The Consumer Product Safety Commission has once again issued a massive recall of drop side cribs from a number of manufacturers. These cribs have been plagued with problems for the last several years, and the CSPC has begun to urge parents not to purchase or use any drop side cribs in the future.

Drop side cribs are responsible for at least 32 infant deaths in the past several years; thousands of babies have been injured. Each of these personal injuries and deaths occurred when a child was strangled or suffocated as the drop side front of the crib became detached from the frame itself. When the front becomes detached from the top of the frame, a child can become caught between the drop side and the top of the crib, strangling the infant. If the front detaches from the bottom, a baby can fall into the gap between the drop side and the crib and can suffocate against the mattress.

The Oklahoma product liability claims for drop side cribs comes as a result of faulty manufacturing, defective hardware, unstable construction, and improper assembly resulting from unclear instructions. Millions of drop side cribs have been recalled due to defect since the beginning of 2010. The problems with these cribs are so rampant that the CSPC warns parents not to attempt to fix the problems themselves and urges them to avoid purchasing drop side cribs altogether. With the continued problems with these models, most manufacturers are instituting a self-imposed ban, discontinuing the sale of all drop side cribs beginning in June 2010.

When new parents buy products for their infants, their primary concern is their child’s safety. Oklahoma parents have the right to reasonably expect that the products marketed and designed for their children are safe and free from hazards. However, Tulsa personal injury attorneys have seen many stories of heartbreak when a child’s bedding, clothing, or toys did not meet standards, causing debilitating injury or even death. When a defective product causes harm, parents are entitled to compensation for medical expenses, funeral expenses, and emotional suffering wrought by the injury or death of a child. While no amount of monetary reparation can make up for the injury or loss of a child, personal injury lawyers in Oklahoma can help families hold negligent manufacturers accountable and protect the safety of Oklahoma children.