Birmingham Crib Accident Lawyers
Has your infant or toddler been injured in a crib accident or perished from their crib-related injuries? Tragically, despite changes in federal safety regulations for crib manufacturers that took effect in 2011, injuries from crib accidents still account for more infant deaths than any other piece of nursery equipment.
Parents understandably believe they are placing their innocent infant in a safe and secure sleeping environment, and instead, the unthinkable happens. When they bring their child to a daycare facility or a nursery, they have a right to assume that those responsible for caring for children in that setting have selected cribs that meet safety regulations, are properly put together and maintained, and that staff members are following safe sleeping instructions.
The Birmingham child injury lawyers of Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP are outraged that crib accidents are happening to Birmingham families who are embarking on a hopeful and bright future for their children. We fight every day for the innocent, and offer free consultations for parents whose children have suffered crib accidents so that we can review your case and determine whether we can get you just compensation for your tragedy and loss.
No amount of compensation can make up for the loss of a child. Holding those responsible accountable for their actions and requiring them to pay just and fair compensation may help and might cause them to take their responsibilities to Birmingham children seriously. If your baby is facing a medical recovery from crib-related injuries that could have been prevented, you deserve to be compensated for those medical costs.
Book a free consultation through our website or call one of our Birmingham personal injury lawyers at (205) 324-1212 today.
Do I Need a Birmingham Crib Accident Lawyer?
Parents of children who have suffered a crib accident are understandably emotional. You may not want to focus on anything other than either helping your child recover from their crib accident or grieving if your child passed as a result of their crib-related injuries.
At Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP, we believe you should be able to focus on those things, too. We also believe that if your child’s crib injury or death could have been prevented, those responsible for not exercising the care and caution necessary to prevent your child’s crib accident should be held accountable. It is our job to seek compensation for you as a part of that accountability.
It can be challenging to determine liability and pursue accountability in a Birmingham crib accident. The circumstances of the accident will determine who is liable for your child’s crib accident or if several parties are liable. For example, if the crib was defective, the experienced Birmingham crib accident lawyers at Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP may pursue the crib manufacturer under a product liability claim.
If your child’s injury was due to a defective crib, it’s likely the crib manufacturer’s insurance company will try to contact you and offer you an insurance settlement. It is also likely that this offer will be far less than you are entitled to for your loss or for your child’s current and future medical needs. If your child narrowly survived being choked in a crib’s bars or being suffocated by a crib bumper, they may experience long-term learning difficulties or even cerebral palsy.
With the trauma of the experience so fresh, you may be distracted and tempted to accept the offer “just to get it over with” and move on. We agree that you should be able to focus on your family and your child’s recovery from their crib accident injuries. That’s why you should seek help from the experienced and compassionate crib accident legal team at Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP.
Any long-term learning and medical issues will require significant resources. Not only can it change your ability to continue to hold down a job at the same level to support your child, but your child’s future income earning potential is forever changed. How is it fair that those at fault can get away with offering the least amount possible while you and your child continue to struggle?
Rest assured, our experienced and competent lawyers will conduct a thorough investigation to uncover all parties responsible for your child’s crib accident and pursue the appropriate legal course of action for each one. We do this for families all around Birmingham and Alabama. We do it because we have children and grandchildren of our own. We, too, have trusted crib designers, manufacturers, nurseries, daycares, and caregivers to uphold their responsibilities to make safe cribs and create safe sleeping places for our children.
Don’t speak to any insurance company without contacting us at (205) 324-1212 first. We deal with insurance companies across Alabama and the United States every day. They know that we are not afraid to take our well-researched facts and march into a courtroom in pursuit of justice for Birmingham children and families. That’s not what they want.
What we want is fair and just compensation for your child, and we won’t rest until we get it. You may also be facing a deadline under Alabama law, called a statute of limitations, that governs how long you have to file a lawsuit in certain cases, so don’t wait any longer. At Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP, you don’t pay us until we get compensation for you.
Causes of Birmingham Crib Accidents
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, over 9500 children under age two suffer injuries each year from cribs, bassinets, or playpens, with the majority of those injuries happening in cribs. Based on this shockingly high number, the organization cautions that “greater efforts are needed to ensure safety in the design and manufacture of these products.”
The Alabama Department of Public Health reports that 36 children died in sleep-related deaths in 2016. The report went on to say that many of the deaths could have been prevented had their caregivers followed safe sleeping practices. Among those practices are proper crib assembly, not putting bumpers or soft items in the crib, and not putting the crib near window blinds or curtains, which puts children at risk of getting tangled in the cords.
Caregivers often use baby bumpers because they believe the risk of a child bumping their head, getting their arms and legs caught in the crib rails, or possibly getting their head between the rails is more dangerous. However, research shows that the risk of a child suffocating from a crib bumper is greater than a serious injury from bumping their head or getting their arms and legs caught. A crib with rails spaced far enough to allow a baby’s head to get caught is outdated and should not be used.
Despite revised federal regulations governing crib design and manufacturing, defective cribs still make it to the market and into families’ homes every day. In 2017, Alabama Child Death Review researchers found the majority of child sleep-related deaths occurred with the child “not sleeping on a recommended sleep surface (such as a crib or bassinet).”
Regulators are updating guidelines as manufacturer recalls continue to happen all too frequently. Yet what happens if daycares, church nurseries, or other child caregiver operations continue to use these recalled cribs even after they are recalled? They may not want to incur the expense of replacing a defective crib, so they are willing to gamble with your child’s health and safety instead. Other parties may sell these recalled cribs to unsuspecting families.
Additionally, Birmingham children can suffer crib accidents from cribs poorly or improperly put together. Bolts and screws that stick out can cause serious crib accident injuries in babies and young children.
What To Do If Your Child Suffers a Birmingham Crib Accident
First and foremost, if your child suffers a crib accident, get them the medical attention they need. When doing so, be sure to get the names and contact information of everyone on your child’s medical team, from any emergency first responders to the emergency room physician and nurses. Take notes and keep all of the medical records and receipts.
Once you have the opportunity, take detailed photos of your child’s crib inside and out. Be sure to include the make and model of the crib. If you know where the crib was purchased, whether from a store, website, or individual, collect that information and keep it with your other records.
If applicable, interview any witnesses, getting their names and numbers as well, and taking detailed notes.
Do not speak to anyone’s insurance company about the incident. Instead, call the experienced Birmingham child injury lawyers at Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP as soon as possible. If we detect negligence in your child’s crib accident case, we can determine what type of case to pursue and against what parties.
Don’t Wait Any Longer, Call Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP Today
The sooner you call us at (205) 324-1212 to set up your free consultation, the faster one of our personal injury specialists can review the facts of your case and begin an investigation.
It’s to our advantage to speak to any witnesses to your child’s Birmingham crib accident while facts are still fresh in their minds. Our legal team has been championing Birmingham children for years, and as long as children are still being injured in crib accidents due to the negligence and carelessness of others, we won’t stop. Contact us today.
