No parent should ever have to worry about the toys they purchase causing harm to their child. Unfortunately, we have all heard the nightmares of defective toys causing substantial injuries to children. When this happens, parents are often able to secure compensation from the companies or manufacturers responsible for the defective toy. However, product liability attorney at Colson Hicks Eidson believes that the most effective way to keep your child safe is to be aware of what to look out for so you can avoid purchasing a defective toy in the first place.
Safety Tips To Keep Defective Toys Away From Your Kids
You cannot rely on simply watching for recalls of toys when working to determine whether or not the items you purchased for your child are safe. The reality is that many recalls in warnings do not happen until a dangerous or defective toy has already caused harm to a significant number of children. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were an estimated 226,100 toy-related injuries in 2018 amongst children younger than 15 years of age.
There are various factors that parents can take into consideration when determining whether or not a toy may be safe for their child.
- Avoid any toys marketed on the internet that lack warnings, age recommendations, or instructions. Even if a product has great reviews on online platforms such as Amazon, please understand that these reviews can be manipulated.
- Avoid battery-operated toys for children under the age of 8, as these batteries may overheat, leak, or explode.
- Avoid any toys with “hair” or “fur.” This includes dolls and stuffed animals that often have loose parts that a child may inhale or eat.
- You should not allow your child to play with a toy that has any strings longer than 6 inches or with removable objects at the end of laces or strings (like bells or knobs).
- Do not buy any toys that are meant to be strung across playpens or cribs, as these could strangle a child when they are unsupervised.
- Avoid “bonus” toys that are given away with other product lines such as clothing, books, food, etc. Often, these toys are sold with no warnings or instructions.
- Toys with small parts need to be avoided, as these parts can become choking hazards.
Let Us Help If Your Child Has Been Injured By A Defective Product
If your child has been injured by a defective toy, you need to seek assistance from an attorney as soon as possible. At Colson Hicks Eidson, we are ready to provide you with an award-winning product liability team that can conduct a full investigation into the incident. Our goal is to secure the compensation you in your child are entitled to, including coverage of any medical bills, lost wages if you cannot work while you care for your child, pain and suffering damages, and more. When you need a product liability attorney in Florida or elsewhere throughout the US, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling us at 305-476-7400.
