Dangerous Baby Products and Design Liability

Posted on: July 30, 2015 by Huntersure

While there are countless items on the market that can be declared dangerous and result in New York Product Design Liability, there are specific high-risk products that need to be acknowledged. For example, baby and children’s products can be especially risky to create. Therefore, the safety implications of the following products should be considered.

Drop-Side Cribs- Although these cribs were designed to ease the process of taking infants in and out of their cribs, the drop down feature has hidden risks in its design and can cause strangulation or suffocation of infants. According to FindLaw, the drop-side crib hardware can slip or break, causing a gap to form between the crib mattress and the drop-side of the crib, leading to an infant getting stuck.  More than 9 million of these cribs were recalled since 2007, citing design defects. As a result, these cribs were completely banned in 2011 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Airsoft Guns- These guns propel pellets via gas or springs and are often used as movie props or for target practice. Although they are considered toys, these guns are still dangerous products. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an estimated 19,675 non-powder gun injuries that were treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2005 alone. What’s more, 71 percent of the victims were under the age of 20. There have been laws emplaced that require an orange tip to be placed on the end, differentiating them from real firearms and requiring buyers to be at least 18 years of age. However, because of their resemblance to real firearms, as well as the nature of the product, these guns are inherently dangerous and its designers could face plausible liability claims.

SIDS Related Products-While studies have researched Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) for more than twenty years, the causes are still unclear. However, what has been determined is the correlation of certain baby sleeping products and deaths in infants under one year. Soft bedding, sleep positioners, and toxic chemical exposure are all believed to be contributors to SIDS cases. Any firm who designs these products should be aware of the liability issues that could potentially arise.

At Huntersure, we understand the scope of risks product design firms face. Whether it’s baby and children’s products or graphic design, we strive to provide customized protection for each firm’s needs. To learn more about our products and services, contact our specialists today at (855) 585-6255.

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Tagged: Baby and Childrens Products Dangerous Products New York Product Design Liability