To provide parents convenience and ease of use, many cribs are designed with sides that drop down. This provides easier access to the child; however, it may also potentially lead to serious child injuries. Dangerous cribs that cause injuries to a child could result in an Illinois product liability lawsuit.
The idea that a product designed for a child could result in injuries is difficult to comprehend. Yet if your child has sustained injuries because of a dangerous children’s product, a Chicago product liability lawyer may be able to help you recover damages for your child’s care. To recover compensation however, not only will you need to prove the extent of your child’s injuries but you will need to prove that a dangerous crib directly caused those injuries.
A Chicago product liability lawyer can help you gather evidence and may even secure expert testimony about the dangerous product and your child’s resulting injuries.
Drop-Side Cribs
One of the more dangerous cribs on the market is drop-side cribs. With more and more recalls taking place, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other organizations that focus on crib safety, are beginning to raise concerns and awareness.
Here are some of the safety issues with drop-side cribs that can potentially make them dangerous for children:
- gaps can form between the mattress and the side that drops, which could entrap a baby and cause suffocation;
- inexpensive parts that increase the risk of product failure;
- installing the side that drops upside down can lead to an increase of wear on the hardware;
- hardware could become loose quickly with cribs that are made of certain types of soft wood; and
- hardware on drop-side can easily warp or break.
These are just some of the safety issues posed with drop-side cribs. These common defects are why more than 20 separate recalls for drop-side cribs have been issued since 2007.
Other Types of Dangerous Cribs
Drop-side cribs are not the only types of dangerous cribs. There is a risk of injury to a child when cribs are used that are more than 10-years-old. This is because they do not meet the current safety standards for cribs.
Another type of dangerous crib is one that has slats more than 2 3/8 inches apart.
Slats that have too much space between them can entrap a child. A good way to make sure the slats are at a safe distance is to try to fit a soda can between them. If the can goes through, the slats are too wide.
Child Product Safety Recalls: Dangerous Cribs
Dangerous cribs have become a serious issue this past year with several recalls taking place. Most of these recalls involve potential injuries, such as falls, suffocation and entrapment.
Recently 7 manufacturers recalled dangerous cribs on the market. The cribs were manufactured between 2000 and 2009.
Cribs that were made during this timeframe from any one of the following manufacturers should stop being used:
- Child Craft (both drop-side and fixed-side cribs);
- Simmons Juvenile Products Inc. of New London, WI;
- Delta Enterprise Corp. of New York, NY;
- Million Dollar Baby of Montebello, CA;
- Evenflo of Miamisburg, OH;
- LaJobi of Cranbury NJ; and
- Jardine Enterprises of Taipei, Taiwan.
These are just some of the product recalls that have taken place because of a dangerous or defective product. A complete list of all child product recalls can be found on the CPSC website.
How a Chicago Product Liability Lawyer Can Help
Injuries from dangerous cribs or any other defective product, including dangerous toys, may result in a product liability lawsuit. A Chicago product liability lawyer from The Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can evaluate your case, determine if your child’s injuries were the result of a dangerous child product and explain your options for filing a claim. For a free case evaluation and help preparing your evidence contact us today – 312-263-1080
