Parents in Ohio may be noticing more precautions in place to ensure the safety of children than in past generations. Car seats, warning labels and food ingredients are just a few examples of efforts made to protect children from harm. In addition to these, just before the holiday shopping begins in earnest, the Consumer Product Safety Commission publishes its report of toys and toy-related injuries. Manufacturers of toys that cause injury to children risk the possibility that a parent may file a product liability claims.
So far this year, only 24 toys have been recalled because they contain some kind of defect that could be hazardous to a child. This may be a small part that can cause choking or materials that are flammable or toxic. The high quality standards enforced by CPSC and other safety agencies are responsible for the increase in toy safety and the decline in recalls from 172 just eight years ago.
Safety advocates urge parents to read toy labels which should be clearly marked for age appropriateness. Toys may contain hidden dangers like magnets or batteries that can be choking hazards. Other toys, like balloons, become choking dangers when they break. Most parents know that certain toys, such as bikes and scooters, require special protective equipment. In fact, almost half of the deaths caused by toys in the past year were related to accidents on riding toys.
Toys are made to provide happiness and wonder. Even though parents in Ohio may do everything possible to protect their children, a defect or danger in a toy may not be perceptible until it causes an injury. When a child is harmed by a poorly manufactured toy, the parents have every right to seek compensation with the help of a determined personal injury lawyer. Such a lawyer will examine the circumstances of the injury and inform the parents if a product liability claim is the best way to proceed.
Source: CNN, “Keeping kids safe from hazardous toys“, Assil Frayha, Nov. 18, 2016
