The recent recall of more than 200,000 baby cribs manufactured by Graco Cribs has spurred Government officials to consider a wholesale ban on all Drop Side cribs, CNM News Network reports. The dangerous crib design is equipped with a gate-like mechanism that allows the sides to slide up and down, giving parents easier access to their infant.
However, the hardware allowing the side of the crib to slide can occasionally break or detach, causing the drop side to separate entirely from the rest of the crib. If this happens, a hazardous gap can be created between the crib mattress and the drop side. Babies can become wedged in the gap, causing injury, suffocation or strangulation. Thirty-two infant deaths have been attributed to Drop Side crib malfunctions in the last decade, and seven separate recalls of cribs using this design have affected eleven million cribs in the last five years.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the Graco recall and has recommended that parents immediately discontinue use of the cribs and find alternative sleeping arrangements for their children. Tasked with ensuring the safety of consumer products for the general population, the CPSC is extra-vigilant in monitoring products marketed for children’s use because children are especially vulnerable to serious injury and death from unsafe manufactured goods. Of the CPSC’s ten most recently announced recalls, five deal specifically with children’s products.
If your child has been injured by a malfunctioning product, the experienced Los Angeles child product defect attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP will aggressively support your legal rights. Our injury attorneys have extensive experience in product liability litigation and can handle the most complex cases. To learn more about how we can help you obtain the compensation that you deserve, please call (877) 800-1700 today for a free consultation.
