Stroller Safety and Your Child

Last month the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) proposed new guidelines in an effort to make strollers and other baby equipment safer. Between 2008 and 2012 there were 1,200 stroller incidents, including four deaths and 360 injuries reported.

Strollers are made to be durable, and some stroller manufacturers replace wheels, canopies and other moving parts free of charge so a stroller can be passed along to younger siblings. The proposed rules would enforce federal safety standards for all strollers aimed at reducing the number of accidents and the need for stroller manufacturer recalls.

Some common stroller malfunctions that can cause injuries include:

• Parking break fail – wheel-locking mechanisms can release, allowing stroller to roll. An infant can be injured in an escaped stroller if it falls down stairs, off a curb or runs into a parked car.

• Accidental harness release – a child can release the harness safety belt buckle and fall from stroller.

• Canopy and hinge collapse – an infant’s fingers can become trapped in canopy hinges.

• Folding mechanism failure – an infant can be trapped or seriously injured by the collapse of the stroller folding mechanism.

A baby should never be left unattended in a stroller, but if your child has been injured by a stroller mechanism malfunction, you have a right to sue the stroller manufacturer. Speak to a personal injury attorney about your specific case and find out if you are entitled to compensation for your baby’s injuries. Call the Palm Harbor Law Office of Paul B. Genet, P.A. at 727-510-8802 or contact us online.