In 2023, a child died after choking during his first day at a Greenville daycare. The child’s mother brought a lawsuit for wrongful death, saying the daycare failed to train and supervise employees properly. In 2025, police arrested a Greenville County daycare worker for allegedly slapping a child.

Daycare injuries are tragically common.

When a child is injured at daycare, when does it become a legal claim?

Our experienced Greenville daycare abuse lawyer at Bobby Jones Law explains common daycare injuries and what every parent should know.

What Are the Most Common Injuries Children Suffer in Greenville Daycare Settings?

Common daycare injuries include:

Blunt trauma: A child may sustain broken bones, organ damage, or soft tissue damage from blunt trauma. Blunt trauma may result from a fall or being hit by an object.
Cuts: Dangerous objects and equipment may result in a laceration injury. The child may suffer bleeding, internal injury, pain, and complications.
Poisoning: Accidental exposure to dangerous substances may result from cleaning products, prescription medication, illegal drugs, or food allergies.
Choking: Daycare staff must prevent children from encountering choking hazards. They must respond appropriately if choking occurs.
Burns: Hot objects, steam, and corrosive chemicals can cause burns. Excessive sun exposure can also lead to burn injuries.
Drowning: Even shallow water can create a risk of drowning at a daycare.
Animal attacks: When a dog or other animal attacks a child at daycare, it can result in severe injury.
Electrical accidents: A daycare must address electrical dangers in its facility.
Assault and battery: Intentional harm to a child.
Sexual assault: Sexual harm to a child.
Neglect: When harm results from a lack of adequate care.

When Does a Daycare Accident Become a Negligence Claim in South Carolina?

Legal liability for daycare accidents can be summed up with the question:

Did the daycare do enough to prevent the injury?

A daycare has a duty to protect children. While they’re not necessarily responsible for everything that happens, they must do reasonable things to prevent harm. This is called the duty of care.

Here are some examples of daycare duties to children:

Fall prevention
Safe play equipment
Adequate staffing
Adequate staff training
Monitoring while eating
Providing safe food, being mindful of special dietary needs
Keeping children away from dangerous animals
Securing bodies of water
Addressing specific medical or social needs of the child
Treating children appropriately
Avoiding contact with dangerous items, like hot objects and electricity
Responding appropriately when an incident occurs

A daycare injury becomes a negligence claim when the daycare didn’t do enough to prevent the accident. It’s a case-by-case determination depending on why the injury occurred.

A lawyer can help you evaluate the basis for your child’s claim.

Playground Accidents at Daycare: When Is the Facility Legally Responsible in SC?

A daycare may be liable for a playground accident if:

The equipment wasn’t appropriate for the age or abilities of the child.
Equipment was in disrepair, dirty, or cluttered.
Children were not adequately supervised.
Too many children were present at once.
Inadequate lighting.
Allowing children to play in bad weather.
A child didn’t have the appropriate clothing or footwear.
Previous incidents occurred, and the daycare didn’t fix the problem.

Any of these, or other negligence, could make a daycare liable for a child injured at daycare.

Supervision Failures: How Understaffing Leads to Daycare Injuries in Greenville

Often, daycare workers don’t mean for a child to get hurt. They’re simply overwhelmed. Understaffing may mean not enough adults supervising play. It may mean children are left alone while a worker is busy elsewhere. It could mean failing to notice danger or that a child is in distress.

Understaffing can be the negligence that results in harm to a child. A lawyer can help you gather staff logs and interview workers about staffing levels.

What SC Law Says About Daycare Safety Standards and Staffing Requirements

South Carolina has strict daycare licensing standards. These rules cover many topics relating to child safety. Failing to comply with state regulations can be strong proof of daycare provider negligence.

At Bobby Jones Law, we’re experienced in daycare rules and regulations. We can determine if licensing standards may be important to your claim.

What Evidence Do You Need To Support a Daycare Injury Claim in Greenville?

To support a daycare injury claim in Greenville, you need proof of:

The child attending the day care
Injury to the child
Why the injury occurred and why the daycare is at fault
Medical bills and other financial losses
The child’s pain and suffering, or other ways the child is affected

Some issues may be uncontested. For example, the defense may admit that the child attended the daycare. But it’s always important to build a strong case.

That’s why so many families depend on Bobby Jones Law when their child gets hurt at daycare. We know that your child cannot speak for themselves. We are your advocate and representative for your child’s claim.

What Damages Can Families Recover After a Daycare Injury in SC?

When a child is injured at a daycare, the family can recover economic losses and an amount for the child’s suffering. When injuries are severe, the child’s life may change long-term. It can change the entire family.

Whatever the circumstances, your child deserves fair compensation. Bobby Jones Law is a law firm fighting for children injured at daycare.

Why Greenville Families Need a Personal Injury Attorney After a Serious Daycare Accident

It isn’t easy to get fair compensation for a daycare injury. The child’s long-term prognosis may not be known right away. Evidence may be in the daycare’s possession, and witnesses may not want to talk. But a daycare injury causes a young child to suffer physically, emotionally, and mentally.

A personal injury attorney after a serious or common injury in daycare can be key to getting a positive result for your child. Robert “Bobby” Jones is a trained, experienced, and accomplished advocate. He represents children and families in daycare injury claims.

Call or message us now.