Illinois Injury Law Blog

Before you head out for your holiday shopping in Chicago and surrounding areas, you might want to check out the list of recalled products on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's website to help you make wise decisions. The last thing consumers want is to purchase a toy or other gift only to find out later that it posed a danger that could cause personal injury or wrongful death in Chicago or elsewhere.

Defective-product injuries are complex and often require going head-to-head with large companies that retain powerful representatives. If you are ever involved in such a situation, consult with a qualified legal professional.

Illinois personal injury attorneys understand the potential risks that consumers take when purchasing gifts. There are thousands of defective toys and other products on the market that can cause serious injuries to children and adults alike. With a little research and intuitiveness, consumers can feel more at ease with the gift choices they are making.

Some recent recalled products posing potential hazards include:

Toulouse-LapTrec Magnetic Sketchboards: These items have been recalled for a choking hazard to small children. No injuries have been reported, but there have been 19 reports filed with the product's manufacturer, Battat Inc., regarding the magnetic tip separating from the pen. Roughly 95,000 of the sketchboards have been distributed in the U.S. and another 4,300 in Canada. Various online retailers have sold the units, as well as Target and Barnes & Noble stores nationwide from March 2010 to March 2011. If you have this product, don't allow children to use it and contact Battat Inc. to receive a replacement at no cost.

Disney Fairies Plastic Racing Trikes: This product, manufactured under the Disney license by Kiddieland Toys Limited, injured a 3-year-old who suffered a laceration to her face near an eye. The trike contains plastic fairy figures on the handle bar that pose a laceration danger if a child falls on it. The product has been remedied by enclosing the rotating display. If you have this item in your household, contact Kiddieland for a replacement.

General Electric Monogram® Pro Rangetop with Grill: There have been six reports of explosions from units using LP gas. There is a risk of delayed ignition or explosion when the gas control knob is left between off and lite. Approximately 470 units were sold from May 2008 through August 2011. For a full list of model and serial numbers being recalled, visit CPSC. If yours is on the list, two places to look for the model number and serial number on the grill are the bottom and behind the far left burner knob. If you have a defective product, contact GE to make an appointment for a free repair.

All consumers should be cautious of the gifts they are buying. Reduce the risk of injury by checking for product hazards before you buy.