Suffering an injury can be a difficult and painful experience, but for parents, seeing a child suffer from such an injury is often even more devastating. While seeing a child in pain is upsetting in any circumstance, when that injury is the result of another party’s reckless or negligent behavior, the situation is often made worse by compounded feelings of anger and helplessness. Defective toys are one of the most common causes of child injury, and even wrongful death, in which case compensation may be awarded to the victim’s family for grief, suffering, and financial hardships. Sadly, thousands of children are injured every year due to defective toys, a situation that is completely avoidable if corporations uphold their responsibility to ensure the safety of their products. For our New Orleans clients dealing with child injuries and defective toys, our attorneys at Harrell & Nowak offer legal assistance in obtaining any rightful settlement.
Injuries and Defective Toys
Every year, an average of 100 different children’s toys or nursery products are recalled because they are found to be unsafe for use. Unfortunately, by the time these products are recalled, a great number of children have already suffered the consequences of poor manufacturing or unsatisfactory upkeep by retailers. Injuries can be caused by even the most basic of toys and include products that most people have in their house right now, including stuffed animals, balls, dolls, board games, toy guns, and many more. Depending on the type of toy, defective products can lead to a wide range of child injuries that vary in severity. Some types of injuries that may occur as the result of defective toys include the following:
- Choking or strangulation
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Severe cuts that result in scars
- Blindness
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Brain injury
In the most extreme circumstances, defective toys may even result in death, a situation that is truly devastating for all of the family members that are left behind.
What Are my Legal Rights?
There are laws in place that are meant to protect the safety of consumers. It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to ensure that toys are safe and that sufficient warning labels are placed on toys that are a potential choking hazard. If a toy manufacturer fails to uphold these responsibilities, they can be held legally responsible for the results of injuries suffered using defective products. If a child has received medical care or been hospitalized as a result of injuries that are linked to defective toys, the family can seek compensation for these expenses. Medical care can be very costly and when long-term care is needed, bills continue to pile up. Our attorneys can help seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses and loss of wages.
Schedule an Appointment
If your child has suffered an injury or death as the result of a defective toy, our attorneys are here to help. We will work hard to ensure your rights are protected while remaining sensitive to the difficult situation this is for your family. If you are interested in learning more about your rights, we invite you to schedule an appointment at Harrell and Nowak at your earliest convenience. We look forward to hearing from you.