Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

Due to major safety concerns stemming from 21 recalls of over 4 million cribs, federal regulators are pushing tougher safety standards on cribs. Toys "R" Us has already decided to no longer sell drop-side cribs, the design affected most by recalls. The recalled cribs have attributed to at least five deaths and multiple cases of infants where trapped by parts of the cribs. The hazardous gaps can be created by malfunctioning spring pegs, loose or broken locking pins or broken wooden slats. Drop side cribs have seen the most recalls in the past two years.

Reusing and purchasing used cribs can also be problematic because the cribs are not designed to take the wear and tear of many years and problems can arise from reassembly. To maximize the safety of your child purchase a crib with stationary sides and periodically check the crib for any loose or broken parts. For a safer alternative drop side cribs consider purchasing a drop-gate crib, where the top six inches of the crib fold down for easier access to the infant.

A Chicago Tribune investigation has found evidence of many popular child safety seats failing when involved in a front end collision. Reports were found buried among thousands of pages of test reports on the safety of 2008 model year vehicles. The tests were conducted to test the safety of the vehicles and not the child safety seats which is why the reports weren't published and in many instances the manufacturers were not informed of the results. Nearly half of the seats tested were removed from the base and the infant propelled upside down and face-first into the front seat of the car; a serious and particularly fatal unreported manufacturing defect. Two seats were found to be flawed that they were recalled and the manufacturer has changed the way it evaluates its child safety seats.

Child safety seats are routinely tested on a sled bench which is supposed to simulate a head on collision. The NHTSA test videos show time and time again the infant's head striking the front seat of a car. The child safety seats are also not routinely tested in side-impact scenarios but they fail in those circumstances as well.

Fortunately the new U.S. Secretary of Transportation is taking measures to better regulate the safety of our children in car seats and make crash test reports more available to the public. Companies have already begun to install seats on the test sleds for a better measure of how the car seat will perform in an automobile. Consumer advocate groups are pushing for the Government to follow
Europe's testing standards and rate vehicles on the safety they provide specifically to children.For more on the Chicago Tribune Investigation and access to the test videos please visit this link.

The RECARO Company is recalling Signo child restraint assemblies manufactured from February until September 2008 due to defective restraint system. The metal adjuster that controls the tightness of the harness may slip and cause the harness to loosen.

If a crash were to occur during a seat malfunction the child would not be properly restrained and serious or fatal injuries may occur. The RECARO Company will notify owners and replace any defective seats free of charge. If you have purchased a Signo restraint and have not been notified of any recall be sure to contact RECARO at 1-888-473-2290

Continue reading "Child Safety Seats Recalled due to Malfunctioning Restraint" »

96,000 cribs manufactured by Jardine Enterprises have been recalled because the wooden slats can break posing a serious entrapment and strangulation hazard to infants. The cribs were sold at KidsWorld, Geoffrey Stores, Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us nationwide from September 2005 until April 2009 for approximately $200 and $330. This recall is an expansion on recalls by Jardine in June 2008 and January 2009.When the wooden slats on the crib break a dangerous gap is created. Infants can become trapped in the gap and if positioned the correct way can begin to strangle themselves. In one third of the incidents reported the slat broke while the child was in the crib. If you own this crib please stop using it immediately and contact Jardine for a full credit toward the purchase of a new crib.

To find out if your crib is listed in the recall use the chart below to match the model and date code to your crib. The date code and model number can be found printed on the label located on the inside of the bottom rail of the headboard or footboard.

Continue reading "Jardine Annouces Crib Recall due to Entrapment and Strangulation Hazards" »

Evidence has just been disclosed in a lawsuit in California that a train conductor for Connex Railroad was using his phone to send text messages just before a fatal crash last September. An employee from Chatsworth Metrolink, which supplies conductors and engineers to Connex Railroad, informed lawyers that he knew the conductor had been text messaging while on duty and warned the company about this a few days before the crash. This same employee also complained to a co-worker 3 hours before the crash. Federal investigators say that Robert Sanchez, who was driving the train, and also died in the fatal collision, had sent and received dozens of text messages that day(all being violations of company policy), his last having been sent 22 seconds before the collision. The fatal crash resulted in 24 deaths and 135 injuries. I've recently handled a number of train crash cases and know firsthand how careless some engineers can be that ultimately can lead to the unnecessary loss of life.

The Evenflo Company has voluntarily recalled nearly 100,000 high chairs due to falling and choking hazards. The chairs were sold under the brand name Majestic at major stores nationwide including Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Burlington Coat Factory, Shopko and Walmart.com. The chairs were sold for anywhere between $80 and $110 from January 2006 through May 2007.

The Evenflo Company has voluntarily recalled nearly 100,000 high chairs due to falling and choking hazards. The chairs were sold under the brand name Majestic at major stores nationwide including Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Burlington Coat Factory, Shopko and Walmart.com. The chairs were sold for anywhere between $80 and $110 from January 2006 through May 2007.

Plastic caps and metal screws located on both sides of the chair can loosen and unexpectedly fall out. Such an incident will cause the seatback to fall back or detach completely from the high chair. Children sitting in the seat at that time can fall out or collide with other objects and suffer numerous injuries. Detached caps and screws also pose a potential choking hazard to small children.

Evenflo has received more than 1,000 reports of plastic caps and screws falling out of the high chair and 140 reports of the seatback reclining, falling or detaching. Of the 140 seat failure reports almost 100 reports indicated injuries from bumps, bruises, cuts, abrasions and broken bones.

Only high chairs manufactured before January 23, 2007 are affected by the recall. If you own this chair stop using it immediately and contact Evenflo for a free repair kit.

Consumers should check the white label on the seatback for the following model numbers named in the recall:

30001395A

3001583

3001633A

3001669

3001700A

3001713

3001713A

3001730A

3001732

3001732A

3001733

3001742

3001742A

3001756

Continue reading "Evenflo Recalling 95,000 Majestic High Chairs" »

If you own a Britax Frontier Model child safety seat, stop using it immediately. Britax is recalling Fronteir models manufactured between April 1 and September 18, 2008 because the harness straps can become detached from the metal rod on the back of the seat if they are loosened one strap at a time. Such a serious event will lead to children being improperly restrained immensely increasing the risk of injury in the event of even a small crash. Registered owners will be mailed a repair kit and non-registered users must contract Britax at 1-704-409-1700 and can also check the Britax website.

Models Affected by the Recall:

Model E9L54E7 - Frontier Red Rock

Model E9L54H6 - Frontier Rushmore

Model E9L54H7 - Frontier Pink Sky

Model E9L54M6 - Frontier Canyon

Model E9L5490 - Frontier Sahara