When consumers purchase products, it’s assumed they will be made as safe as possible. However, that is not always the case. More and more, products from virtually every category are found to be defective, leading to injuries and sometimes death. When this happens, those affected by the manufacturer’s negligence turn to attorneys skilled in handling incidents involving defective products. As 2017 has begun, here is a look back at some of the worst defective products of 2016.
Worst Defective Products of 2016
Children’s Toys
As Christmas, birthdays, and other occasions come and go, toys are always an essential gift. However, many parents and children get an unexpected surprise with numerous toys each year. In 2016, a number of toys found themselves on the worst defective products list for various reasons. For example, Peppa Pig’s Muddy Puddles Family is a toy that has been found to present not only a choking hazard, but also has inconsistent age warnings on its boxes, which may leave parents confused if the toy is safe for their child. Another toy with potential problems is the Good Dinosaur Galloping Butch, which not only has been determined to pose choking hazards, but may also pose potential problems with puncture wounds to the face due to a sharp tail.
Automobile Airbags
When a driver gets behind the wheel, they must have supreme confidence that their vehicle will protect them as much as possible in the event of an accident. However, this may not always be the case when it comes to airbags. In 2016, a recall of Takata airbags became one of the largest recalls in recent history. While airbags are supposed to activate mainly in high-speed collisions, these airbags have had many examples of violently exploding on impact, even in low-speed collisions. Along with this, pieces of metal shrapnel have been shown to shoot into the passenger cabin, causing injuries and deaths.
Heating Pads
For people who need a bit of extra warmth or have medical problems that require regular heat, heating pads are a popular option that brings relief from pain and suffering. However, in 2016 there were a variety of problems reported with some heating pads purchased by consumers. In one case, a woman received third-degree burns due to her heating pad catching her bed on fire while she slept. Upon investigation, it was determined the heating pad had a defective temperature regulator, which allowed the pad to reach temperatures almost twice those recommended by the manufacturer. In another instance, a unit failed to turn itself off after 20 minutes and burned a woman who had fallen asleep, causing extensive burns and other injuries.
Baby Cribs
Needless to say, parents everywhere want to take every precaution possible when it comes to the safety of their children. For parents of newborns, having a baby crib that is safe and secure brings tremendous peace of mind. However, as with many other products in 2016, baby cribs were not exempt from problems. Unfortunately, some of the most common problems included defective drop sides, poor spacing between slats, and loose materials which led to some children suffocating. Along with suffocating some children, other problems in 2016 included children falling out of their crib due to the drop sides falling down on their own, and also slat spacing that resulted in babies falling out of the crib or become stuck between them, causing injuries or even deaths. Due to these and other issues, most manufacturers now advise consumers to carefully examine a crib before purchasing the product, and to also avoid using second-hand cribs due to the possibility they may have defects that have gone unnoticed.
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