A new report issued by Kids In Danger (KID), discovered a strikingly lower rate of children’s product recalls in the last year. This leaves parents to wonder: are products intended for use with children becoming safer, or are the regulatory agencies responsible for identifying defective products simply becoming more careless with their enforcement policies? It is important to understand why children’s products may be recalled and how defective children’s products may cause injuries to your child.
If you are the parent or caregiver of a child who sustained an injury from a defective product in New Jersey, you may have grounds for a lawsuit against the manufacturer or another party. Contact our seasoned New Jersey children’s product liability attorneys to discuss your child’s unique case and find out more about your potential legal options. You can reach us anytime at (866)-708-8617 or fill out our online form to arrange a free consultation.
Why are Children’s Products Recalled?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is tasked with evaluating the safety of products intended for use among children and infants. If a product is identified as potentially dangerous, or injuries are reported, the CPSC must investigate and recall children’s products with defects or those that violate mandatory safety standards. Some of the reasons why a children’s product may be recalled include:
- Lead paint
- Flammability
- Design flaws
- Risk of suffocation
- Choking hazards
- Fall risk
When a children’s product is defective, its use may result in a wide variety of serious injuries and even deaths. Children and infants can suffer permanent injuries and irreparable harm due to choking, brain damage, falls, suffocation, lead exposure, drug overdose, drug side effects, adverse reactions, and even house fires.
How Common are Product Recalls for Child Related Items?
A report from Kids In Danger (KID), a consumer watchdog group and nonprofit organization focused on improving children’s product safety, examined product recalls by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 2018. According to the latest report, entitled “A KID Report: 2018 Children’s Product Recalls,” the CPSC recalled fewer products overall, as well as fewer children’s products. In fact, there were fewer children’s product recalls in 2018 than any other year in the last 10 years.
The data was compelling. Overall, it showed a significant decrease in CPSC activity as it relates to product recalls. For example, there were 93 children’s product recalls in 2017 and just 52 children’s products recalled in 2018, a decrease of 44 percent. In addition, a total number of over 2.3 million units of children’s products were recalled, a massive decrease from over 11.8 million in 2017. The total number of units recalled for children’s products in 2018 represents the lowest number ever reported since 2001.
Beyond the total reduction in children’s product recalls, the vast majority (62 percent) were for flagrant safety violations, as opposed to design defects. In effect, product violations of mandatory safety regulations, such as containing lead paint or being flammable, are clearly dangerous but generally easier to identify. On the other hand, design flaws can be equally hazardous to children, but generally require more investigation to uncover them. Need more confirmation? Consider this: 100 percent of the injuries reported before a product was recalled in 2018 were due to design defects, as opposed to safety regulation violations.
What Children’s Products Have been Recalled?
According to the recent report, the greatest number of children’s product recalls last year were for nursery products, accounting for 25 percent of the 52 products recalled overall. Nursery products include a vast array of items used while playing, eating, and sleeping, all of which happen so regularly that the chances of injury are alarmingly high for children. There were also 5 products recalled for containing lead.
As for this year, many products have been recalled so far in 2019, including the following:
- Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleepers: over 30 children reportedly died when they rolled over and suffocated or suffered from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- DG Naturals Baby Cough Syrup + Mucus: contained bacteria
- Infant’s Ibuprofen Concentrated Oral Suspension: contained higher concentrations of the active ingredient
- Bullseye’s Playground Wooden Toy Vehicles: wheels detaching, which poses a choking risk
- Go Couture Children’s Loungewear: violation of flammability standards
- Eddie Bauer First Adventure Infant Carrier: buckles reportedly breaking and potential for infant falls
What if a Recalled Product Injured my Child in New Jersey?
If your child suffered an injury or death and you suspect a defective product contributed to this tragic event, contact our experienced NJ child injury lawyers for immediate assistance. Whether the product is specifically for children or another defective product may have caused your child harm, we can help. Our team of attorneys will examine your specific case and determine if you may be eligible for a financial recovery. Contact us today at (866)-708-8617 for more information.
You can check for the latest children’s product recalls and report potentially dangerous products at SaferProducts.gov.
