At one time, parents typically retained products purchased for their first children for reuse as their families grew. Things have changed. For infants and very young children in particular, product designs seem to be in an eternal state of flux.

Since those changes generally reflect safer designs, this is good news. However, when newly-released products have flaws, new dangers can arise. That said, parents need to continuously do their homework to help ensure that their children are safe.

Faulty Child Safety Seats Are One Example of Flawed Child Safety

One device that has changed significantly through the years is the child car seat, which is required by law in every state today. Originally in use as early as 1933, these seats were typically mounted in the front passenger seat, allowing small children to enjoy the view through the windshield. Today, the legally-required seats are mounted in the back seats of vehicles, facing backward to provide the best possible protection.

When properly used, car seats reduce the fatality risk to infants and toddlers by 71 percent and 54 percent, respectively. However, what happens when these products are flawed? Earlier this year, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a recall pertaining to a fall hazard posed by a specific brand of infant car seats.

The recall involves about 71,000 units, and the company received 74 reports of damaged handles and one report of infant injury. This one flaw placed children at potential risk before even getting to the vehicle.

Just as important, while parents might naturally assume that errors can happen within any company, more detailed research would reveal that this particular company appears to have a history of recalls. A search of their Safety Notices page lists 20 recalls of various products between 2004 and 2016, with 8 occurring between 2010 and 2016.

Parents Need to Proactively Protect Their Children

Whether they purchase a new car seat, a crib or even toys and clothing, parents need to remain actively aware of any possible way that their children can become injured. Still a handle is just a small part of a car seat, just as plastic eyes that detach and cause a choke hazard are barely a fraction of a cuddly stuffed animal.

No matter how much research parents do, they cannot possibly predict every risk that a product can pose to their children. A compassionate Los Angeles injury lawyer at The Rudman Law Firm understands that not all accidents can be prevented, but parents are encouraged to be mindful of the new risks that can arise at any time. To help preserve your rights after an accident — and to help other parents — call us at (844) 478-3626 / (844) 4RUDMAN, at our Los Angeles office at (213) 375-3777 or at our Studio City office (818) 769-6969.