Each year, more than 25 million children are seen in emergency rooms across the country due to toy related injuries. However, this doesn’t consider the toys made with dangerous substances and materials that can make a child sick. Regardless of if you are planning out your toy-Christmas list for your child, or purchasing a toy “just because” there are certain toys that simply aren’t safe.
If you do have a child who is injured because of a defective toy, you may have grounds to file a product liability lawsuit. If you believe this is the case, it is best to hire an attorney to review the facts and information and begin the process.
Here you can learn about some of the most dangerous toys on the market, and ensure you avoid purchasing them to keep your child safe.
Product Liability Potential of Bean Bags
While many people may not realize it, bean bags can actually be quite dangerous. The fact is, the small, polystyrene beads inside these bags may choke babies and young children. This can lead to suffocation. If you have any products including these beads, including pet beds, bean bags, pool bean bags, bean filled soft toys, or anything else, it is imperative to make sure your children cannot access the material inside.
Product Liability Potential with Toy Boxes
When your child makes a mess, you obviously want to have a way to clean it up. As a result, you may purchase a toy box. However, this may also create a product liability situation in the making. The danger of these boxes is with the lids. These have resulted in serious injuries and even fatalities in Australia and other overseas locations. These issues occur when the toy box lids fall onto a child’s head or neck. The children who are most at risk including those ages two and under. A child may also become trapped inside the box.
The good news is, there are a few tips you can use to help make a toy box safer. These include:
- Remove the box’s lid, which is the safest option
- Look for stoppers on the interior of the lid that provide a gap of 12 mm or more when the lid is closed
- Choose a box with ventilation holes, which allows the flow of air if the child gets inside and can’t get out
- Choose a lightweight plastic crate, rather than a box with a heavier lid
Product Liability Potential with Projectile Toys
Any type of projectile toy, especially suction darts that come in target gun sets, can be a choking danger to children, and the fact is, many of these are illegal. The projectile that is show may also injure a person on impact. If these projectiles happen to hit someone in the eye, there is the real possibility that the person may suffer serious sight issues.
What to Do if You are Facing a Project Liability Case Due to Dangerous Toys
If you have a child who has suffered an injury due to a dangerous toy, it is a good idea to contact an attorney right away. They will be able to review the facts of the case to determine what needs to be done next. In these cases, there are several parties who may be considered liable for the injury and an attorney with prior experience with these types of cases will be able to determine the party or parties to file the lawsuit against.
More information about product liability cases and when to hire an attorney can be found by contacting our team of attorneys at Fetterman & Associates by calling 561-845-2510.
Additional Reading
Slip and Fall Accidents: Can You Sue if You Slipped and Fell in a Retail Store?