Ikea issues product recalls after child deaths

On behalf of Steven Crell of Steve Crell Law posted in Personal Injury on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.

Indiana parents should be aware that Ikea has issued a recall of at least 29 million dressers and chests following the deaths of three children. The recalled items, from the Swedish retailer’s “Malm” furniture series, can topple over if not anchored to the wall. In a statement on June 27, the president of Ikea USA said the company will no longer sell “Malm” furniture products and urged consumers to remove them from their rooms. Owners of the recalled items will be offered free repair kits to anchor the defective dressers and chests to the wall. Refunds will also be available.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a child visits the emergency room every 24 minutes due to injuries resulting from a falling television or other furniture item. A child dies every two weeks. The mother of a 2-year-old boy killed by Ikea furniture in 2014 is trying to raise consumer awareness about the dangers of unanchored dressers and chests. She says she was unaware of the risk until she found her son crushed beneath a chest in his bedroom.

Safety advocates say children often climb dressers to reach items on top, causing the unit to fall over. Ikea began an anchor campaign last year to educate consumers, sending out 300,000 anchoring kits. However, the CPSC pushed the company to take the defective dressers and chests off the market.

People who are injured by defective products may want to think about filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault manufacturer or distributor. As product liability law is complex, it may be advisable to have the assistance of an attorney when pursuing such a claim.

Source: NBC News, “After 3 Deaths, Ikea Recalls Millions of Dangerous Dressers,” Tom Costello and Tim Stelloh, June 28, 2016