Personal Injury Law

Preventing Illinois Products Liability: Massive Stroller and Crib Recalls a Reminder that Manufacturers Must Make Safer Products

Two large recalls in the past month by the Consumer Product Safety Commission are serving as important reminders to product manufacturers of how necessary it is that they make defect-free products that do not cause injuries to minors. Earlier this week, the CPSC announced the voluntary recall of 2.1 million Stork Craft cribs in the United States and Canada following reports of 4 deaths, 15 entrapment accidents (4 of them resulting in suffocation), and 20 fall accidents. Consumers have filed at least 110 reports noting drop-side crib detachments.

Parents are urged to stop using the cribs right away and to wait for their free repair kit. The crib's drop side can deform, break, or parts may have gone missing. If the drop-side partially detaches, a space wide enough for a toddler or infant to become entrapped can be created. Assembly errors can also contribute to the set up of a crib that can cause injuries to children. Complete detachment of the drop-side can allow for fall accidents to happen.

147,000 of the recalled Stork Craft cribs come with a Fisher-Price logo.

This isn?t the first recall involving drop-side cribs. Over 5 million drop-side cribs have been recalled in the last two years following a number of injuries and deaths. Product manufacturers can be held liable for Illinois products liability if they have designed or manufactured a product that causes serious injury or death.

Stroller Recall Due to Fingertip Amputations
Earlier this month, parents received another scare when the CPSC announced the recall of some 1.1 million single and double Maclaren strollers. 12 kids? fingertips have been amputated over the last decade after they stuck their fingers in the stroller hinges. The last two years has seen an increase in these injuries to minors.

Infant Entrapment and Suffocation Prompts Stork Craft to Recall More Than 2.1 Million Drop-Side Cribs, CPSC, November 23, 2009

Maclaren Recalls Strollers as Kids Get Fingertips Cut, Bloomberg, November 1, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Child Safety, Consumer Reports

Children's Product Safety Act, Illinois General Assembly

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on November 29, 2009 (boomark / email).