Drop-Side Crib Injury Investigation
The Law Office of Dane E. Johnson is currently investigating personal injury and wrongful death associated with recalled drop-side cribs manufactured by various companies, including Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc., of British Columbia, Canada. We are accepting select cases in this area.
Stork Craft drop-side cribs are the subject of the largest crib recall in United States history. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) reports that over 2.1 million cribs are affected, including approximately 1,213,000 units distributed in the United States and 968,000 units distributed in Canada. About 147,000 of the recalled Stork Craft drop-side cribs carry the Fisher-Price logo. A manufacturing or design defect in drop-side cribs may cause one or more of the mattress support brackets to break, allowing the mattresses to collapse and creating a gap between the mattress and the crib rails. The gap can entrap a baby’s head and cause the child to suffocate against the mattress.
A baby or young child placed into a drop-side crib may also suffer serious personal injury in a fall if the crib side detaches. CPSC, Health Canada, and Stork Craft are aware of 110 reported incidents of Stork Craft drop-side detachment, including 15 entrapments. Four of the reported entrapments resulted in suffocation. Reported fall injuries ranged from concussion to bumps and bruises.
Other brands of drop-side cribs have also been linked to child injury, as have crib models with decorative cut-outs and shapes that can cause strangulation. Since 2007, over 5 million cribs, bassinets, and play yards have been recalled for product defects that can hurt or kill infants and children.
An Oregon personal injury lawyer may be able to help parents recover compensation for harm caused by defective and dangerous products. Our most important job, however, is working to prevent injury. These tips on crib safety from the CPSC may help prevent the need to contact an attorney because the unthinkable has happened:
Never place pillows or thick quilts in a baby’s sleep environment.
Make sure that there are no gaps larger than two fingers between the sides of the crib and the mattress.
Follow crib assembly instructions and make sure that every part is installed correctly. If you are not sure, call the manufacturer for assistance.
Do not use old, broken or modified cribs, in which infants can strangle to death if their bodies pass through gaps between loose components or broken slats while their heads remain entrapped.
Properly set up play yards according to manufacturers’ directions. Use only the mattress pad provided with the play yard.
Never place a crib near a window with blind or curtain cords that can strangle babies.
If a defective children’s product has caused serious personal injury or wrongful death, do not alter the crib or other product in any way. Contact a product liability lawyer promptly. Portland, Oregon personal injury attorney Dane Johnson provides a no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation. Call the Law Office of Dane E. Johnson toll-free at (800) 714-3204 or contact us online.
