Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer Blog

Recently, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) re-announced a previous recall from 2008 regarding close to a million drop-side cribs manufactured by Delta Enterprise that have “Crib Trigger Lock and Safety Peg” hardware. The re-announcement was issued after a 7-month-old infant’s death in 2009 was reported to the CPSC when the infant became entrapped and suffocated between the crib’s mattress and the detached drop-side. The crib had been purchased used and was lacking safety pegs in the bottom tracks of the crib.

When the recall was initially announced in 2008, the CPSC alerted consumers of an 8-month-old infant’s death who had gotten trapped and suffocated when the drop-side of the crib detached. The crib was missing safety pegs. There were also reports of two other entrapment incidents and nine detachments in cribs that were missing safety pegs.

When a drop-side crib is missing safety pegs, an environment is created in which the crib’s drop-side rail is able to disengage from the track, creating a dangerous space in which an infant is able to be trapped and could suffocate. Parents are warned by the CPSC not to purchase cribs used, as the cribs may not come with the parts necessary to ensure a child’s safety.

The cribs involved in the re-announcement were manufactured in Indonesia and Taiwan and sold at large retailers in the U.S. from January of 1995 to December of 2005 for about $100 (through September of 2007 for model 4624). To view a full list of the crib models involved in the re-announcement, visit http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11179.html.

The CPSC advises parents to stop using the recalled cribs immediately if the crib is missing a safety peg on either of the crib’s legs. To receive a free repair kit, consumers can contact Delta at 800-816-5304 or visit http://www.cribrecallcenter.com. While waiting for a repair kit or for safety pegs to be installed on the crib, an alternative sleeping arrangement for a child should be found.

A child should never suffer an injury or death due to a defective crib or other child’s product. If your child has been harmed as a result of a crib manufacturer’s negligence, contact the Pennsylvania defective crib lawyers at Anapol Schwartz. We can help your family receive the compensation you need. Call 866-735-2792 to learn how we can help.

The government website cpsc.gov reported in an article that Jardine announced on April 30, 2009 a second recall expansion of cribs sold by Babies ‘R’ Us. The news was released by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. The U.S. CPSC, in support with Jardine, announced the voluntary recall of the cribs. They advise that consumers should stop using recalled products right away due to the crib design and safety concern unless otherwise directed.

The name of the product is Jardine Cribs, manufactured by Jardine Enterprises based in Taipei, Taiwan. There were about 96,000 of these particular units sold. More than 320,000 units were also recalled in June 2008 while another 56,450 were recalled in January 2009. The danger associated with these cribs is that the “wooden crib slats can break, creating a gap, which can pose and entrapment and strangulation hazard to infants and toddlers.”

CPSC has received 31 reports of incidents providing the crib is an unsafe product where the slats broke, including two reports of children becoming entrapped in the gap created by the broken slat on the crib models listed. Seven models of Jardine wooden cribs have been recalled. The crib model number and date code can be found on the inside of the bottom rail on the headboard or footboard. The defective cribs were sold at KidsWorld, Geoffrey Stores, Toys “R” Us, and Babies “R” Us stores nationwide, and at babiesrus.com, from September 2005 through April 2009 for between $220 and $330. Consumers should contact Jardine for a full refund.

One of the most common ways in which a crib could be dangerous is through entrapment. Newborns, even when they are on trap (not premature) are so tiny that it might be hard to imagine their size when you’re picking them out of a crib. If the slats – the vertical bars on the sides of the crib – are too far apart, a baby could easy slip through or slip an arm or leg through. Any space that is large enough for a head or limb to fit through is dangerous. Although almost all cribs on the market today meet safety standards, defects or improper set up could cause problems.

If you or a loved has had a child suffer injuries in a baby crib, please contact the skilled Pennsylvania defective crib lawyers at Anapol Schwartz who have successfully defended their clients for over 30 years. They have handled these kinds of cases and can be an asset to you during this challenging time. Please call 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation.