What happened:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a recall of the Eddie Bauer Rocking Wood Bassinet because it may present a suffocation hazard to infants. Dorel Juvenile Group, the manufacturer of the product, is cooperating with the CPSC in the voluntary recall. The model numbers affected are 10632, 10639, 10832, 10839, 10835 and BT02.
The company received 17 incident reports which involved infants who were younger than three months old. The bassinet has a bottom locking mechanism which can fail to lock if a spring isn’t installed. This allows the bassinet to tip to one side, causing the infant to roll to the side and possibly causing suffocation. In two of the complaints Dorel received, the infants reportedly suffered breathing difficulties after rolling into the side of the bassinet.
The Virginia Injury Lawyer Perspective:
It appears the company has acted quickly in their attempts to correct the defect in the problem. Consumers who purchased the product are instructed to contact the company to receive a repair kit which includes a new spring and instructions to install it.
Thankfully there were no children killed in any of these incidents. However, there may be the possibility of long-term effects to infants who have suffered any kind of cut off in oxygen supply. Unfortunately, there are far too many cases of babies who have suffered irreversible brain damage after surviving suffocation. Studies show that brain damage can begin in as little as four minutes without air. The cost of future medical care costs for a brain injured child can be astronomical.
Families whose children have suffered injuries from a defective or recalled product should contact a personal injury attorney to find out what kind of compensation they may be entitled to.
Helpful Info:
If your child has been injured by a dangerous or defective product, you may be able to hold the company that manufactured and marketed the device accountable by filing claims for compensation for medical costs, lost wages and pain and suffering. Read this article to begin learning about your legal rights and options when a faulty product leads to injuries.
Have Questions?
You can learn more by reading through this online library of lawyers’ answers to frequently asked questions regarding recalled, poorly designed and unsafe consumer goods.