The Dangers of Drop-Side Cribs
Posted on Monday, December 9th, 2019 at 6:11 pm
Many parents trust that the products they buy for their infants are thoroughly tested and regulated by government safety standards. However, this is not always the case. Each year, hundreds of dangerous products are purchased by consumers before recalling from store shelves.
According to data from Consumer Reports (CR), “40 percent of all recalls last year were for kids’ products.” Among these recalled kids’ products is the drop-side crib, which has been responsible for causing numerous infant deaths and injuries since the year 2000.
For drop-side cribs, one of the sides can easily side down, making it easier for a caretaker to reach the baby. However, these types of cribs are less structurally sound than traditional four-sided cribs and carry several deadly defects.
Certain hardware failures can cause mattress gaps to form, which creates a suffocation hazard for young children. Additionally, other types of hardware failures can cause the drop-side to come loose, carrying the potential to entrap and suffocate children who have fallen through.
Over the past 20 years, drop-side cribs are linked to 32 confirmed infant fatalities, 14 suspected infant fatalities, and numerous more infant injuries. In 2011, the Consumer Product Safety Commission introduced crib regulations that would effectively ban the sale and manufacturing of drop-side cribs in the United States. Before then, at least several million different types of drop-side cribs had been recalled from the market.
If you are a parent searching for a safe crib, it is always best to do your research before making any purchases. When shopping for a crib or any other kind of sleeping equipment for your baby, always make sure that government safety standards and regulations have been followed. If your child was hurt due to a defective crib, be sure to contact an experienced injury lawyer for help right away.
Contact a New York Product Liability Lawyer
Product manufacturers have an obligation to ensure their products are safe for consumer use. If your child was hurt or killed due to a defective crib, contact the New York defective product lawyers of Hach & Rose, LLP right away. We can be reached at (212) 779-0057 or through our online contact form, and we’ll be ready to fight for the fair compensation and justice your family deserves.