OHIO LAWYER FOR DANGEROUS & DEFECTIVE TOYS

Preventable Injuries Caused by Defective or Dangerous Toys Are Unacceptable

There are no good personal injuries, but some cases are inherently more tragic than others. It’s impossible to deny how heartbreaking it is when a child or infant suffers a serious injury or even death because they were gifted a toy that was either defective or dangerous. The companies that make and sell defective toys must be held accountable both for injured families and to prevent other children from falling victim to those defective toys in the future.



Toy Recalls and Injuries Caused by Toys Are Far More Common Than You May Realize

You might assume the toys marketed to teens, young children and infants undergo extensive safety testing and meet strict safety requirements to prevent injuries. While some devices and toys marketed to children do have to adhere to more stringent regulations, others are subjected to little or no regulatory oversight.



For example, Congress has enacted federal safety standards for toys designed for children under the age of 13. Those toys must receive third party testing to receive a “Children’s Product Certificate.” However, some toys ostensibly designed for older children may appeal to much younger children. Third-party testers also aren’t immune to mistakes, and dangerous toys still make it through to consumers.

Types of Dangerous Toys

Some toys are inherently dangerous or appear basically safe until small parts fall off and become swallowing risks. For example, plush toys and stuffed animals may have hard eyes that can be torn off or fall off due to poor manufacturing. Those hard parts may become choking hazards. Other toys may include magnets or have magnets inside of them. If the toy breaks, small components inside may be swallowed by children.

Other toys, like rocking horses, can rock forward on limbs, fingers or toes. Still other toys, like trampolines, pose obvious fall risks that can lead to broken bones or concussions.

Parents should carefully monitor their children as much as possible, but especially when they may be playing with a dangerous toy. Even the most vigilant parents can’t prevent every injury, especially when those injuries are the result of a defective toy.

We recommend parents frequent the website www.toysafety.org, a tool developed by World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. The website lists recent recalls, lists of dangerous toys that are popular each year and other safety alerts.

When you do your Christmas shopping or are searching for birthday presents for a child or grandchild, it may be worth your time to do research on the toys you’re considering.