Sold only through JC Penney, about 73,000 drop-side cribs by manufacturer PT Domusindo Perdana are being recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The cribs pose entrapment, fall, and suffocation dangers in the event that the drop sides were to detach, malfunction, or fail in some other way.
The recalled cribs were sold out of the JCPenny catalog between 1998 through 2008. Consumers are urged to stop using these products right away. Beginning May, they can contact Modus Furniture International for a free kit that will immobilize the product’s drop side.
So far, there have been just three incidents involving this crib’s drop side rails detaching or malfunctioning. But as our child products liability law firm knows, any incident involving a faulty drop-side crib is one too many.
Drop-side cribs have proven so dangerous in the past that the government banned them from being sold or resold in the in the US. In the event the crib’s side was to drop or detach without warning, a baby or toddler inside could fall out, potentially suffering serious head injuries. Another possible danger involves the drop side coming out of position, creating a space big enough for a small child to roll into and get stuck or entrapped in, upping the risk of suffocation or entrapment. Poor assembly and wear and tear can also lead to drop-side failures.
At The Gilbert Law Group®, our crib defect lawyers represent the family of children that were hurt because a nursery product was defective or failed. Other examples of other potential crib part defects/failures that can cause serious injury:
• Broken, missing, or loose crib slats: may cause strangulation, entrapment,
or suffocation.
• Disengaged parts on the sides or corners of cribs: may cause entrapment
or strangulation.
Also, although not necessarily an actual crib defect, having long cords, whether an electrical cord from a lamp or a window covering/curtain/blind cord near the sleeping area, can also prove dangerous for a toddler, who may accidentally become entangled in the court and suffocate.
Our crib defect law firm knows how upsetting it can be to discover that one of the few places where you should be able to leave your child unattended was the cause of his/her injuries. You may have grounds for a product defect case against a negligent crib maker or some other manufacturer. If your child suffered a crib injury while under someone else’s supervision or on another person’s property, such as a daycare center, motels, hotels, and other public accommodation places, you also may have reason to sue these parties for damages.
It is important to note that all cribs (including non full-size cribs and stackable cribs), and not just drop-side cribs that are sold, resold, or rented out, now must meet the new federal crib safety standards. Failure to meet these standards puts the lives of children at risk.
