It seems incomprehensible that a product made for children would be shoddily designed or manufactured, but it happens. Sometimes, these products cause children to get hurt or even killed. When it does, parents are naturally crushed, shocked, devastated:
- “If only I had bought a different brand….”
- “I wish I hadn’t borrowed Sally’s crib.”
- “How could such a crummy piece of construction be sold for a child?!”
- “If I’d just gone in to check on him five minutes sooner….”
What kinds of products have failed, and in their failure brought about the death of an innocent child?
Cribs and Mattresses
- A 6-month-old became trapped when the side rail on his crib came off; he suffocated.
- Another 6-month-old became trapped face down between her mattress and the side of her crib. Luckily, her mother was in the room at the time and was able to rescue her.
- A 2-year-old was strangled when his shirt became tangled on the corner post of his crib. Although he didn’t die, he suffered permanent brain damage and severe physical disabilities.
- A 9-month-old died when he became trapped between the side rail of his crib and the mattress.
- When a screw came loose in a 10-month-old’s crib, the resulting gap was wide enough to allow his head through. He was strangled to death.
- An 11-month-old became trapped between the crib mattress, which was too small for the crib, and the mattress support. He was strangled.
- A 6-month-old was killed when her neck got caught between her bassinet’s metal support and the mattress.
Portable Cribs and Play Yards
- A 16-month-old died when his portable crib collapsed, strangling him when his neck became trapped in the folded rails.
- The side rail of a 10-month-old’s portable crib collapsed around her neck, strangling her.
- Two 8-month-olds died of strangulation when the top rails of their portable cribs collapsed.
- When a 13-month-old stood up in her play yard, the changing table attachment fell on her neck, strangling her.
In more than one of the cases mentioned above, the manufacturer had been aware of complaints related to the defect but had not recalled the product. In one case, a parent was walking through a store and saw the crib that had been responsible for her child’s death years earlier. The product was still being sold, advertised as “Number 1 in Safety.”
There’s no death more wrongful than the wrongful death of a child. If your child died as a result of someone else’s actions or negligence, contact a wrongful death attorney in Louisville. Call Gray and White Law at 502-210-8942 or toll free at 888-450-4456 to set up a FREE, no-obligation consultation.