April 26, 2011 – Infant and toddler products are among some of the most commonly recalled consumer products due to the many hazards they can pose to children. To help combat the number of infant and toddler injuries caused each year by defective or dangerous products the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved new guidelines for toddler bed safety. Manufacturers and importers will have to adhere to this standard 6 months after it is published in the Federal Register.
The new standard calls for all toddler beds sold in the U.S. to comply with the following features:
- the upper edge of the guardrail must be at least 5 inches above the mattress;
- the spindle/slat strength must be tested and consistent with the existing requirements for crib spindles/slats; and
- separate warning labels must be featured to address entrapment and strangulation hazards.
The U.S. Congress called for the new federal standard to be developed as part of the Consumer Product Safety Act of 2008. The CPSC was required to issue a mandatory standard for toddler bed safety after reports of 122 separate incidents were filed between 2005 and 2010. This included 4 reports of deaths and 43 injury reports. This standard also covers cribs that convert into beds, as well as cribs and beds that are manufactured overseas and imported to the U.S. for distribution. There have been additional standards to cover other common child products such as cribs, walkers, strollers, and bath seats. Injuries from infant products are common due to design flaws, manufacturing defects, and assembly issues. If your child has been injured by a defective product you deserve compensation for their injuries. A defective product attorney can help investigate your claim and determine who is liable for your child’s injury or death.
Contacting a Defective Product Attorney
At Gacovino Lake & Associates we have formed a dedicated network of personal injury lawyers to serve clients nationwide for their injury claims. Our New York office serves residents of the 5 boroughs with their auto accident, medical malpractice, defective product, premises liability, and Workers’ Compensation claims. For experienced help when filing your defective product claim, contact us today– 1-800-246-4878.
