Product Liability Attorneys note a July 22, 2015 announcement from the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) regarding an IKEA dresser recall after two children were killed by what news reports describe as “deathtrap drawers” included with certain models of chests sold by the Swedish furniture maker. IKEA is giving away free fixes for the affected products, which have been purchased by approximately 27 million consumers.
If you have questions about the IKEA dresser recall, or if an IKEA dresser or drawer injured your child, contact Attorney Group for more information regarding your options. We offer free, no obligations consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you wish to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated product liability lawyer who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Important: The time you have to pursue a claim is limited. Contact us for more information.
CPSC: Chests and Drawers Pose an Entrapment Hazard
According to the CPSC, the affected products are the MALM style 3- and 4-drawer chests and two styles of the MALM 6-drawer chest, among other styles of chests and dressers. The chests and dressers can pose a tip-over hazard if not securely anchored to the wall.
The CPSC news release about the IKEA repair program states that:
Consumers should immediately stop using all IKEA children’s chests and dressers taller than 23 ½ inches and adult chests and dressers taller than 29 ½ inches, unless they are securely anchored to the wall. The free wall anchoring kit should be used to secure MALM and other IKEA chests and dressers to the wall.
The MALM chests that are part of the repair program were sold starting in 2002. The prices of the chests range from about $80 to $200.
Two Children Killed in Tip-over Accidents
According to CNN/Money, which described the drawers as “deathtraps,” two children have been killed in tip-over accidents involving the IKEA dressers:
In February 2014, a 2-year old boy from West Chester, Pennsylvania, died after an Ikea “Malm” six-drawer chest, measuring 48⅜ inches high, tipped over and pinned him between the drawers and his bed. And In June 2014, a 23-month old child from Snohomish, Washington, died after a 30¾ inch Malm chest of three drawers tipped over onto the child.
A child dies every two weeks and a child is injured every 24 minutes in the U.S. from furniture or TVs tipping over, according to CPSC data.
UPDATE: More Child Fatalities Results In Further IKEA MALM Recalls
Subsequent to the July 2015 announcement, CPSC and IKEA learned of additional tip-over incidents, including a February 2016 incident in which a 22-month-old boy died when a MALM 6-drawer chest fell on top of him. According to nytimes.com, this could bring the child death toll to seven as a result of tip-over accidents involving IKEA’s chests and dressers. As a result, IKEA announced that it is recalling 29 million chests and dressers in the United States.
The Chairman of the CPSC cautioned the public:
“If you have or think you have one of these products, act immediately. It is simply too dangerous to have the recalled furniture in your home unanchored, especially if you have young children.”
A child dies, on average, once every two weeks in accidents that involve the toppling of furniture or bulky television sets, according to the safety commission. Every year, about 38,000 people visit emergency rooms for injuries related to tip-over accidents, a majority involving children under five, the website reported.
Affected Families May be Entitled to Compensation
If a product is determined to be defective and unreasonably dangerous, the manufacturer can be held responsible for injuries caused by the product. Compensation that may be recovered by the families of children injured by a defective product include:
- Medical expenses incurred by the child
- Caregiving and rehabilitation costs
- Pain and suffered endured by the child
- Scarring caused by the injury or medical treatment
If a child dies because of a defective product, the family may be eligible to recover the following damages for caused by the wrongful death:
- Medical expenses incurred in connection with the fatal injury
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of relationship with the deceased child
- Mental anguish suffered by the family
Because of the complexities posed by product liability cases, anyone who suffers injury or whose child suffers injury caused by a defective product should seek qualified legal counsel to inform them of their rights.
Contact Us for More Information
If your child was injured by an IKEA product, or if you want more information about the IKEA dresser recall, contact Attorney Group for more information. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group today.
