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Defective Car Seat Lawsuit

Defective Car Seat Lawsuit

Car seats and booster seats are supposed to protect babies from injury and death in a car accident, but in recent years, over 6 million defective car seats were recalled and less than half were repaired.

What You Can Do & How a Car Seat Lawsuit Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting defective car seat injury cases in all 50 states. If your child or somebody you know was injured, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

UPDATE: 59,000 Car Seats Recalled

In March 2023, Dorel recalled about 59,450 Safety 1st and Maxi-Cosi car seats because they may not properly restrain a child in a crash, which increases the risk of injury and death.

The problem is that “the lower seat anchors used to secure the child seat base may fail, allowing the child seat to detach,” according to the recall.

The car seats have manufactured dates ranging from May 1, 2020, to February 28, 2023. The following brand and models are included:

  • IC313 Maxi Cosi Coral Xp Car Seat
  • IC335 Maxi Cosi Infant Car Seat Base
  • IC336 Maxi Cosi Mico Xp Max Infant Car Seat
  • IC337 Maxi Cosi Mico Xp Max Infant Car Seat
  • IC338 Maxi Cosi Mico Xp Max Infant Car Seat
  • IC351 Safety 1st Onboard 35 Securetech Car Seat
  • IC370 Maxi Cosi Mico Luxe + Infant Car Seat
  • IC372 Safety 1st Securetech Infant Car Seat Base

The recall also involves some car seat and stroller travel systems, including:

  • TR416 Maxi Cosi Gia Xp Travel System W/Mico Xp
  • TR427 Maxi Cosi Zelia 2 Max Travel System Mxp
  • TR428 Maxi Cosi Tayla Travel System W/Mico Xp
  • TR430 Maxi Cosi Adorra Travel System W/Mico Xp
  • TR433 Maxi Cosi Tayla Xp Travel Sys W/Coral Xp
  • TR434 Maxi Cosi Mara Xt Travel Sys W/ Coral Xp

Diono Recalls Booster Seats for Injury Risk

In March 2021, Diono recalled nearly 7,000 Cambria 2 Booster Seats because the headrest can crack or break off fail to protect a child from injury in the event of a crash.

Evenflo Booster Seat Lawsuits

January 2020 — Evenflo is facing multiple lawsuits involving children who were severely injured in the Big Kid booster seat, which critics say is not safe for children under 40 pounds, according to an investigative report by ProPublica. Experts are questioning the side-impact safety of the seat, as well as labeling that claims the booster is safe for children who weigh as little as 30 pounds.

Graco Recalls 25,000 Car Seats

In June 2017, Graco voluntarily recalled over 25,000 “My Ride 65” car seats sold in the summer of 2014 after the harness webbing broke in two crash-tests. Click here to read more.

NHTSA Car Seat Recall List

Federal safety authorities provide a list of car seat recalls on the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The list only includes recalls that occurred in the last decade.

What is the problem?

In the last few years, over 10 million defective car seats have been recalled. Problems include poor manufacturing with sub-par materials, inadequate crash-testing, and sticky buckles that are impossible to open in an emergency. Unfortunately, recalls are usually only issued after a child is injured — and in some cases, manufacturers have resisted recalling car seats with known safety risks.

If your child was injured in a defective car seat, you have a right to seek financial compensation and justice from the manufacturer. Our lawyers specialize in product liability cases involving severe injuries or wrongful deaths. We understand that many of our clients are suffering devastating losses. This is why we typically work on contingency-fee — meaning you pay nothing unless we achieve a financial recovery on your behalf.

Recaro Recalls Performance, ProRide Car Seats

In September 20156, Recaro Child Safety, LLC recalled over 173,000 Performance and ProRide car seats because the top tether can come loose and fail to protect a child in a car crash.

Britax Recalls ClickTight Car Seats

In August 2015, Britax recalled about 200,000 ClickTight Advocate, Boulevard, and Marathon car seats because a sticky button could allow the shoulder straps to loosen.

Graco Car Seat Recall Results in $10 Million Fine

In April 2015, after delaying a recall of about 4 million car seats with defective buckles, federal safety officials have ordered Graco to pay at least i$10 million in fines and steps to improve child safety. The fine was a result of a federal safety investigation into a 5-year delay in Graco’s recall of 6 million car seats with defective buckles that may get stuck and be impossible to open in an emergency. Click here to read more.

Safety 1st Car Seat Injury Lawsuit

In August 2014, Dorel Juvenile Group, the world’s largest car seat manufacturer, was hit with a lawsuit (PDF) from a woman who alleges that the “Safety 1st” car seat has defective buckle that caused her child’s death. Click here to read more.

Graco Car Seat Recall

In July 2014, Graco yielded under pressure from federal safety authorities and will recall 1.9 million infant car seats with buckles that can get progressively stickier over time and may be impossible to open in an emergency. Click here to read more. Click here to read more.

Recalled Graco infant car seats include:

  • SnugRide, SnugRide Classic Connect
  • SnugRide 30, SnugRide Classic Connect 30
  • SnugRide 35, SnugRide Classic Connect 35
  • SnugRide Click Connect 40
  • Aprica A30

Click here for a complete list of recalled car seats.

May 6, 2014 — The New York Times reports that Graco is facing increasing pressure from the NHTSA to recall infant car safety seats that have a buckle the agency says is defective. The NHTSA has ordered a series of tests to see how long a malfunctioning buckle would delay freeing an infant during an emergency. Click here to read more.

April 16, 2014 — On top of a recall involving 6 million car seats manufactured by Graco and Evenflo, Baby Trend is recalling 16,000 of the “TrendZ FastBack” 3-in-1 car seats because defective buckles on the harness can get stuck, making it difficult or impossible to remove a child from the car seat in an emergency. Click here to read more.

Car Seats With Stuck Buckles Linked to Death

Graco and Evenflo have recalled nearly 6 million child car seats because they have a defective buckle that can get progressively stickier from food and beverages. In an emergency (such as a car accident, fire, vehicle submersion, or medical problem), it may be difficult or impossible to remove the child from the car seat. At least one death — a 2 year-old girl who died in a fire — was blamed on the buckle in a Graco Nautilus car seat.

Car Seat Defects & Safety Hazards

  • Weak shell
  • Defective handle
  • Sticky buckle
  • Flammable material
  • Base/shell separation
  • Defective construction
  • Sudden release
  • Defective harness
  • Unintended rotation
  • And more

Do I have a Car Seat Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting defective car seat injury cases in all 50 states. If your child or somebody you know was injured, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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