Are Dangerous Toys Already Under Your Christmas Tree?
Black Friday has come and gone, and many parents are in the process of doing their Christmas shopping for their children. However, many unsafe toys on the market for Christmas can pose a serious risk of injury or death to one's children. There have been over 44 toy recalls during the fiscal year 2010 that ended in September and several subsequent toy recalls during the last couple of months. Many of the most dangerous toys including those subject to a recall have been on the market for months or even years. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that over 185,900 children were treated in emergency rooms with toy related injuries during 2009.
Parents should carefully check the CPSC website to verify that they have not purchased a toy subject to recall or that based on its design or construction poses a common risk to children. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been representing injured children and their families throughout Atlanta and the entire state of Georgia for over 39 years.
While checking the CPSC website is a good place to start in identifying defective toys subject to recall, there are many more toys that pose a danger that parents must be diligent in avoiding. One key issue is the selection of age appropriate toys. Many parents assume that the recommended ages on a toy's packaging has more to do with whether a child will like or be able to use a toy. In reality, these age guidelines are often there to ensure that a toy does not end up in the hands of a child that is too young for the toy. Toys with small parts that can become choking hazards, for example, are typically restricted to older children. A parent with a small child (under 3) is better off choosing large toys with a single piece as opposed to multiple smaller pieces that can fit in a child's mouth.
A parent should also purchase appropriate safety equipment and accessories to accompany gifts that can cause injury without safety equipment. Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, roller blades and the like should be accompanied by helmets, knee pads and elbow pads that prevent serious injury when a child inevitably crashes. While this type of gift can never be completely safe, the appropriate safety equipment can significantly reduce the risk of serious injury.
The construction and materials used when manufacturing a toy should also be carefully evaluated by parents. Toys made with cheap non-durable materials can break apart and form sharp edges that can cause lacerations or pose choking hazards. A growing concern in the toy industry is toys that are manufactured outside the U.S. which are decorated with lead paint. Lead paint is a serious danger especially to children whose brains and central nervous systems are still developing.
For more information on recalls, including how to check for recalled items on your cell phone while shopping, watch the segment from ABC news featuring our Family Safety Advocate, by clicking here.
If your child is injured by a defective or dangerous toy, your child may be entitled to financial compensation. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been representing children injured by the negligence of others, including defective products and dangerous toys, throughout Georgia for over 39 years. Our Georgia toy injury attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. Call us today for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333), or visit us on the web at www.montlick.com. No matter where you are in Georgia, we are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you.