While children love receiving toys annually as gifts and the majority of them undergo safe manufacturing practices, there are instances where toy-related injuries have occurred. According to the CPSC, there were 174,100 toy-related injuries for children 15 years of age and younger. Of these, riding toys ranked as the highest category with non-motorized scooters receiving the most injuries. While we hope toys undergo scrutinous safety checks before leaving the manufacturing floor, this isn’t the reality. With that in mind, we’re going to look at ways parents can help their children avoid toy-related injuries.
How to Prevent Toy Injuries
Parents want the best for their children, and that includes keeping them safe from dangerous situations. Therefore, it’s curious why toymakers fail to have that same agenda. Instead, we’re finding more and more toys in the consumer marketplace featuring faulty manufacturing whereby their standards are subpar and result in hazards to your child’s well-being.
Under these circumstances, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) recalls millions of toys annually to prevent injuries. Unfortunately, the level of dangerous toys being manufactured is exceeding their abilities to perform timely recalls. As a result, they’re working diligently with the civil justice system and consumer groups to establish a stronger enforcement mechanism against corporations that are negligent. In addition to these efforts, however, parents must also be diligent by practicing the following:
- Supervise child’s playtime. By practicing safety at home through the supervision of playtime, you can reduce the amount of toy-related injuries significantly.
- Keep up to date on toy recalls. When you sign up for CPSC.gov’s updates, they’ll send you up-to-the-minute recall announcement for free through email.
- Check product number to see if they were part of a larger recall. In doing so, you’re preventing your child from potentially being harmed by a toy that shouldn’t be in their possession.
- Follow age recommendations. If your child is playing with a toy that’s “too old” for them, there’s a higher risk for them experiencing a toy-related injury.
What Happens if a Child is Injured?
If children experience an injury as a result of interactions with defective toys, it’s vital for parents to preserve the evidence to include all product parts and with photographs. Photographs should be taken at the scene and contacting a lawyer should occur immediately. In doing so, they’ll hire design experts who will evaluate the injury’s cause. When building a strong case, it’s critical that evidence is presented regarding defects in the design or material of the toy, existence of a manufacturing defect, or negligence existed by the manufacturer in their methods of testing or marketing.
It may be possible to receive compensation for pain, suffering, and past and future medical costs against the toy manufacturer for disregarding the safety of consumers, in particular children. The personal and financial costs are significant. Our team at Mukerji Law Firm focuses on seeking justice in all types of personal injury claims and lawsuits, including those involving serious side effects from dangerous drugs, medical devices and other complex product liability cases. We have achieved an impressive record of success, and are driven by our personal concern for those we serve.
