Britax is recalling 216,000 strollers after receiving eight incident reports that included severe finger lacerations, one partially amputated finger, and one broken finger. Consumers are asked to stop using the strollers right away and to contact the company for a free repair kit.
The recalled products include specific models of BOB Motion, B-Agile, and B-Agile Double strollers. The strollers have a hinge on their folding mechanism is the cause of the noted injuries that can happen when the release button is pressed while the release strap is being pulled on. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says Britax is also recalling 8,800 strollers in Canada over the same issue.
This is not the first time a manufacturer has recalled a stroller over fingertip amputation and laceration hazards. Young children and infants are at risk of such injuries when they insert a finger in a stroller folding mechanism that isn’t made to ensure prevention of amputation and laceration.
In addition to being incredibly painful and traumatic, there is the possibility of permanent damage or the finger proving impossible to reattach. If an amputated finger is not reattached quickly and properly, this could permanently impair the hand’s function, potentially resulting in disability and//or deformity. Seeing as we as humans need our hands to perform so many functions, this could have widespread ramifications to the injured person being able to tend to certain tasks, get into certain careers, or enjoy recreational and other activities.
Surprisingly, according to Nationwide Children’s Hospital researchers, the leading fingertip amputation hazard to children is the door, with kids’ hands potentially getting caught in a closing one. That said, door-related amputation injuries, such as stroller amputation injuries, are a result of a finger getting caught between two objects.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says that hopefully fingertip reattachment surgery should give back function and feeling. With young children—especially kids under age 2— the fingertip may even grow normally even if there was bone exposure.
Like with any surgery, there are risks involved. Loss of feeling or motion, infection, anesthesia reactions, and other complications may result. A fingertip injury can take months to heal and there may be sensitivity to cold and pain for quite some time.
At The Gilbert Law Group®, we represent the families of children that were injured in fingertip amputation accidents that were caused by a dangerous or defective product. Please contact our products liability lawyers today.
Products Liability
Product liability claims can be brought over manufacturing defects, products that were defectively designed, and consumer goods that didn’t come with proper instructions or warnings. You want to work with an experienced child injury law firm that knows how to handle product defect claims while understanding the nature of an injury to an child or infant and the resulting effects.
