What can I do if my child is injured by a toy?

A toy-related injury can be serious and traumatic for children and families which is why parents should be familiar with the legal protections available to them when their child has been harmed by dangerous or defective toy. Products liability legal protections provide remedies to help with the physical, financial and emotional injuries and harm suffered because of a dangerous or defective product.

Common causes of toy-related harm and injuries include riding toys, such a tricycles and nonpowered scooters, and toy-related deaths which can include chocking, drowning, suffocation and riding toy accidents. Children under the age of 3 are at the greatest risk of toy choking hazards and riding toys account for the majority of toy-related injuries to children under the age of 14. Approximately half of all toy-related injuries occur to the head and face of the child.

In addition, in total, there are approximately 217,000 children treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries and, while most toy-related injuries do not require hospitalization, during 2005 a total of 20 children died from toy-related injuries. Anytime a child or loved one is harmed by a dangerous or defective product, it is important to be aware of personal injury legal options that can help with the medical bills and emotional trauma and pain and suffering of a toy-related injury. Unfortunately, children can sometimes be harmed in a variety of different ways by the everyday toys they enjoy and play with.

Consumers have a reasonable expectation of safety when using everyday consumer products. That is why the area of the law referred to as products liability holds those who place a dangerous or defective product in the hands of children accountable and can also help with their damages.