Infants spend the majority of their time in their cribs and most parents would assume that it would be a safe space for their child. However, when a crib is designed or manufactured defectively, children are put at-risk for serious injuries or death.
If your child has been injured in a crib accident, contact Mike Agruss Law for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, Mike Agruss Law is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.
Federal Crib Requirements
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) creates and regulates crib safety standards that federal law requires crib designers and manufacturers adhere to. Cribs that do not meet these standards are not only in violation of the law, but they can be dangerous to your child.
Some of the CPSC requirements for cribs include:
- Crib slats must not have more than 2 3/8” distance between them.
- Crib slats may not be loose or missing.
- Decorative corners may not extend more than 1/16” above the corner post.
- Crib headboard and/or footboard may not have odd or sharp cut-outs that could snag a child’s clothing or trap body parts.
- Crib paint may not be lead-based.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents ensure that the crib they are planning on using for their child meets these federal requirements. Older cribs and cribs used in daycare facilities may not meet the most current up-to-date requirements and should not be used.
The AAP also recommends that parents and caregivers follow these precautions when laying a child down in a crib to prevent serious injuries or death:
- Use a tight-fitting mattress that leaves no spaces between the mattress and the crib.
- Keep pillows, toys, comforters, and crib bumpers out of a crib.
- Keep the crib away from windows, window coverings, and shelves.
- Always lay your child on their back to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Crib Accident Liability
Liability in crib accidents will depend on the circumstances of the accident. Crib designers, manufacturers, or anyone that distributed the crib and/or its’ component parts may be held liable if their crib is defective or dangerous and caused injuries or death to a child.
A plaintiff has the burden of proof to show that they were using the crib in the manner intended when their child was injured and that a defect was the cause of the injury. A manufacturer may also be found liable if it can be shown that they failed to warn consumers of the risk of danger in using their product under strict liability.
Parents whose child was injured or tragically killed in a crib accident have the right to compensation for the damages they sustained. This includes typical personal injury damages such as medical bills, continued rehabilitation care, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of earning potential, loss of consortium, and wrongful death to name a few.
If your child was injured in a crib accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss your case and determine who may be at-fault for their injuries and what compensation they may be entitled to.
We at Mike Agruss Law are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, especially when you or a loved one has been injured, and we are fully committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that the other party is held legally accountable when negligence occurs. We will fight until the very end to ensure that you are fully compensated for all injuries and losses resulting from the accident, including medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and you won’t owe us a dime for our services.
We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at work we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at Mike Agruss Law, we put People, First.
Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 900 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 120 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at [email protected], or schedule meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.
