Daycare Accident Insurance Investigation

Answer:

I often get calls from parents whose children have been injured at daycare. By the time they call me, the parents have already been called multiple times by the daycare’s insurance company trying to do what they call a swoop and settle. The insurance company learns that the child has been injured at the daycare. Obviously, the daycare doesn’t want this to become public knowledge. The daycare wants to shut this down as fast as possible, regardless of how badly the child has been injured.

The insurance company will try to contact the parent, who’s probably still at the doctor’s office with the child. The insurance company will swoop in and say, “Oh, we’re so sorry. Here’s a little bit of money. Just sign this release and everything will be okay.” The parent doesn’t know what to do or where to turn. Now they have this insurance company telling them that this is what they’re supposed to do. The parent gets confused. Parents, this is not what to do. Be mom or dad. Take care of your child. Let us handle the details. Let us handle the insurance company.

What we tell every parent is, no, don’t talk to the insurance company. They’re not on your side. They’re not going to help you out. They don’t have your best interest at heart. Any time the insurance company calls you after an incident, talk to a lawyer first, especially a trial lawyer, somebody who knows what evidence to look for after something’s happened. A trial lawyer understands that one day we might be in front of a judge or jury presenting this case. It’s important to get everything in order from the get go. If an insurance company calls you after an incident, call a lawyer first. Get some advice before talking to the insurance company.