When we shop for things for our children, we think of safety before we consider cost. After all, we while we normally get what we pay for, we shouldn’t have to sacrifice for safety. According to a report provided by the non-profit group Kids in Danger (KID), the number of children’s products that were recalled last year has increased dramatically.
Using data produced by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), a total of 76 products were recalled. This amounted to more than 66 million units that were removed from store shelves or brought back to manufactures due to defects. More importantly, recalls in 2016 were up 15 percent from 2015. The 2016 recalls were based on a significant number of incidents and injuries. Nearly 5,000 incidents were reported and 394 children were reportedly injured.
In fact, 2016 saw the most products recalled in any year since 2001 (with 2004 being an exception, where 150 million products were recalled).
The story exemplifies the fact that manufacturers have continuing duty to make sure that their products are free from dangerous defects that could harm consumers. If a manufacturer knows about particular or potential defects and fails to take reasonable steps to correct them, and a consumer is injured by a defective product, the manufacturer could be held liable.
Essentially, an injured consumer could seek compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, and a host of other things depending on the severity of the injury.
In the meantime, if you have been injured by a consumer product, an experienced personal injury attorney can help.