What to Know About Dangerous Toys and Toy-Related Injuries This Holiday Season

One of the best parts of the holiday season is watching children light up with joy when they open presents. Remote control cars, train sets, dolls, teddy bears, and the list goes on. It is truly a special time. Unfortunately, these same toys that create such lasting memories can also present major health risks.

According to the latest statistics from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were an estimated 240,000 toy-related injuries in the United States in 2016, and in the 22-month period between January 2017 and October 2018, an estimated 3.5 million units of toys were recalled in the U.S. and Canada. Moreover, the nonprofit World Against Toys Causing Harm, or WATCH, reports that a child is treated in an emergency room every three minutes for a toy-related injury.

While children are indeed the responsibility of their parents, toys are ultimately the responsibility of their manufacturers as well. If your child was injured from a toy you don’t want to wait to contact a qualified product liability attorney as soon as possible to understand your rights. There are many avenues of recourse, even if a specific toy was recalled. The key is to not delay and speak to an experienced, local attorney to evaluate your case.

Short of an injury, parents should be extra vigilant this holiday season as some toys may present choking risks, mechanical dangers or even fire hazards. Despite strict product safety regulations, potentially dangerous toys still make it onto store shelves. Recalls are also no guarantee that dangerous toys will be taken off the market, as recalled toys can appear anywhere for resale. Nevertheless, internet searching for defective toy lists is a good place to start, even though it is a reactive measure.

Let us share several other ways parents can proactively protect their children:

• Read and follow the age labels. Age guidelines are given for safety reasons and should not be ignored even if your child seems advanced for his or her age.
• Check toys often for hazards like loose parts, broken pieces or sharp edges, and repair or discard any weak or broken toys. 
• Avoid cheap metal or painted jewelry for children who may still put objects in their mouth as it may contain lead. Ingesting even small amounts of lead can be harmful to a child’s health and development.

Don’t forget that you can proactively report any potential hazards to the Consumer Product Safety Commission by clicking this link. We know it can be a very scary thought to consider the impact a hazardous toy could have on your child. Do not wait to ask us your questions and contact us to schedule a free case evaluation. We are your local attorneys here for you 24 hours a day.