Britax Car Seats Being Recalled Due to Fall and Injury Hazards
Car seats go through a number of safety tests to ensure they keep infants safe during an accident. Unfortunately, defective car seats still make their way onto store shelves and put children’s lives at risk. The latest recall includes approximately 71,000 Britax B-Safe 35 and B-Safe 35 Elite infant car seats and travel systems. The risk involves the potential cracking or breaking of the carrier handle, which can pose a fall or injury risk to infants.
Understanding the Risk
Most parents opt for infant carriers during the first few months to make carrying infants in and out of the car easier. Generally, it is the carrier’s handle that makes this ease of movement possible. Unfortunately, the Britax company has received 74 reports of fractured, cracked, or broken handles – all of which occurred while the car seat was in use. In one, an infant allegedly suffered a bump to the head when the carrier fell to the ground.
Recommendations from Britax, CPSC, and NHTSA
Britax is offering a repair kit for all recalled car seats. To receive one, parents must have either already registered their car seat, or they must contact Britax by phone, email, or through the company website to register their car seat. Until the car seat is repaired, parents are advised to discontinue carrying the seat by the handle while the child is inside. Federal regulators and other authorities, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report that it is still safe for use inside the car and with the accompanying stroller.
Potential for Serious Injury Still Exists
Although no serious injuries have been reported yet, the risk exists and could involve fractured skulls, shaken baby syndrome, concussion, brain damage, death, and more. Part of this heightened risk of severe injury is due to the soft, still developing skulls of infants. The surface on which an infant falls can further increase the risk of severe injuries.
Child Injured by a Defective Product
Any defective infant product can severe or life-threatening injuries to young children, but car seats, high chairs, and other elevated products are the most common. If your infant has suffered any severe injury because of a defective product, you may be entitled to compensation. It is critical, however, that you contact a skilled defective product attorney for assistance.
The skilled Aurora product liability attorneys at Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Masur P.C. have successfully represented defective product victims throughout the state of Illinois for decades. We understand the complexities of such cases, and we understand how to effectively build a strong case against the powerful manufacturers of defective products. Contact our offices for a free initial consultation by calling 630-907-0909 today.
Sources:
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/CPSC-NHTSA-and-Britax-Announce-Recall-of-Infant-Car-Seats/
http://www.webmd.com/children/tc/head-injury-age-3-and-younger-topic-overview
