New Jersey parents should be aware that there was an increase in the number of recalled children’s products in 2016. According to a recent report by nonprofit group Kids in Danger, the number was the highest since 2001, with the exception of 2004 when there was a recall of 150 million vending machine toys.
The nonprofit group’s report assessed the 2016 recall data that was obtained from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. The data showed that 76 children’s products were recalled. These totaled more than 66.8 million units of products.
There was a 12 percent increase in children’s products recalls in 2016 when compared to the previous year. The report also showed that the basis for the recalls included a higher number of fatalities, incidents and injuries. There were a total of seven deaths, 394 injuries and 4,842 incidents that spurred recalls.
Even though 32 percent of the recalls in 2016 were for nursery products, the year signified the first time in 10 years that there were no crib recalls. Also noted in the report was that social media was used by many manufacturers to inform the public about a recall. In fact, 60 percent of companies that maintained a Facebook page warned their customers about a recall through a posting on the site. However, according to a representative from KID, even with the increase in social media use and the enhancement in standards, recalls are not occurring quickly enough, nor is enough being done to ensure that products are out of homes.
Individuals who have been injured as a result of a defective product may have cause to file a products liability case. A personal injury attorney may provide advice on legal options for injuries sustained due to insufficient warning or dangerous children’s toys.
