Product Defect News And Advice Blog

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has released a report stating that serious injuries and deaths caused by all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) have increased for the eighth straight year. Children under age 16 continue to suffer a significant portion of these injuries. The complete 2007 Annual Report of ATV-Related Deaths and Injuries may be viewed here.

This new report does not come as a surprise. With the increased use of ATVs, especially by teenagers and young children, the number of injuries and fatalities among ATV users has been consistently increasing over the last 10 years. These numbers show that CPSC’s efforts to stem the tide have been completely ineffective. To make matters worse, the ATV industry itself has done nothing to make these dangerous vehicles any safer for consumers. There have been several recalls of dangerous and defective ATVs over the last two years. These vehicles have posed significant risk of severe injury and death to consumers.

Continue reading "Federal Safety Agency Reports Increase in ATV Injuries and Deaths" »

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post | Comments (0)

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark:

Delta Enterprises has recalled about 1.6 million cribs after two 8-month-old infants suffocated and died as a result of the defective beds. According to an October 21, 2008 MSNBC news report, both of the infant deaths involved babies getting trapped in a gap created when the movable side of the crib came off its guide track. Delta officials say that both of these tragic incidents also involved safety pegs that are intended to prevent the drop side from lowering too far and sliding off the track. If these pegs are not installed or if they fail to engage, the drop side of the crib can detach, creating a gap where babies can get trapped and suffocated.

Consumers are asked to stop using the drop-side cribs right away if the safety pegs are missing. The first child fatality occurred in May 2007 in Bryan, Texas. That infant girl died because the safety pegs were not installed on her crib. The second reported death happened more than a year later in July 2008 when an 8-month-old boy in Tallahassee, Florida, suffocated after a safety peg failed and allowed the drop side to detach.

Continue reading "1.6 Million Delta Cribs Recalled After Two Infant Deaths" »

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post | Comments (0)

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark:

Playkids U.S.A. is recalling about 2,000 convertible cribs after the death of a 5-month-old child in Brooklyn, N.Y. According to an October 16, 2008 news report in Consumeraffairs.com, the infant suffocated and died after getting trapped between the mattress and the drop side rail of the crib. The sides of the convertible crib are apparently made of a mesh that expands, creating a gap between the mattress and the side through which an infant can slip and get trapped.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also issued an alert about this serious product defect, which poses a significant hazard to young children. This recall specifically involves the Playkids U.S.A. convertible crib/playpen/bassinet/bed with model number PLK-909. “Playkids U.S.A.” can be found on the packaging and on a label attached to the side of the crib. The model number can be found on the crib’s packaging. These defective convertible cribs were sold in juvenile product retailers in New York from March 2007 through September 2008 for about $100.

Continue reading "Defective Playkids U.S.A. Cribs Recalled After Death of Infant" »

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post | Comments (0)

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark:

BRP U.S. Inc. is recalling about 1,200 defective Can-Am youth all-terrain vehicles. The ATVs can end up causing serious injury or death to young riders or bystanders, according to an Oct. 2 news report on Consumeraffairs.com. The report states that if the rider is ejected and the cord strap is pulled, the shutoff switch can fail to disable. This could essentially lead the ATV to operate uncontrolled until the engine returns to idle.

This recall involved model year 2008-2009 Can-Am DS 90X ATVs. The model name is usually printed on the vehicle’s side panels. These ATVs, made in Vietnam, are black with yellow and orange trim. They were reportedly sold at authorized Can-Am dealers nationwide from August 2007 through September 2008 for about $3,400. Parents are urged to stop their children from using these ATVs immediately and contact a Can-Am dealer to schedule a free repair. Consumers can also expect to receive their recall notices from BRP in the mail soon.

Continue reading "Defective ATVs Recalled" »

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post | Comments (0)

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark:

Most child booster seats used in vehicles do nothing to protect children during a crash, according to a report released by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. In fact, the agency says that its first ever review and test of nearly 50 different child booster seats showed that these seats are potentially dangerous for young children in the event of a car crash.

To test these seats, IIHS placed them inside late model vehicles as instructed by the booster seat manufacturers. The researchers then crash-tested them to see the potential impact on the child dummies that were placed on these booster seats. Researchers found that the seats performed so poorly that they couldn’t recommend the booster seats at all. They found that the booster seats don’t restrain children during auto accidents, but rather simply position children so lap and shoulder belts are in the right place to restrain them.

Continue reading "Child Booster Seats Offer No Protection In Auto Accidents" »

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post | Comments (0)

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark:

Last week, retailers and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled about 600,000 Simplicity drop-side cribs because of an entrapment and suffocation hazard, Consumeraffairs.com reported. This alert is the latest in a series of safety warnings and recalls that have to do with Simplicity baby furniture, especially cribs and bassinets.

Apparently, the drop side in these defective cribs can come off of the tracks creating a dangerous gap where infants can get trapped, suffocate and die, according to this CPSC alert. Large retail outlets such as Wal-Mart have been pulling Simplicity bassinets off of their shelves after they were said to be responsible for the deaths of two infants. With the drop-side cribs, there have reportedly been at least nine incidents where the drop side detached, but so far there have been no reports of injuries or death.

Continue reading "600,000 Defective Simplicity Cribs Recalled" »

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post | Comments (0)

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark:

More than 190,000 folding soccer nets sold under the brand names MacGregor and Mitre are being recalled after a 20-month-old boy fell through the mesh of the netting and was strangled to death by the cords. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has so far received two reports of head entanglement in the netting and that’s including the toddler who died. According to the CPSC alert, the openings in the netting are too large and pose a danger to young children.

CPSC officials say the nylon mesh nets have 5-inch spaces between them instead of 4-inch spaces. The recalled goals with these product defects have a foldable white frame with a white net that is attached by Velcro strips. The MacGregor soccer goal reportedly has model number 97236 printed on the assembly instructions and UPC code number 029807972365 printed on the net’s packaging. The Mitre soccer goal has model number 89186 printed on the assembly instructions and UPC code number 029807891864 printed on the net’s packaging. Nets manufactured after April 2007 with 4-inch by 4-inch square openings are not included in the recall. These nets were sold at Wal-Mart, Ace Hardware and sports and toy stores across the country from May 2002 through May 2008 for $26.

Continue reading "Defective Soccer Goal Netting Causes Toddler’s Death" »

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post | Comments (0)

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark:

A number of top retailers stopped selling defective Simplicity bassinets that had recently led to the death of at least two infants in Kansas and Missouri. This week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued another safety alert stating that bassinet models with the Graco logo and other models with Winnie the Pooh motifs were also included in the 900,000 defective bassinets that were part of a CPSC-issued alert. Graco also issued a notice on its Web site warning consumers about 17 Simplicity-made bassinet models that carry the Graco logo because of a past licensing agreement with Simplicity.

This action by Graco is the latest development in this product safety issue that has put Simplicity out of business. The company refused to issue a voluntary recall even after the product defects were pointed out. So CPSC issued a safety alert on Aug. 28 asking parents to stop using the 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible Simplicity bassinets. Large retailers such as Wal-Mart and Babies ‘R’ Us also pulled these Simplicity bassinets off of their shelves.

Continue reading "Defective Simplicity Bassinets Recall Expanded" »

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post | Comments (0)

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark:

In the last three years, more than 1.5 million full-sized cribs have been recalled for a variety of product defects. A majority of them have been recalled because of failures of the hardware or of the wooden slats and spindles, according to this Consumer Reports article. These are serious product defects, which can result in strangulation, entrapment and fall hazards. These defects reportedly contribute to more than 11,000 serious crib and mattress-related injuries every year and about 32 deaths each year in children under 5 years of age.

Cribs account for more deaths than any other children’s products and about 25 percent of crib-related deaths were a direct result of broken or missing components. The article says that the problem here may be with the safety standards. While ASTM International, a standard-setting organization, requires durability testing for crib mattress supports and side rails, there is no such mandate for spindles, slats or drop-side hardware that can wear out and fail as a result of repeated use.

Continue reading "Defective Cribs: Products of Weak Federal Durability Standards" »

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post | Comments (0)

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark:

Six national retailers say they will stop selling defective Simplicity bassinets said to have suffocated two infants to death, according to a report in consumer watchdog Web site, Consumeraffairs.com, which posted an article Aug. 26 exposing the product defects. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning Aug. 27.

These defective Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets contain metal bars spaced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches – the maximum distance allowed by federal standards. These bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap, which is attached by Velcro. An infant can slip through the opening, become trapped in the metal bars and suffocate, if the Velcro is not properly reattached.

Six large retailers -- Wal-Mart, Toys “R” Us, Kmart, Big Lots, Target and J.C. Penny – have said they will stop selling these defective bassinets right away and give a refund or store credit to consumers who purchased these products. The recall, however, comes too late for 6-month-old Kennedy Brotherton of Shawnee, Kansas, the most recent victim of these defective products. Kennedy slipped between the mattress and side railing after the mattress came loose from the frame, suffocated and died.

Continue reading "Defective Simplicity Bassinets Which Caused Infant Deaths Recalled At Last" »

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post | Comments (0)

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a child product recall of two different brands of cribs – about 1,300 units of Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards full-size wooden cribs and 500 Davenport cribs, whose importer, Baby Appleseed, is based in City of Industry California. No injuries have been reported concerning either of these defective products.

According to a CPSC alert, all these cribs fail to meet federal safety standards because the distance between the mattress support bracket in the lowest position and the top of the side rail in the highest position is less than the required 26 inches, posing a fall hazard to children who climb over the railing. These cribs were sold at most children’s stores from March 2006 to March 2008 priced between $500 and $800.

Consumers are asked to stop using these cribs and are asked to contact the manufacturer for instructions on how to re-install the support brackets to eliminate this hazard. For more information about the Mother Hubbard recall, please call the manufacturer toll-free at 1-888-661-8201 or visit their Web site at www.mhcfurniture.com.

Continue reading "Defective Cribs Recalled - CPSC Issues Safety Alerts " »

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark:

Federal officials have recalled Baby Trend brand child car seats with defective safety seat bases, which could fail to protect children during an auto accident. According to an article in the consumer watchdog Web site, Consumeraffairs.com, the seats involved in the recall are Magnum (model number 6439), Galaxy (model number 6481), and Silverado (model number 6448). The recalled 6400S seat bases were sold separately and manufactured between May 14, 2007 and April 1, 2008.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a safety alert about these defective child car seats as well. Those who own these defective children products are asked to stop using them immediately and contact Baby Trend at 1-800-328-7363 to obtain a free replacement base.

According to a NHSTA report, the latch connector locking pawl can crack allowing the child safety seat base to detach from the vehicle’s latch anchors during an auto accident. NHTSA warns consumers that these defective safety seat bases can fail to protect children, especially in a high-speed or severe collision.

Continue reading "Baby Trend Child Car Seats Recalled For Defective Bases" »

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark:

A couple in Springdale, Arkansas, is fighting for the recall of a defective bassinet, which they say caused their infant daughter to choke to death last year. According to this news report, the tragic choking death of the infant in Springdale, Arkansas, has prompted the parents of the baby to fight for the recall of the bassinet.

Elizabeth Simon had put her baby Katelynn down for a nap Sept. 29. Three hours later, she saw the baby had turned blue. Katelynn, who had been sleeping in a Simplicity 4-in-1 bassinet, had become wedged in a 4-inch gap between the mattress and the rail. An investigation proved Katelynn died from asphyxiation and police said the defective design of the bassinet was to blame for the baby’s death. Now, Simon and her boyfriend, Chris Priddy, are fighting to force the manufacturer to recall these defective products, which are still being sold.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) officials say they are still investigating the claim. But it has been 10 months since Katelynn died and the defective product has still not been recalled. The bassinet that Simplicity currently sells in the market is identical to the one that caused Katelynn’s death.

Continue reading "Infant’s Death Leads To Demand For Recall Of Defective Bassinets" »

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark:

The choking death of a 22-month old boy in Roseville, Calif. has sparked off a nationwide recall of about 9,350 defective youth beds imported by San Diego-based Bayside Furnishings, the Sacramento Bee reports. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also issued a warning (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08323.html) about the La Jolla Boat Beds and the Pirates of the Caribbean Twin Trundle beds.

Ethan Kalinyuk died last fall when he was strangled after the lid of the toy chest that comes with the bed fell on his head catching his neck on the edge of the chest. His parents, Natalya and Vitalik Kalinyuk filed a product defect lawsuit in March 2007 in Los Angeles Superior Court. They bought their bed, which was manufactured in China, at a local Costco. Placer County officials contacted CPSC after their multi-agency Child Death Review Team concluded that the lid supports were defective. They determined that the faulty lid pinned little Ethan and caused him to suffocate by pinching his windpipe.

Consumers are asked to stop using this defective product immediately and contact Bayside to obtain a free repair kid and replacement lid supports. If you own one of these beds, please call Bayside at 877-494-2536 or please visit www.baysidefurnishings.com for more information.

The parents of this child must be commended for taking legal action against the manufacturer of this defective product that caused them unspeakable pain and heartache. By filing their lawsuit they have brought the issue of this dangerous product out in the open for all to see. Although their lawsuit will never bring them back what they have lost, their son’s death may have saved any number of other children from a similar fate.

By holding manufacturers and importers of defective products legally responsible for the unnecessary harm their products cause, the Kalinyuks and our court system are sending a message of corporate responsibility to all who do business in the United States. The message is that selling dangerous products in the United States has financial consequences. Our legal system works. Our tort system holds wrongdoers accountable, compensates victims, deters unsafe products in our market place and levels the playing field for responsible business enterprises.

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark:

About 320,000 children’s cribs sold under the brand name Jardine Cribs at various stores nationwide including babiesrus.com, KidsWorld, Geoffrey Stores, Toys "R" Us, and Babies "R" Us from January 2002 through May 2008 are being recalled. The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) announced on their Web site today that Jardine Enterprises, of Taipei, Taiwan, the product manufacturer is recalling the cribs voluntarily and consumers are being advised not use the crib as it poses an entrapment and strangulation hazard to infants.

The CPSC has found the crib’s wooden slats and spindles can break, creating a gap, and this becomes hazardous for young children who could get stuck. There have been four children injured by the crib’s defect and 42 cases of the crib slats and spindles breaking.

The CPSC is to be commended for taking decisive action to encourage Jardine Enterprises to act appropriately and for making sure that an unsafe children’s product is taken off the marked and is no longer an injury risk to infants.

Continue reading "Jardine Children's Cribs Recall And Warning" »

Posted by Brian Chase | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Defective Children Products

Bookmark: