Product Liability Law Blog

Graco and the Consumer Products Safety Commission are recalling 1.5 million strollers because their canopy hinge mechanisms pose a fingertip laceration and amputation hazard. Already, five children’s fingertips were amputated and two kids suffered fingertip lacerations because they put their fingers in the hinge mechanism while the stroller was being opened or closed.

The Graco strollers affected by the recall are Alano™, Passage™, and Spree™ Strollers and Travel Systems. However, only the travel systems and strollers that have a plastic, jointed hinge mechanism with indented canopy positioning notches are involved. They were available for sale at Wal-Mart, Toys “R” Us, Babies “R” Us, Target, Sears, Kmart, and other retailers between October 2004 and February 2008. You can check the CPSC’s Web site to check if your model number is part of the recall. Consumers should stop using the defective stroller right away and contact Graco for a free repair kit.

It was just two months ago that the CPSC and Maclaren USA recalled about 1 million umbrella strollers after reports of 12 amputation injuries to children. Fingertip amputations and lacerations are very painful, debilitating, and traumatic. Disfigurement can result if doctors are unable to reattach a fingertip, which (depending on the location and severity of the injury), could become a permanent disability, as well as prove emotionally and psychologically damaging to the child. Maclaren CEO Bahman Kia is calling the hinge defect an “industrywide problem.”

Graco is now linked to two of the largest stroller recalls in US history. The stroller maker recalled about 1.1 million strollers in 2005 because two of its models were prone to latch failure. Graco received reports of 529 stroller collapses resulting in 264 injuries to children. One child’s cut required 46 stitches. Another child broke an arm. Other child injuries included pinched fingers, scrapes, scratches, cuts, and pulled muscles.

If your child suffered a fingertip injury because of a defective stroller, our child injury lawyers would like to offer you a free case evaluation. We have helped many families throughout the US recover products liability compensation from negligent manufacturers.

Graco Stroller Recall: 1.5 Million Strollers Called Back, ABC News, January 20, 2010

Graco stroller recall: Is your Graco stroller affected?, The Christian Science Monitor, January 20, 2010

Graco Recalls Strollers Due to Fingertip Amputation and Laceration Hazards, CPSC, January 20, 2010

CPSC, Graco Children's Products Inc. Announce Recall of Duo Tandem and Certain MetroLite™ Strollers, CPSC, July 7 & October 31, 2005

Related Web Resource:
Graco Baby

Fingertip Injuries/Amputations, Hospital for Special Surgery

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Posted In: Injuries to Children & Minors , Strollers

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today that it is recalling approximately 213,000 play yards with bassinets because of concern that the infant product posses a suffocation risk. The recall includes Eddie Bauer Complete Care Play Yards and Safety 1st Disney Care Center™ Play Yard.

There are no reports of any related injuries to date. Hover, the metal bars that support the sleeper’s floorboard can come out through the fabric sleeves. If this happens, the sleeping surface of the bassinet may become uneven. This can cause an infant to suffer from positional asphyxiation or suffocate.

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Dorel Juvenile Group will provide consumers with a free repair kit. Consumers should stop using the bassinet portion that attaches to the play yard until the fix can be made.

Just last week, the CPSC and IKEA Home Furnishings recalled approximately 600 LEOPARD Highchairs because they pose a potential fall hazard or suffocation danger. If the snap locks that secure the seat breaks, the child and the seat can fall through the highchair’s frame. There is also concern that a young child might choke on detached snap locks. To date, there is one report of a baby sustaining leg bruises after falling. Another child reportedly was able to chew off one of the locks.

In the wake of ongoing recalls involving child and infant products, federal regulators have approved a new rule mandating that manufacturers keep a list of customers so that it is easier to let parents know if a product is considered dangerous or defective.

The companies that make high chairs, cribs, strollers, gates, toddler beds, bath seats, booster chairs, play yards, hook-on chairs, infant carriers, children’s folding tables, bed rails, activity centers, walkers, bassinets, changing tables, cradles, bathtubs, slings, and bouncers will have to include a registration card with each product so that they can put together their consumer lists.

While quick notification will hopefully prevent more child injuries caused by defective infant products from happening, there are still children and babies who may be hurt before (and even after) a recall is issued.

Dorel Juvenile Group Voluntarily Recalls Bassinets on Select Play Yards, Offering Parents Free Bassinet Repair Kit, PR Newswire, December 30, 2009

CPSC approves final rule on registration card program for infant, toddler products, Kids Today, December 29, 2009

Recall: IKEA highchair, Chicago Tribune, December 22, 2009

Related Web Resources:
US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Nursery Product-Related Injuries and Deaths, CPSC, November 2009 (PDF)

Continue reading "213,000 Dorel Juvenile Play Yards and 600 IKEA LEOPARD Highchairs are Among Latest Children’s Furniture Product Recalls by CPSC" »

Posted by Gilbert, Ollanik, & Komyatte, P.C. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Cribs and Infant Sleepers , Furniture and Accessories , Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Nursery Products , Strollers

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