On March 19, 2020, Thule Group issued a recall for the Thule Sleek Car Seat Adapters. According to the recall, number 20-096, the plastic brackets on the car seat adapter can break; this represents a fall risk to infants. The recall has affected approximately 1,430 units in the U.S.
The recall specifically includes the Thule Sleek Car Seat Adapter used to facilitate placement of a Chicco car seat on the Thule Sleek stroller. The adapter is metal and has two black plastic brackets that clips onto the stroller. The recall only includes the adapter with product number 11000301 (printed on a sticker on the adapter’s plastic bracket). The UPC code associated with the recalled product is 091021188099.
According to the recall, the company has received at least three reports of the brackets breaking or cracking during use; however, the company claims that no injuries have been reported. The recalled car seat adapters were sold for approximately $60 each at REI, Buy Buy Baby, and other stores around the nation. The car seat adapters were also sold online via Thule.com and Amazon.com. The car seat adapters were available from December 2018 to February 2020.
The company is urging all consumers to stop using the recalled car seat adapters and contact them to either arrange a return, a refund, or a replacement. Should you follow these suggestions? Although the company claims that no injuries have been reported, it is possible that there have been unreported incidents. Consumers that were directly affected because of the defective products should not follow the company recommendations. Instead, they should explore the possibility of taking legal action against the company that negligently made the defective products available to the public.
If you would like to learn more about your right to pursue a product liability claim for the harm suffered due to a defective product, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm as soon as possible. Normandie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm with many years of experience handling all sorts of claims – including product liability claims. Our lawyers are not afraid to go up against the companies that negligently harm consumers. If you would like the experts at our law firm to evaluate your claim and provide you with the information that you need to file a lawsuit against Thule Group or any other company, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our firm at your earliest convenience.
The Danger Associated with the Defective Product
As mentioned above, the plastic brackets on the car seat adapters can break, resulting in a fall risk to infants. Infants are among the most fragile beings, and any fall could cause devastating injuries. If the defective car seat adapter suddenly malfunctions and the infant falls, the infant could suffer a number of injuries. The injuries that infants could suffer if they experience a fall associated with the defective product could include some of the following:
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken arms/legs
- Pelvic/hip injuries
- Sprains/strains
- Lacerations
Without a doubt, it is possible for infants to survive some of these injuries. However, it is possible that some of these injuries create life-long issues. For example, broken bones at such a young age can potentially resort in loss of mobility. Likewise, a brain injury could result in developmental delays, for example. Regardless of the specific harm suffered, it is important to understand that the harm could have been avoided – the harm only happened because of the defective product. Because of this, the company that contributed to the harm that your child suffered could be held accountable.
Understanding Product Liability and the Right to Sue
In general, if a defective product causes harm to a consumer, the company that made the defective product available could be held accountable for all the harm suffered. This is based on product liability. That is, all companies have a duty of care towards their consumers. They have the duty to ensure that their products are completely safe for consumers to use. Products must be subject to tests and inspections which allow companies to identify and address any hazards present – this ensures that products are safe when they reach consumers. However, it is common for companies to fail to ensure the safety of their products. When companies fail to take the necessary actions to keep their products safe, they are breaching their duty of care and putting their consumers at risk of injury. As previously mentioned, if the harm that a consumer suffers can be directly associated with a defect (or a breach of duty), the company could be liable. Therefore, affected consumers could sue at-fault companies. If you would like to learn more about product liability and your right to pursue a claim, do not hesitate to contact our law firm at your earliest convenience.
What Should You Do?
After you or a member of your family suffers harm associated with a defective product, you should do the following:
- Seek medical attention
- Take photos of any visible injuries suffered
- Take photos of the defective product
- Contact the company
- Report the incident and the harm suffered
- Report the defect present in the product
- Do not agree to return the defective product
- Do not agree to a free repair
- Do not agree to a free replacement
- Do not agree to a refund or to store credit
- Speak to any witnesses present at the time of the incident (collect their contact information)
- Gather any surveillance footage that might have captured the incident
- Gather all medical records relevant to the harm suffered
- Gather all records associated with the purchase of the product (including order receipts, confirmations, bank statements, etc.)
- Seek legal assistance immediately
Why is following these steps so important? When you follow the recommendations listed above, you are essentially doing everything necessary to prepare to pursue your claim. You are gathering all the tools necessary to sue the company liable for the harm that you suffered. If you would like to learn more about the importance of following the steps listed above, do not hesitate to contact our experts at your earliest convenience.
You Could Be Awarded Monetary Compensation
If your claim is successful, you might have grounds to recover monetary compensation. The type and amount of compensation that you are eligible to receive will always depend on the details surrounding your claim. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your claim, you might be eligible to recover compensation for all or some of the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral and burial costs
- Property damage
- Punitive damages
For more information about the type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to receive, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with our experts at your earliest convenience. Our lawyers are ready to aggressively fight for your right to recover the highest amount of compensation available for your claim.
The Statute of Limitations
Although you might have the right to pursue a defective product claim, you might lose your right to sue if you fail to file your claim within the appropriate length of time. This is because all claims are subject to a statute of limitations. A statute of limitations determines the total length of time that claimants have to file their claims. If claimants do not file their claims on time, they will lose their right to sue. What deadline applies to your claim? In California, product liability claims are typically subject to a two-year statute of limitations, meaning that they only have two years to pursue their claims.
However, it is important that all claimants understand that certain exceptions could apply (based on the details surrounding the claim). For instance, if the victim is in a coma, the statute of limitations will be tolled. Similarly, if the victim is mentally incompetent, the statute of limitations will be tolled until the victim regains mental competency. In cases involving children, the statute of limitations could be tolled until the victim becomes a legal adult.
Because the statute of limitations is so important to maintaining the right to sue, it is essential that you have a thorough understanding of the deadline that applies to your claim. If you would like to learn more about the total length of time that you have to sue, do not hesitate to contact our law firm today.
Contact Normandie Law Firm Today
At Normandie Law Firm, our firm is dedicated to providing all claimants with the legal assistance necessary to hold liable parties or entities accountable for the harm that they negligently cause. To remain accessible and facilitate the process, our firm offers free legal services – which include free consultations and free second opinions. During our free consultations and free second opinions, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns – providing you with all the information that you might need to begin or continue your product liability lawsuit. If you are ready to benefit from our free legal services, do not hesitate to contact our firm today.
Our firm also offers a Zero-Fee guarantee. Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that our clients will never have to worry about paying any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Our firm is also strictly based on contingency; therefore, our clients will not be required to pay anything until their claims are successful. If you do not win, you will not be required to pay anything whatsoever.
Are you ready to discuss your product liability claim with the experts at our firm? If so, do not hesitate to contact us at your earliest convenience. Our lawyers are ready to provide you with the representation that you need to pursue your claim and recover the compensation that you deserve.
