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With the holiday shopping season around the corner, toys are sure to top many kids’ wish lists. While parents and grandparents shopping for toys usually expect the products they purchase to be reasonably safe, recalls and defects are more common in products intended for children than most people realize. These unsafe toys can put a child at risk for injury or even death, and that’s why it’s important to know some tips that can help keep your kids safe from defective products.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the common toy-related injuries that result from defective products, 10 tips for buying safe toys, and what you should do if your child is hurt by a recalled or defective gift.
Oftentimes, the makers of cheap children’s products rush them through the manufacturing stage and skip crucial testing that ensures these products are ready for market and safe for consumers. As a result, approximately 150,000 children each year suffer toy-related injuries that require emergency room treatment, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently reported that 11 children died in 2015 from injuries caused by defective toys.
A few of the common toy defects that can lead to injury involve toys that:
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These injuries are serious and result from hazardous defects in a toy’s design, manufacturing, or marketing. However, there are things you can do to keep your family and loved ones safe and avoid purchasing a recalled or defective toy. In our next section, we’ll cover some tips that can help.
With so many toys on the market, narrowing down which ones to purchase — not to mention ensuring the toys you choose are safe to buy — can seem overwhelming. However, knowing what to look for when it comes to toy safety can help you make safer toy purchases for your kids.
During the gift-giving season, keep these tips in mind when shopping for safe toys:
According to the CPSC, the government worked with manufacturers to recall 24 different toys in 2016, one of which contained lead. While this number may sound small, it likely represents millions of units of dangerous toys available for sale in the U.S. and Canada. Safety recalls don’t expire, so it is best to check periodically for the latest recalls at sites like safekids.org.
Unfortunately, even the most careful and educated parents can’t protect their kids from every defective toy, and children will continue to suffer injuries as long as manufacturers refuse to adhere to sensible safety standards. If your child has been harmed by a dangerous or defective toy, you should report the defect and the injury to the Consumer Product Safety Commission at saferproducts.gov, then speak with an experienced product defect lawyer who can talk with you about your legal rights and options.
If your child or loved one has been injured by a recalled or defective toy, please schedule a free consultation with experienced product defect attorney David L. Hood by calling (843) 491-6025 or filling out our brief online contact form.
We know how difficult it can be to deal with the effects of product defect-related injuries and the untold pain and suffering they cause — especially when children are the victims. At the Law Offices of David L. Hood, we work hard to protect your rights and make things simple for you and your family so you can focus on healing. After a free case evaluation, product liability attorney David L. Hood, co-counsel, and our team of experts will vigorously pursue your case to get you the best result we can achieve. Let us put years of experience to work for you!
*Clients are not liable for any expenses unless there is a recovery in their case; however, if there is a recovery in their case, clients will be liable for expenses. Attorney’s fees are based on a percentage of the recovery, which will be computed before deducting expenses.
References
Caldwell, B. (2017). Toy safety checklist. Fisher-Price. Retrieved from https://www.fisher-price.com/en_US/parenting-articles/health-and-safety/toy-safety-checklist
Thompson, M. (2017, October 2). Defective toys, product liability, and keeping your child safe. Today. Retrieved from https://community.today.com/parentingteam/post/defective-toys-product-liability-and-keeping-your-child-safe
Toy recall statistics [infographic]. (n.d.). U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Retrieved from https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Toy-Recall-Statistics
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.