Here in New York, we are no strangers to cold, wet weather. Especially as the year draws to an end and winter comes ever closer, more and more people will be breaking out their coats and sweaters to combat the dropping temperatures. For children who have grown since this time last year, many parents will likely be purchasing new clothes to help the youngsters stay warm and relatively dry, but even hoodie purchases can be dangerous.
We often talk about the dangers of defective products, and how a seemingly safe, normal product can cause serious issues, and this idea has recently been reinforced because of a line of hoodies created by the James Trading Group. Their Croker Kids Ireland hoodies allegedly pose a risk of strangulation due to a drawstring around the neck. While no incidents have been reported in relation to the hazard, a recall is still being issued in order to prevent any serious strangulations or neck injuries.
Consumers are encouraged to avoid the green, blue and white hoodies, and those who have purchased the product may return them for a full refund. This is a very proactive approach to the safety hazard by the James Trading Group, and it is comforting to know that at least one company is willing to issue a product recall before serious injuries force their hands.
Even though this recall is not associated with any injuries or incidents, it is a perfect example of the dangers of certain products and why a product liability case can be so important. A hoodie with a drawstring around the neck does not seem particularly harmful until that string is caught in an elevator door or playground slide, suddenly tightening around a child’s neck. These injuries cannot usually be predicted, which is why victims are encouraged to seek legal aid in filing a product liability lawsuit if they are injured by a defective product.
Source: Washington Post, “Children’s hoodies recalled for possible strangulation risk,” Sep. 4, 2015