Amputations of Children’s Fingers Prompts Recall of a Million Strollers
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Maclaren USA, Inc. have announced a voluntary recall of about one million children’s strollers due to reports of fingertip amputations.
The stroller’s hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller. Maclaren has received 15 reports of children placing their finger in the stroller’s hinge mechanism, resulting in 12 reports of fingertip amputations in the United States.
A statement on the Maclaren website: Consistent with our unwavering commitment to child safety we are providing U.S. consumers notice of a voluntary recall of all Maclaren umbrella strollers sold in the U.S. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, we are providing free of charge to all affected consumers and retailers a kit to cover the stroller’s hinge mechanism, which poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller.
ConsumerReports.org states that although all Maclaren strollers are certified by the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Associations to meet ASTM-International’s voluntary safety standard for strollers, they found a loophole in the standard. The standard addresses scissoring, shearing and pinching, but it only applies to situations where the stroller is in the manufacturer’s recommended use position-meaning unfolded with the hinges locked in place-to prevent injury to the occupant. According to Maclaren, at the time of the incidents, the children were outside the stroller and a parent or caregiver was either opening it or folding it up.
This recall involves all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers sold at Babies"R"Us, Target and other juvenile product and mass merchandise retailers nationwide from 1999 through November 2009 for between $100 and $360. The word "Maclaren" is printed on the stroller. The affected models included Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller. A mass of parents and caregivers responded to the recall, tying up Maclaren’s customer service hotline and crashing the company’s website on Monday. As of Tuesday, the company’s website was up and running again.
Consumers should immediately stop using these recalled strollers and contact Maclaren USA toll-free at (877) 688-2326 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.maclaren.us/recall to receive a free repair kit.
The CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or by visiting www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx.
Products liability is the branch of law that deals with the liability of parties involved in the manufacturing of a product for any damages caused by the product. Defective products can cause a great deal of property damage or physical injury, even death. If your child has been injured as the result of a defective Maclaren Stroller or other product, you need the services of an experienced attorney who has successfully handled product liability cases. At Napoli Bern Ripka LLP, our attorneys will work with you to begin the process of filing a claim for payment of medical expenses incurred and compensation for the injury. Call 888-529-4669 today.
