January is a great time of the year for many Baltimore children, as many are still celebrating the arrival of new toys they received during the holiday season. While these new toys bring joy to many, they can also bring certain dangers and result in child injury if the toys do not function properly.
Unfortunately, this occurs far more frequently than many would think. According to the National SAFE KIDS campaign, more than 120,000 children under the age of 14 are sent to emergency rooms each year as a result of injuries they suffered while playing with toys. Advocates recommend that parents avoid having children play with toys that have small, removable parts or toys with sharp points or edges, to try to avoid some of these injuries. Toys that project items can also cause injuries to children, as can those with strings or straps.
While some of these toys that can cause injury may be easy to spot, even innocent looking toys can cause child injury. For example, defective toys that might otherwise be safe can cause injury if they do not function properly.
Whether a child suffers injury because of a design defect or another kind of defect, however, the important thing is that the child’s health be protected. This includes not only providing the care necessary to treat an injured child, but taking steps against toy manufacturers or others who may be responsible for defective toys, in order to ensure other children do not get hurt by the same toy.
Through a personal injury lawsuit, individuals can hold toy companies or other parties responsible for their defective products. Companies can be held liable for having defective products, and they can be ordered to pay compensation to injured parties as a result of their defective products.