For parents of young children, safety is a top priority. Unfortunately, some of the products that parents trust to be child-safe may in fact pose a risk of life-threatening injuries.
As veteran product recall lawyers in Maine, the team at Hardy, Wolf & Downing is concerned about the announcement of an expanded recall of IKEA crib mattresses. The initial recall of the IKEA products was announced on January 13, 2015. It affected an estimated 169,000 units. On May 1, 2015, the popular home furnishings company announced that it was expanding its recall to include two additional mattress models for a total of about 300,000 units.
IKEA recalls crib mattresses
IKEA determined that the crib mattresses affected by the recall presented a risk of entrapment to infants. The mattresses could cause a gap between the edge of the mattress and the crib that is larger than federal regulations allow. When a crib mattress allows for inadequate spacing, the child can suffer head entrapment at the headboard or footboard. Entrapment may also occur between the side guard rail and the mattress. Entrapment may cause some children to suffer asphyxia, broken bones, sprains, and similar injuries.
So far, there have been two reports of infant entrapment because of the crib mattresses affected by the IKEA recall. Both of the infants were entrapped between the mattress and either the headboard or the footboard, and both infants were removed without harm.
Parents who purchased crib mattresses from IKEA are being urged to check them for possible safety hazards. The original recall notice affected VYSSA crib mattresses. Later, the company expanded the recall to include its SULTAN crib mattresses. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is asking parents with these products to immediately cease use until the products are checked. Parents can use two fingers to check the gap between the mattress and the crib. If any gap is wider than the width of two fingers, parents can return the product to any IKEA store for a full refund or an exchange. Parents are also asked to report any incidents involving IKEA crib mattresses.
What to do if your child has been injured
If your child suffered an injury as a result of defective IKEA crib mattresses or any other product, it’s imperative to take legal action right away with the help of product liability lawyers in Maine. A personal injury lawsuit may help your family secure the compensation you need to provide for your child’s medical needs; however, there are deadlines for filing a claim.
Hardy, Wolf & Downing have been staunch advocates for consumer rights for years. Let us put our specialized knowledge to work for your family. We invite individuals injured as a result of dangerous products to schedule a free case review at our firm. During your consultation, we’ll thoroughly evaluate every aspect of your case, and carefully explain your legal rights and options to you. Call us at 888-674-5762 today.