Dangerous Toys

by Robert J. Lantzy robert@buckfirelaw.com

The Michigan child injury lawyers at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. handle cases involving dangerous toys and defective toys. Year after year dangerous toys are sold to families throughout the United States. Toy dangers affect infants and children of all ages. Infant safety relates primarily to choking hazards and concerns with lead paint. However, choking hazards remain a safety issue regardless of the age of the child.

Every year toys are recalled because of safety hazards. However, each year millions of toys escape recall for one reason or the other. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is a good start to determine if toys your children play with are placing your children at an increased risk for injury or death. The Consumer Product Safety Commission can be located on the Worldwide Web at www.cpsc.gov. The Consumer Product Safety Commission identifies recent recalls and past recalled toys. They can be contacted by telephone at 1-800-638-2772.

In addition to choking hazards and lead hazards, other toys have recently been recalled because of concerns for being fire hazards. In addition, the CPSC recently recalled cribs manufactured by Simplicity, Inc. (with Graco logo) because of a suffocation hazard. The recall was initiated after the death of a 19-month old baby. The infant became entrapped between the mattress and the footboard of the crib after two mattress support slats came out.

The CPSC has identified the “Top Five Hidden Home Hazards” as follows:

• Recalled products. Each year there are approximately 400 recalls.
• Tip Overs. There are an average of 22 deaths per year and an estimated 3,000 injuries as a result of furniture, TV’s and ranges tipping over onto young children.
• Windows and wall coverings. There is an average of 12 deaths annually from window cords and an average of 9 deaths per year from window falls. In addition, some 3,700 injuries are reported each year from window falls. To prevent window cord injuries, the CPSC recommends the use of cordless blinds or removing cords from a child’s reach. Cribs and playpens should never be placed within reach of window cords.
• Pool and Spa Drains. Fifteen injuries and two fatalities were reported between 2002 and 2004 from the suction drains on pools. The suction drains are powerful enough to hold an adult underwater, but most incidents involve children. Pool and spa owners can consider installing safety vacuum releases, which detect when a drain is blocked and automatically shuts off the pool pump or interrupts the water circulation to prevent entrapment.
• Magnets. Since 2005 magnets have been responsible for one death and 86 injuries and been the subject of eight million toys recalled. The main concern with the magnets is that hey are powerful and pose serious digestional track problems.

Please contact us immediately if you would like to discuss possible litigation for injury caused by a dangerous toy or a defective toy.

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We represent Michigan personal injury clients in Detroit, Southfield, Pontiac, Troy, Warren, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Lansing, East Lansing, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Rochester, Auburn Hills, Clarkston, Birmingham, Ferndale, Flint, Novi, Pontiac, Troy, Utica, Saginaw, Sterling Heights, Waterford, Wayne, Dearborn, Westland, Canton, Monroe, Ann Arbor, Mount Clemens, Livonia, Grayling, Grosse Pointe, St. Clair Shores, Brighton, Adrian, Allen Park, Clinton, Hamtramck, Northville, Garden City, Southgate, Harrison, Holland, Inkster, Allen Park, Belleville, Jackson, Madison Heights, Mount Pleasant, Oak Park, Okemos, Plymouth, Redford, Roseville, Romulus, Royal Oak, Taylor, Wyandotte, Wyoming, Traverse City, Ypsilanti, Bad Axe, Northern Michigan, as well as residents of Wayne County, Kent County, Oakland County, Macomb County, Washtenaw County, Genesee County, Huron County, St. Clair County, Monroe County, Ingham County, Saginaw County, Livingston County, Lenawee County and all other Michigan counties.