Dangerous Toys: How To Reduce Monterey Personal Injury Risks

Parents, grandparents, and other loved ones go to great lengths to purchase items on their gift lists, but some of these may not be safe or age-appropriate. Our Monterey personal injury lawyer explains more about the hazards posed by dangerous toys and how to reduce the risks this holiday season.

Toys Have The Potential To Cause Personal Injuries

Children light up when they talk about the various toys on their wish list. However, parents and others in their lives need to use caution when making purchases. Unfortunately, not all of the items promoted for little ones are safe.

Dangerous and defective toys are so common and pose such serious personal injury risks that the non-profit group World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.) publishes a list of the ten most dangerous toys each holiday season. Among the items listed for 2023 include:

• Disney The Little Mermaid King Triton’s All-Powerful Trident, which poses a risk of blunt force and eye injuries;
• Original Squishmallows-Raisy, which poses suffocation risks;
• Soccer Boppers, which can cause bruises and other impact injuries;
• Diecast Fast-Food Truck, which contains small parts that pose choking hazards;
• Zoom-O Turbo Disc Launcher, which poses eye and other facial injury risks.

WATCH warns that dangerous toys send millions of children to hospital emergency rooms each year and can result in serious, potentially devastating personal injuries. This year, take extra precautions when making purchases. Buy toys from reputable vendors, read the instructions on the box, and make sure your child falls within the recommended age guidelines for use.

Precautions To Prevent Child Injuries

Fireplaces, burning candles, hot stoves, elaborate lighting displays, and other decor are all examples of items that can pose personal injury risks to children. The last thing you want to worry about is whether their toys are safe. You can help prevent accidents from happening by checking the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which maintains a list of dangerous toys and those subject to recalls.

Unfortunately, even if a particular toy is technically safe, it can still pose injury hazards if used improperly. Follow these tips when purchasing bikes, skates, skateboards, surfboards, scooters, or other sports and recreational equipment:

• Make sure the item is free from any obvious defects and constructed properly;
• Include helmets, protective pads, and other safety gear with your purchase;
• Make sure the child is supervised when using it, based on their age;
• Take the time to thoroughly explain how to use the item and get the child lessons, if needed.

Contact Our Monterey Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Despite taking precautions, personal injuries can still happen over the holidays. To protect your rights in filing a claim, contact the Allen Law Firm. Reach out and request a consultation with our Monterey personal injury lawyer today.

Sources:

toysafety.org/toy-safety/2023-10-worst-toy-list/

cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Holiday-Safety#:~:text=Keep%20small%20balls%20and%20toys,before%20they%20become%20dangerous%20playthings.