Parents Must Be Vigilant Because Defective Toys Can Cause Devastating Injuries

Most parents have begun holiday shopping for their children selecting toys, games and other children’s items that parents deem appropriate for their kids. No parent expects that the toys they buy for their children will cause serious injury or fatalities.

Federal officials are working to keep dangerous toys out of the hands of children at Christmas, Chanukah or other holidays that families observe during this season, but realistically there is only so much they can do. The risk of kids being injured by defective or unreasonably unsafe toys has increased significantly in recent years because of the volume of toys imported from China and other countries with lax safety standards.

According to a recent ABC News Report on federal efforts to protect kids by stopping the flow of dangerous toys into the U.S., federal agencies have already confiscated two million units of toys and kids products at ports of entry so far this year. The confiscated toys possess a variety of hazards, such as choking risks, lead exposure, sharp corners and edges as well as other hazards. Some of these toys come in the most benign forms, including action figures for boys, dolls for girls, princess accessories, model cars and other similar kids’ toys.

Federal agencies like the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and U.S. Customs officials report that the volume of unsafe and defective kids products that foreign companies are trying to import into the U.S. has never been higher according to the ABC report. Customs officials indicate that the number of products seized at the border and ports of entry has doubled during a recent five year period.

Toy-related injuries sent over 193,000 kids to emergency rooms in a recent year based on reports from the CPSC, and more than a dozen children die each year because of defective kids’ products. Kids’ toys that can cause asphyxiation, choking or drowning accidents are particularly dangerous.

"Proactive surveillance at the ports, strong toy standards and educational efforts create a safer holiday toy shopping experience for consumers by keeping dangerous products off store shelves," said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Ultimately, our goal is to protect our most vulnerable population -- kids -- and keep them safe this holiday season."

Hazards that the CPSC specifically indicates should be evaluated carefully by parents include:

• Toys with small parts
• Small balls
• Balloons
• Riding toys and scooters
• Magnets
• Toys that requiring charging

While the percentage of dangerous or defective toys that are imported from other countries is unclear, a growing number of domestic toy companies are importing what are sometimes shoddy products from overseas to reduce costs. If your child is injured by a defective product, you may be able to pursue a product liability claim against the product designer, manufacturer, importer, distributor, retailer or any other company in the production-distribution chain. Any parts, packaging and product inserts should be preserved because they may provide important evidence.

Our Georgia injury lawyers at Montlick and Associates are available to provide effective legal representation to clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.