What to Do If Your Child Was Injured by a Defective Toy
Parents usually trust that the toys and other child or infant products their young ones enjoy are safe. While this is generally the case, sometimes defective or malfunctioning children’s products can make it into the hands of the most vulnerable among us. In fact, the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital estimates that a child suffers a toy-related injury every three minutes in the United States. In 2014 alone, 251,000 children needed emergency room treatment for toy-related injuries. If you have a child who was injured by a toy, you may be able to receive compensation for your damages.
Assigning Blame for Defective Toys
Defective and dangerous toys are often recalled. However, it can be hard to know exactly who is to blame when a defective toy injures a child. It is possible that responsibility in a toy-related product liability lawsuit lies with the manufacturer of the toy or its components, the company that that sold the toy; the company that assembled the toy, or another party. Toy deficiencies often involve a manufacturing defect which damages an entire product line or a flawed toy design which was unsafe to begin with. If poor manufacturing or unsafe design can be shown to be the cause of injuries, then the toy manufacturer or designer may be held liable for damages. Lack of adequate warnings can also cause injuries. If it can be proved that practical instructions or warnings would have reduced or prevented the injuries your child sustained, you may have a valid personal injury case. However, if the danger that the toy posed was generally known, you may have a harder time making a successful injury claim.
Injuries Caused By Faulty Children’s Toys
There are many ways in which a child can be injured by a defective toy. These include but are not limited to:
- Suffocation;
- Choking;
- Cuts;
- Burns;
- Eye Injuries;
- Brain and spinal cord injuries;
- Broken bones; and
- Poisoning.
These injuries can result in not only pain and suffering for an innocent child but also expensive medical bills and other financial damages.
Contact a Winnebago County, Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer
A product liability claim can be complex and challenging. This is why it is critical to retain a competent product liability attorney with experience successfully handling injury cases such as these. Contact an experienced Rockford product liability attorney for the legal guidance you need. Call 815-215-7561 to schedule a free consultation today.
Sources:
https://www.newsweek.com/every-three-minutes-child-sustains-toy-related-injury-study-288299
https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/pdfs/ToyReport2014.pdf