When you purchase products for your child, you never think that they will end up hurting them, but this is what happens sometimes. These products may be defective, they may have design defects or they may have been manufactured negligently. In these cases, it is important to hold the parties responsible for the injuries to your kids.
What Parents Should Know about Product Safety
Children’s products and toys are often subject to recalls. In most cases, these products were the subjects of a recall because users found them to be defective. A product is defective when it becomes dangerous to use it for the purpose for which it was created. For example, it may be considered a defective product because of the way it was manufactured. This may be because it was installed incorrectly during the assembly process.
A product can also be defective by the way that it was designed. An example is a toy that contains a sharp edge that has the potential to cut your child. There are also warning label defects. These include labels that use vague language, labels that are misleading, labels that are not large enough for you to read, and a label that is missing.
Common Defective Products for Children
Children’s products that are often recalled include toys, safety seats, furniture, and strollers. A toy that is determined to be defective may present a choking hazard. A baby’s crib may have been manufactured without important components. Without these essential components, it may lead the crib to fall apart while the baby is inside. If the baby were to be injured, the manufacturer of the crib could be found to be liable for the baby’s injuries.
Some products also lack adequate warning labels that explain how the user should not use the product. Improper labeling can also keep users from using the product most properly.
The First Thing to Do When a Defective Product Injures a Child
The first thing you must do is get your child medical attention. This is so that your child can receive medical treatment at the earliest convenience. That is the most important issue, but you also need medical personnel to document your child’s injuries. The personal injury attorney you hire will need this documentation to file a claim against the people liable for your child’s injuries.
The second thing you must do is gather evidence that demonstrates that the product is responsible for the injuries. Take pictures of the product and your child’s injuries. Take the contact information of witnesses to the accident. Gather the product’s packaging, instruction manuals, and receipts because these documents are important in a product liability claim.
Hire a personal injury attorney. It will be difficult for you to prove that the product was defective and the cause of your child’s injuries if you do not have a law degree. Your attorney has the knowledge and the experience in proving matters such as these, so he or she will develop a strong case against the liable individuals for monetary compensation for the injuries.