulates, and investigates daycares in Michigan. It has the authority to:

• Review complaints from parents
• Conduct surprise inspections
• Suspend or revoke licenses
• Publish safety violations and citations

If your child was hurt, you have the right to file a complaint with LARA—and your case may benefit from any existing violations on record.

What to Do If You Suspect Daycare Negligence

Seek Medical Treatment Immediately

Even if the injury seems minor, take your child to a pediatrician or ER. Medical records provide:

• Documentation of the injury’s severity and cause
• Evidence that connects the harm to negligence or lack of supervision

Document Everything

Write down:

• What your child told you (if they can speak)
• Any communication with daycare staff
• Time, location, and circumstances of the injury

Take Photographs

Photograph:

• Your child’s injuries from multiple angles
• The daycare environment, if you’re allowed (unsafe equipment, hazardous conditions, lack of staff supervision)
• Clothing or items involved in the incident

Ask Questions and Demand an Incident Report

Do not accept vague or defensive answers. Ask:

• “What exactly happened?”
• “Who was supervising?”
• “Where were other children?”
• “Was emergency care provided?”
• “Where’s the written incident report?”

Report to LARA or CPS If Abuse or Serious Neglect Is Suspected

If you believe your child was:

• Abused by a caregiver
• Left unsupervised for extended time
• Injured due to repeated violations

You can file a report with:

• LARA (for licensing violations): Michigan.gov/LARA
• CPS (for suspected abuse): Contact Michigan’s Child Protective Services Hotline at 855-444-3911

Don’t Sign Anything Without a Lawyer

Daycare centers or their insurance reps may offer:

• Apology letters
• Waivers
• Lowball settlements
• Requests for written statements

Contact a Daycare Injury Lawyer Immediately

Time is critical. Evidence disappears. Memories fade. And legal deadlines start ticking.

At Marko Law, we take swift action to:

• Preserve evidence
• Contact witnesses
• Investigate licensing violations
• File claims before time runs out

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Daycare Injury?

Daycare Owner or Franchise

The business entity itself—whether it’s a private in-home daycare or a large franchise like KinderCare or Bright Horizons—can be sued if it:

• Hired unqualified or untrained staff
• Failed to maintain safe premises
• Ignored known risks or past violations
• Operated without required licenses or insurance

Individual Caregivers or Aides

If a specific staff member:

• Was negligent in supervising your child
• Physically or emotionally abused your child
• Ignored a child in distress
• Broke safety protocols (e.g., left a gate open, gave choking hazard food)

...they can be held personally liable, and their actions may expose the daycare to broader liability.

Facility Staff Responsible for Maintenance or Cleaning

If your child was injured due to:

• Wet floors
• Broken equipment
• Electrical hazards
• Unlocked storage of cleaning chemicals

...then maintenance crews or cleaning contractors may be responsible—especially if there were repeated complaints or code violations.

Third-Party Vendors

Many daycares contract with outside providers for:

• Transportation (vans, buses)
• Food service (catered meals, snacks)
• Playground or cleaning equipment

Property Owners or Landlords

In leased daycare spaces—like strip malls or church basements—the property owner may be held liable if your child’s injury was caused by:

• Building code violations
• Unmaintained facilities (e.g., mold, broken stairs, unsafe fences)
• Failure to respond to repair requests

Proving Negligence or Misconduct

The Legal Standards

1. Duty of Care
   The daycare owed your child a legal duty to provide a safe, supervised environment.
2. Breach of Duty
   They failed to uphold that duty—by neglecting supervision, using unsafe equipment, or breaking state regulations.
3. Causation
   That failure directly caused your child’s injury.
4. Damages
   Your child suffered harm—physical, emotional, or both—and your family incurred losses.

The Evidence That Builds Your Case

Surveillance Footage

Many daycares have cameras. We’ll request access to:

• Playground and classroom footage
• Hallways, nap rooms, and entry points
• Time-stamped clips from before and after the incident

Eyewitness Accounts

We interview:

• Teachers and aides
• Other parents
• Staff whistleblowers
• Older children who may have seen what happened

Medical Evaluations

Doctors and pediatric specialists help:

• Document the nature and cause of injuries
• Rule out preexisting conditions
• Show how fast treatment was needed (or delayed)

Prior Complaints or Citations

We dig into the daycare’s:

• LARA complaint history
• Suspension or violation records
• Patterns of parental concerns

Licensing Violations & Inspection Reports

Michigan’s Child Care Licensing Division may have already flagged issues such as:

• Inadequate supervision
• Unsafe equipment
• Improper training or background checks
• Facility code violations

What Damages Can Families Recover?

Medical Costs

From emergency care to long-term recovery, you shouldn’t have to pay a dime out of pocket for someone else’s carelessness. We pursue compensation for:

• Ambulance and ER bills
• Hospital stays and surgeries
• Medications and medical equipment
• Pediatric specialists and follow-ups
• Physical or occupational therapy
• Counseling and trauma therapy

Non-Economic Damages

Children don’t just heal physically. Many suffer emotionally and psychologically from daycare injuries. You may be entitled to damages for:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress or anxiety
• Behavioral regression
• Nightmares, separation anxiety, or PTSD
• Parental emotional anguish

Future Damages

Some injuries affect a child’s long-term development, requiring additional educational or personal support.

You may be compensated for:

• Special education programs
• Developmental therapies
• Assistive devices or in-home care
• Lost earning capacity (in cases of disability)

Punitive Damages

In extreme cases—such as repeated violations, child abuse, or gross misconduct—courts may award punitive damages to punish the daycare and deter future harm.

These may apply when:

• The facility ignored prior injuries or violations
• There was a cover-up or falsified report
• The daycare operated without proper licensing or staffing

When Trust Is Broken, We Step In

You trusted them with your child—and they failed.

Now, you're left with questions, pain, and the aching need to protect your child from ever being hurt again. You don’t have to carry that weight alone.

At Marko Law, we stand with Genesee County families who’ve been blindsided by daycare negligence. We don’t make excuses for reckless caregivers. We investigate, expose, and hold them accountable—whether it’s a private daycare, preschool, or a major franchise.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about safety. It’s about demanding higher standards from those entrusted with our children’s lives. It’s about making sure your story is heard—and your child’s rights are protected.

Contact Marko Law for a Free Case Evaluation

📞 Phone: +1-313-777-7777
📍 Main Office: 220 W. Congress, 4th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
🌐 Website: www.markolaw.com

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