2012 Product Recalls

As consumers, we expect to be able to purchase products that we can trust. Most products used by Georgians every day are designed safely, constructed correctly, and sufficiently tested so that they pose no significant risk of danger or harm. However, defective products do make it to the marketplace, causing personal injury and even wrongful deaths.

Defective products are dangerous and costly. Injuries as a result of a product mishap can be long-term and devastating, but these injuries from product defects can be prevented if we’re current on the products that are being reviewed for safety. For these reasons, we as consumers should be aware of product recalls. Product recalls can include parts of automobiles, airplanes, prescription drugs, medical devices, and industrial equipment.

Many Product Recalls Have Already Occurred

There have been numerous product recalls in 2012 already. Just this month, Johnson & Johnson recalled thousands of tubes of its Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Lotion after a sample contained too much bacteria. At least 2,200 bottles of the lotion from lot number 0161LK have been recalled from shops across many Southern states. According to Johnson and Johnson, this defective product was sold in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. The company has pulled the contaminated lot from store shelves, but they are not asking consumers that already purchased bottles from that lot to return them. According to a statement released by Johnson & Johnson, they are not recalling the Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Lotion because of a specific injury or event, but out of caution.

The following is a list of 2012 product recalls, many of which involve safety concerns for children. These types of recalls arise often, and parents should be aware of those that can affect their families.

• Big Lots Five-Light Floor Lamps due to shock hazards.
• BSH Home Appliances’ Tassimo Single-Cup Coffee Makers due to burn hazards.
• Bumbleride Indie & Indie Twin Strollers due to the front wheel of the strollers cracking, causing them to tip over.
• Triple Eight Distribution’s Bicycle Helmets for children and youth due to the helmets not complying with CPSC safety standards for impact resistance.
• IKEA ANTILOP High Chairs due to the chair’s restraint buckle opening unexpectedly.
• Dorel Juvenile Group Infant, Convertible, and Booster child restraint systems manufactured between May 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009. The harness locking/release button doesn’t always return to its locked position, resulting in a loose harness, increasing the risk of being injured in a crash.
• Evenflo Maestro Child Safety Seats because in the event of a crash, a crack could form at the front of the seat that causes the child to be improperly restrained.

These are just a few product recalls that have been announced in 2012. If you purchased or are using any of these products, cease use immediately and contact the manufacturer for details on what to do next.

Although not recalled yet, the popular Bumbo Baby Seat devices used to help babies sit up before they otherwise would be able to are being questioned by many consumer groups. Because the product has been associated with numerous injuries to infants after falling from the seats, they’re asking the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall the devices. The CPSC issued a warning about the Bumbo seats in November detailing the risks associated with the product, but no recall has been announced. Arguments against the Bumbo recall insist that injuries are occurring when this product is not used as intended. Regardless of whether it is the fault of the product or of users, care should be taken when using devices involving children.

Marietta Product Liability Attorneys

Unfortunately, issuing product recalls does not always prevent injuries from occurring. Georgia product liability cases involve goods that are manufactured or distributed in a way that causes harm to other people. When a manufacturer or distributor of a product allows a product to be sold with inherent flaws, they are liable for damages and injuries caused to others. Liable parties can include the parts manufacturer, wholesaler, assembling manufacturer, retail store owner, or others. These parties are trained to understand the responsibilities that their job entails, so allowing defective products to injure others is unacceptable.

The experienced Kennesaw product liability attorneys at Jones & Swanson have helped many Georgians that sustained injuries because they used, were exposed to, or ingested a product that was defective, dangerous, or malfunctioned. If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact our Acworth personal injury attorneys today at (770) 427-5498 for a free consultation and affordable representation by the best injury attorneys in the Atlanta area.