Dangerous Children’s Toys
Maryland Dangerous Children’s Toys Injury Attorneys
When your child or baby is injured by a defective or dangerous toy
Thousands of kids experience injury from defective or malfunctioning toys every year. Although the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) organizes recalls of defective products, many still make it onto the shelves and into our children’s hands. Products for children especially must be designed and manufactured with the utmost care, free from choking hazards and other dangers common to small children and infants.
If your child was injured by a defective toy, the Maryland product liability attorneys at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. can help. We hold toy companies and manufacturers accountable when they put dangerous products on the shelves. We help prove liability, and then work to secure maximum compensation for your child’s injuries and suffering.
Nationwide statistics about dangerous toys
According to the organization Kids In Danger, children’s toys made up 15.5 percent of all children’s product recalls in 2019. In particular, the Soft Play Spider Climb Playground Climber caused 34 injuries to children across the country.
Further, in a recent annual report, the CPSC reported the following statistics about children’s toys and injuries:
- An estimated 251,700 injuries were treated in emergency rooms
- Forty-four percent of injuries were to the head and face
- Thirty-eight percent of injuries were lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
- Thirteen children died from toy-related injuries; all of whom were under 15 years old
- Non-motorized scooters were the most common cause of injury for children under 15
Other dangerous and hazardous toys include balls, tricycles, stuffed dolls and toys, nonmotorized riding toys, balloons and balloon strings, and water guns.
The CPSC notes the following common dangers on these toys:
- Sharp edges and points
- Small parts
- Loud noises
- Magnets
- Cords and strings
- Propelled objects
What are common injuries from defective toys?
Whether a toy is dangerous from design, manufacturing, or labeling, any type of defect can cause serious injury to a child, including:
| · Amputation · Broken and fractured bones · Burns · Choking · Cuts, lacerations, and puncture wounds · Drowning · Electrical shock | · Eye injuries · Hearing damage · Neurological damage · Strangulation · Suffocation |
Toy manufacturers have a responsibility to understand how children will operate and use their toys, and be aware of all possible safety issues when designing infant and children’s products.
CPSC toy recalls
The CPSC also keeps a running and current list of toy recalls for consumers’ information. You can find the most recent toy recalls on their website, with some notable injury hazards below:
- Chemical exposure hazard
- Choking risk
- Fall and crash hazard
- Laceration hazard
- Lead exposure hazard
- Sharp edges
- Tip and fall risk
If you have a recalled children’s toy in your home but have not experienced injury, follow the instructions from the manufacturer about your next steps for return or rebate. Do not continue using the toy. However, if your child has experienced harm or injury from a defective toy, do not return or dispose of the product. Our Maryland attorneys will want to launch a full investigation into your case.
Who is liable for my child’s injury?
In a product liability claim, there may be one or more liable parties. These can include the:
- Designer and/or manufacturer of the toy and its parts
- Distributor, retailer or wholesaler of the toy
- Parties who assembled or installed the product
The Maryland defective product attorneys at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. work to prove liability and then secure compensation for your child’s injuries and damages. For a successful defective toy injury case, we show the cause of the defect that harmed your child, which is one (or more) of three defects under product liability:
- Defect in design. If the toy was inherently unsafe in design and would be potentially dangerous no matter how it was manufactured, it would be considered defective.
- Defect in manufacturing. When a defect occurs in manufacturing, either to a part or to the entire product, an entire batch or product run can be affected.
- Defect in marketing. Failure to provide proper instructions or labeling, also called “failure to warn,” can make a toy unsafe, especially if a toy does not state a recommended age range.
Successful children’s toy injury claims rely on strong legal representation. Our attorneys can help.
Compensation for a Maryland defective toy injury case
Depending on the severity of their injuries, children may be affected for the rest of their lives. They may experience permanent disability or scarring, as well as emotional trauma. Additionally, the rest of the family may have to perform caretaking duties and deal with the costs of medical treatment. Often this is too much for the average family to handle, and it is our job as injury attorneys to ensure that negligent product manufacturers are held accountable for the injuries caused by their toys.
Compensation for a success defective toy case generally includes:
- Medical expenses, current and future (paid to the parents until age 18)
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of child’s future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
We ensure that big toy and product manufacturers do not attempt to blame your child for their own injuries or try to minimize their own liability. We build a strong case on your behalf and work to secure the compensation your child deserves for their injuries.
Maryland product liability attorneys protecting children
If your child was injured by a dangerous or defective toy, the attorneys at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. are here to protect your rights. We hold product manufacturers accountable when their negligence causes injury to others, especially to children and toddlers. To learn more, or to schedule a free consultation, please call 410-730-7737 or fill out our contact form.