Defective Cribs Recalled for Strangulation Hazard
Stork Craft has issued a product defect recall for more than 1.2 million of their cribs because infants could become entrapped and suffocate. At least four infant deaths have been reportedly caused by these defective cribs, according to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a safety alert cautioning all parents and caregivers who own or have these cribs at their day care facilities. Consumers are asked to stop using these cribs immediately and wait for a free repair kit, which will convert the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side.
The cribs’ drop-side plastic hardware can break or go out of shape with wear and tear. This could cause the drop side to detach, creating a space between the drop-side and the mattress where infants and toddlers can become entrapped and suffocate. Children also face the danger of falling off these cribs if the drop-sides completely detach. CPSC and Stork Craft have received 110 reports of drop-side detachment in the United States and Canada. The four fatalities involved a 7-month-old and a 9-month-old in New York; a 7-month-old in Louisiana; and a 6-month-old baby in West Virginia. There were also 20 reported incidents of children falling from these cribs, which resulted in bumps and bruises.
These defective cribs were sold from January 1993 through October 2009 for between $100 and $400 at several major retail outlets including JC Penney, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart, Babiesrus.com, Amazon.com, Costco.com and BJ’s Wholesale Club. The products were manufactured in Canada, China and Indonesia.
Just over the last two years, more than 4 million cribs have been recalled in the United States. The problems that those cribs had were similar and most were drop-side cribs. The use of substandard parts in the cribs caused the drop-side to unintentionally detach causing serious injuries or death. Several infants and toddlers have died nationwide as a result of these defective cribs.
The product liability attorneys at The Bernard Law Group strongly believe that manufacturers of defective products must be held accountable for them, should they lead to serious personal injuries. If your child sustained major injuries due to these defective cribs, you may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim against the crib’s manufacturer. Our skilled Seattle personal injury attorneys can help you seek compensation to cover medical expenses, even in cases where long-term treatment or therapy is required. Call Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today to schedule a free consultation.
Source:http://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls04/2009/fisher_price_cribs.html
