As a New Haven area parent, you likely buy your child their favorite toys whenever you can. Toys provide children with hours of fun and entertainment; however, making sure your child’s toys are safe is extremely important.
Defective toys are the cause of many children’s injuries. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Division found that in 2015, 11 children died from injuries involving toys.
Common ways that injuries occur
There are many ways that your child could be injured from a defective toy. They may accidentally swallow a piece of a toy that has broken off or cut themselves on a sharp edge.
A toy that was not designed or manufactured properly may not work as intended, which can also result in injuries.
Older toys could pose an increased risk of injury to a child, since they may have been subject to outdated safety standards. Regularly examine your child’s older toys to make sure they still appear reasonably safe.
When buying toys, check labels. The American Society for Testing and Materials evaluates products, and toys label should indicate if this evaluation has been done.
What to do after an injury
If your child was injured by a defective toy, seek medical attention for them immediately. Take pictures of any injuries and keep copies of all documents related to their medical treatment.
Once you have treated your child’s injuries, consider if you have a potential product liability claim against the manufacturer or designer. Your claim could be based on a breach of warranty, negligence or strict liability.
The type of product liability action filed depends on the circumstances of your specific situation. There are different elements that you must prove based on your type of claim.
A successful product liability claim could mean compensation for your child’s injuries for things such as medical expenses and pain and suffering. Personal injury attorneys analyze information and build effective strategies while providing advice along the way.