$624,000 Settlement Secured After Child’s Hand Crushed at Texas Daycare

How Our Texas Personal Injury Lawyers Held a Negligent Daycare Accountable

Parents trust daycare providers to protect their children. These facilities have a legal and moral duty to identify and eliminate foreseeable hazards before tragedy strikes. When they fail to do so, the consequences can be life-altering, especially for young children who rely entirely on adults for their safety.

That’s exactly what happened to one family we recently represented at Hoover Rogers Law, LLP. Their young child suffered serious hand injuries because of a preventable safety failure inside a Texas daycare center. We fought for accountability and secured a six-figure settlement that will support the child’s long-term needs and give the family peace of mind.

Here’s how we did it.

What Happened and Why It Should Never Have Occurred

The daycare center had placed a lightweight, unsecured bookcase in a classroom full of toddlers. Positioned near a child safety gate the kids were accustomed to accessing, the bookcase was not anchored to the wall and had no stability measures in place. For a toddler, it was only natural to reach for the bookcase or try to push it aside to reach the gate behind it.

That’s what our client’s child did – and the consequences were devastating. The bookcase tipped over and came down on top of them, crushing several fingers on one hand. The injuries included fingertip fractures and partial amputations. Emergency medical attention was only the beginning. The child required multiple surgeries from pediatric hand specialists and faced a long, painful recovery.

Taking Swift Legal Action Made All the Difference

One of the most important moments in any personal injury case comes immediately after the injury occurs. Fortunately, the child’s mother contacted Hoover Rogers Law right away. That early involvement allowed us to:

Preserve surveillance footage before it was erased or lost.
Secure critical documents and incident reports.
Interview witnesses before memories faded.
Send a legal notice to prevent the daycare from destroying evidence.

As we investigated the facts, we learned this wasn’t a freak accident. It was a known risk that the daycare had already struggled with that morning. Staff had reportedly been trying to keep toddlers away from the bookcase as other children tried to climb it or crawl behind it. But rather than removing the hazard, they left it in place.

This raised major concerns about staffing levels, training, and a disregard for basic child safety standards.

A Family’s Story, Told the Right Way

The physical injuries in this case were obvious. But at Hoover Rogers Law, we believe personal injury cases are about more than just hospital bills and X-rays. We made sure the family’s story was fully told, including the emotional impact, the fears for the child’s future, and the very real ways this experience upended their lives.

Among the issues we made sure to document:

The emotional trauma the child experienced from the injury and surgeries.
The financial strain placed on the family when the mother had to miss work.
The fear and mistrust the mother felt toward daycares going forward.
Concerns about how the dominant-hand injuries might affect the child’s development, handwriting, and self-esteem in the future.

By developing a complete picture of how this injury changed their lives, we were able to demand a resolution that matched the true value of the case.

A Structured Settlement With the Child’s Future in Mind

When it came time to negotiate with the daycare’s insurance company, we presented a clear and detailed demand package backed by video evidence, medical records, future care projections, and a deeply human story.

The result: a pre-suit settlement of $624,000.

Rather than putting the funds into a lump sum, we worked with the family to set up a structured settlement plan. This means the money will be invested to grow over time and paid out in stages when the child reaches adulthood. It creates financial stability without burdening an 18-year-old with too much responsibility too soon. The annuity will pay the child more than $1.4 million over time.

This approach also protected the child’s eligibility for public benefits and offered reassurance to the parents that their child’s future needs – both medical and financial – would be supported.

Holding Negligent Daycares Accountable

When it comes to accidents involving young children, no amount of money can erase trauma or undo what happened. But when a daycare fails in its duty to keep children safe, legal action is how families hold them accountable and how they find the resources needed to move forward.

In this case, the most heart-wrenching moments for our team came while reviewing the surveillance footage and listening to the mother describe her child’s pain and fear. But those same moments are what fueled our determination to make sure this never happens to another family.

At Hoover Rogers Law, LLP, we don’t take cases like this lightly. We fight for our clients with everything we’ve got, because we know what’s at stake: your child’s future, your peace of mind, and the accountability that prevents other families from suffering the same fate.

Common Daycare Accidents That Can Lead to Serious Injuries

Unsafe Furniture and Equipment: Unsecured bookcases, unstable highchairs, and broken playground equipment pose serious risks to small children who are naturally curious and unaware of danger.
Inadequate Supervision: Young children require constant monitoring. When staff is distracted, overwhelmed, or understaffed, injuries are more likely to occur – from falls to fights between children to exposure to hazards.
Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards: Wet floors, loose rugs, scattered toys, and unmarked hazards can all lead to painful falls that result in concussions, broken bones, or internal injuries.
Negligent Handling or Restraint: Rough treatment by staff – whether from frustration, lack of training, or impatience – can result in bruises, sprains, and more serious harm.
Choking and Poisoning: Age-inappropriate toys, access to cleaning products, or small objects left within reach can quickly turn into life-threatening emergencies.
Burns or Electrical Injuries: Hot surfaces, exposed outlets, or improper food handling can put children at risk of thermal or electrical injuries.

In many of these situations, the underlying issue is the same: a failure to follow basic safety protocols and provide the level of care required by law. When a daycare’s negligence results in a serious injury, families deserve answers and accountability.

Your Family Deserves Accountability and Support

If your child was injured at daycare because of unsafe conditions or negligent supervision, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. At Hoover Rogers Law, LLP, our attorneys fight for families in Wichita Falls, Lawton, and across the region who are dealing with the consequences of preventable harm. We take the time to understand your child’s needs, document every impact of the injury, and demand full compensation from those responsible.

Don’t wait. The sooner we can investigate, preserve evidence, and protect your rights, the stronger your case can be.

Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation with our legal team. Let us stand up for your child – and your future.

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