The Wininger Law Firm - April 6, 2012
- Defective product
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of the Topeak Babyseat II Bicycle Carrier Seat, a popular model sold at such stores as REI, J&B Imports, and Action and Hawley, among others.
The recall was prompted by a serious design flaw that could cause lacerations or partial amputations of the user’s finger. The Commission found that “[w]hen the consumer lifts the grab bar to remove the child from the seat, the child’s fingertips can be caught in the hinge mechanism, posing a laceration and fingertip amputation hazard to the child.”
The seat’s manufacturer claims that they have received reports of two such injuries, involving lacerations to the fingers, as well as a crushed finger.
Todson has manufactured roughly 40,000 seats, which retail for up to $180.
The Washington Post report can be found here.
Injuries due to defective products can raise several questions: how did this product make it onto store shelves? Why did the manufacturer fail to recognize the potential safety hazards in the product?
If a product is found to be defective in terms of its design, manufacturing, or labeling, consumers have a right to hold the manufacturer accountable for medical expenses and, in some cases, the psychological suffering caused by their defective product. However, personal injury law is often too complex for individuals to pursue by themselves. If you’ve been injured by a defective product, experienced attorney can help you secure the recovery you deserve.