Children’s toys can serve many purposes, and provide our kids with enjoyment, education, and even training for their lives in society. While toys are generally loved by children of all ages, they can also pose substantial dangers. In fact, toy-related injuries have increased significantly over recent years, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
- Toy-related injuries rose by nearly 40% between 1990 and 2011.
- In 2014, an estimated 251,800 toy-related injuries required treatment in a hospital emergency department.
- Riding toys accounted for the most ER-treated injuries of any toy (30% of all injuries).
- There were 38 deaths related to children’s toys between 2012 and 2014.
These statistics make it clear that children’s toys certainly have the potential for causing injuries, including burns, choking, fractures, falls, drowning, and poisoning. Although toys come with warnings, age recommendations, and instructions, it is still vital that children be taught how to properly use toys and that there is adequate supervision, especially with younger children. Parents should also be on the lookout for any recalls involving children’s toys, as they happen frequently. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) updates its website regularly about recent product recalls.
Even when safety is made a priority and parents take precautions to educate and supervise their children, injuries can still occur when products are defective or unreasonably dangerous for their intended use. In these situations, parents of children who suffer injuries can work with experienced personal injury lawyers like those at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs to pursue legal action that can enable them to recover compensation for their damages.
In cases involving children’s toys or products that are defectively designed or manufactured, or are otherwise unsafe when used as directed, victims can pursue claims under product liability laws. These laws are in place to make manufacturers, distributors, and retailers take reasonable steps in ensuring the safety of products they make available to the public. When they fail to do so and consumers suffer injuries, they can be held liable for the resulting damages, including any medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Injuries to children can be frightening experiences for parents and families, and they have a potential for consequences that may impact children as they grow and mature. This is especially true in cases involving burn injuries, brain injuries, and other catastrophic injuries. No parent should have to bear the burdens that accompany their child being injured by a defectively dangerous toy product, which is why it becomes critical to take legal action with proven lawyers who have the experience and resources needed to hold manufacturers and distributors accountable for their negligence.
For more information about toy-related injuries or to discuss a potential case, contact our Houston personal injury lawyer for a free consultation.
