On April 12, 2019, Fischer Price and its parent company, Mattel, issued a recall of 4.7 million infant products called “Rock n’ Play” sleepers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has reports of numerous infant deaths stemming from the use of the Rock n’ Play, and the agency – along with pediatricians – had been advocating for the companies to stop selling the product and recall sold products.
According to reports, most of the deaths occurred due to suffocation, from when a child either rolled onto their side or stomach or due to blankets or stuffed animals used in the sleeper. Fischer Price claims that parents were not following the safety instructions for the sleeper, however, the CPSC maintains that the product could harm children even if parents follow the instructions. Fischer Price advertised the incline and softness of the sleepers as selling points, when those are both, in fact, risks of the product. The CPSC is now examining the safety of all incline sleepers, which are sold by many other companies.
When reports emerge that a product causes injuries or death to consumers, the company should voluntarily issue a recall to keep additional consumers safe. Often, it takes legal pressure from the CPSC and multiple injury reports for a recall to occur. When a product causes injuries, the manufacturer should be held fully liable for all of the injury or death-related losses. These cases can often involve multiple plaintiffs who were affected by the product before the recall occurred.
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At Rostam Law, a California product liability attorney can evaluate your rights after an injury or death caused by a defective or dangerous product. Call 888.416.5006 or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation and to begin exercising your rights today.