The death of a 16-month-old child has prompted IKEA to recall 2.9 million SMILA-series wall-mounted lamps in the United States. The toddler became tangled in the light’s cord and died. A 15-month-old child nearly strangled as well. Both children were able to pull the cords into their cribs.
These plastic wall-mounted lamps were sold in eight designs:
- blue seashell;
- yellow moon;
- blue star;
- orange seahorse;
- white flower;
- pink flower;
- green bug; and
- red heart.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises consumers to immediately stop using the lamps and contact IKEA to receive a free repair kit. It comes with safety instructions and self-adhesive fasteners for attaching the cord to the wall.
When a Product Is Designed Defectively
In such cases, the specifications of a product line creates the risk of serious injury or death. The design of the IKEA wall-mounted lamps created a strangulation hazard.
It should be noted that CPSC has specific requirements that manufacturers must meet when designing children’s products. Although most of the products are intended for use by a child (in that they play with them), some are still considered a children’s product even though there isn’t direct physical contact with them, for example, the SMILA-series IKEA lamps are designed for children’s enjoyment but not for play.
That’s because they have features that appeal to children and could entice them to physically touch or use them. A cord that hangs from a colorful wall-mounted lamp could be considered inviting to a child.
If a product has caused a child to suffer serious or fatal injuries, parents may file a claim to pursue compensation for damages. They may file claims against the company that designed the product and/or the company that manufactured it. An attorney can help in determining liability, so if you find yourself dealing with a child’s serious injury because of a dangerous product, call Gacovino, Lake & Associates at 800-550-0000.
