More than 500 children in Philadelphia and across the country have been strangled by window blind and window shade cords since 1980, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. That's an average of one child death per month due to unsafe or defective window blinds or shades. In 2007, an Ohio woman found her 16-month old toddler dead in his crib. Wrapped around his neck was the cord of a window shade she had purchased specifically because the box was labeled safe for children. The child's mother is one of many bereaved parents angry with an industry that has failed to address a serious defective product issue, despite its tragic personal injury record.
According to a recent Associated Press investigation, redesigns and recalls in the window shade and window blind industry haven't changed fatality figures much. Records kept by the advocacy group Parents for Window Blind Safety shows an average 14 deaths per year between 1990 and 2000. The group is concerned, however, about a disturbing recent rise in the fatality rate of window blind and window shade personal injury accidents. Since 2008, fatalities have increased to 17 deaths per year.
Despite numerous personal injury problems and a rising child death rate in Philadelphia and across the U.S., federal agencies have failed to regulate safety standards for the window blind and window shade industry. Federal law prevents the Consumer Product Safety Commission from setting mandatory safety standards for products even if voluntary standards fail to provide a safe product. Often manufacturers do not remedy safety defects in their defective products until personal injury lawyers win high-priced settlements that cause them financial duress. The Ohio woman whose baby was strangled by a window shade cord sued the manufacturer and seller of the defective product and did win a high-priced settlement.
If you have experienced personal injury from a defective product, consult a Philadelphia personal injury attorney for a free case evaluation.
