Pritzker Olsen Attorneys

Child Safety Lawyers

Our law firm has recovered money for injured children and their families. Our role as child safety lawyers is to hold wrongdoers accountable for the harms and losses they cause.

We are a national law firm, and attorneys at our firm have been interviewed and quoted by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Lawyers USA and others.

Attorneys Fred Pritzker, Elliot Olsen and Eric Hageman were named "Super Lawyers" by Minnesota Law & Politics (August 2009). Fred Pritzker is listed in the current issues of The Best Lawyers in America, is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, is a certified Civil Trial Specialists by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and has been elected to the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocacy.

To contact Pritzker Olsen law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free), email Attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online form for a free consultation.

Our lawyers represent children injured in accidents and children injured by defective products, including contaminated food (see E. coli HUS and Children) and defective children's products.

Child Safety Information

Below is child safety information on the following:

  • Daycare Death and Bodily Injury
  • Crib Strangulation and Suffocation
  • Baby Sling and Carrier Suffocation and Falls
  • Strangulations Involving Other Products
  • Suffocations Involving Other Products
  • Magnet Ingestion
  • Scalds and Burns
  • Choking
  • Drowning
  • Poisoning

Daycare Death or Bodily Injury

Daycare centers are liable for any harm that comes to a child under their care. In some cases, the daycare is run by one business and the daycare facility is owned by another. Both companies can be liable, depending on the facts of the case. Read about daycare death and a lawyer for an investigation and lawsuit and the recent Mankato, MN daycare death of Hannah Kozitza.

Crib Strangulation and Suffocation

Crib Strangulation: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises particularly against cribs with decorative corner posts that protrude above the crib edge, which can snag clothing and pacifier cords while infants climb up the corner areas of the crib to stand. (The CPSC recommends NEVER tying a pacifier around a child’s neck for these reasons.)

To prevent your baby from getting strangled on a crib corner post:

  1. Get rid of decorative knobs.
  2. Cornerposts should project no more than 1/16 of an inch above end panel.
  3. Check the CPSC children's product recall list to make sure your crib has not been recalled.

Crib Suffocation: Crib suffocation is one of the biggest hazards prompting crib recalls. Crib suffocation happens most often under circumstances where babies become trapped in a space between the mattress and side rail of the crib, often because hardware fails and the side rail becomes detached. Many reported baby deaths involving cribs have been drop-side crib deaths.

To prevent your baby from being suffocated while in his or her crib:

  1. Tighten all nuts, bolts, and screws periodically.
  2. Whenever crib is moved, be sure all mattress support hangers are secure.
  3. Check hooks regularly to be sure non are broken or bent. Open hooks may allow the mattress to fall.
  4. Use a crib which meets Federal Safety Standards and Industry Voluntary Standards for cribs and has a firm tight-fitting mattress.
  5. Check the CPSC children's product recall list to make sure your crib has not been recalled.

Baby Sling and Carrier Suffocations and Falls

Our law firm is representing a 3-month-old Cincinnati, Ohio baby whose suffocation death was allegedly associated with the use of a sling-style infant carrier, the Infantino SlingRider.

Child safety lawyer Fred Pritzker recently filed a report with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regarding this death. A few weeks later, on Friday, March 12, the CPSC issued an official warning regarding the risk to babies of suffocation associated with infant sling use.

Read our response to the CPSC warning and call for recalls of certain baby slings -- Baby Sling Death Lawyer Press Release >>

There have been several other allegations of positional asphyxia (suffocation due to the air passageways being closed when the baby's head is pushed into the baby's chest) involving baby slings that look like duffle bags.

In addition, falls from baby slings and carriers have resulted in head injuries, including skull fractures and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

We would recommend the following to protect your baby when using a baby sling or carrier:

  1. Use your baby sling or carrier according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  2. Do not use old baby slings or carriers.
  3. Before purchasing, check how wide the leg openings are, if there are any, to see if a baby could slip through (it has happened).
  4. Before purchasing, try test it out to see if a baby's head will be pushed into his or her chest.
  5. Before purchasing, try test it out to see if a baby's face could be forced into the fabric, which would present a suffocation hazard.
  6. Before purchasing, try test it out to see if a baby could easily fall.
  7. If your sling or carrier brakes, throw it out.
  8. Periodically check out the CPSC children's product recall list to make sure your baby sling or carrier has not been recalled.

Strangulations Involving Other Products

Window Shade and Blind Cords: According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, since 1990, more than 200 infants and young children have died from accidentally strangling in window cords. CPSC recommends using cordless window coverings in homes with young children. If you are not able to replace your window coverings, to prevent your child from being strangled by a window blind cord, either 1) cut the cord above the tassel, remove the equalizer buckle, and add a separate tassel at the end of each cord; or 2) cut the cord above the tassel, remove the equalizer buckle, and add a breakaway tassel which will separate if a child becomes entangled in the loop. To prevent inner cords from benig pulled into a loop, install cord stops as shown at www.windowcoverings.org/how_to_retrofit.html - and, for basic publications visit www.windowcoverings.org.

Crib Toys. To prevent baby strangulation by a crib toy, remove all crib toys which are strung across crib or playpen area when your child is beginning to push up on hands or knees or is 5 months of age, whichever occurs first.

Strollers. NEVER leave a child unattended in a stroller because the child may slip into a leg opening, become entrapped by the head, and die. Check the CPSC children's product recall list to make sure your stroller has not been recalled.

Bunk Beds: Children have died from strangulation when entrapped in the guardrail and from collapse of the mattress foundation. Make sure your child's bunk bed meets the federal safety standards.

Toy Chests: A spring-loaded lid-support device can keep a lid from falling on a child's neck or from closing and trapping a child playing inside the chest. This device should be used on all chests that store toys. Check the CPSC children's product recall list to make sure your toy chest has not been recalled.

Strings, Cords, and Necklaces: NEVER tie pacifiers or other items around your child's neck.  Shirts and jackets recalled due to strangulation risk. Strings, cords, necklaces, and other items tied around the neck can strangle infants. In recent years, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received reports of two to three deaths annually to children under two years old who were strangled by strings, cords, ribbons, or necklaces around their necks. Most of the deaths involved pacifiers tied around the child's neck. Many of the others involved necklaces. Usually, the string, cord, or necklace became caught on some product such as a crib or playpen. In other cases, the string or cord became tightly wrapped or twisted around the child's neck.

Suffocations involving other products

Infant Cushions: Suffocation Hazard CPSC banned the infant cushion in 1992. Destroy any infant cushions still in consumers' homes. In 1992, the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned infant cushions that were involved in 36 infant suffocations. The Commission took action previously to remove existing products from the marketplace and from consumers. The CPSC's action stemmed from the concern that other manufacturers might begin production of the same or simi-lar products. A ban of infant cushions can assure that this product does not reappear into the marketplace. A death that occurred two years after the initial recall announcement underscores that infant cushions not destroyed may find their way back into infant use at a later date.

Air Mattresses: Never place infants to sleep on air mattresses. Since 2002, CPSC has received reports of 16 tragic deaths, mostly infants younger than 8 months of age who were placed to sleep on air mattresses: 11 suffocated in a face down position on an air mattress and 5 died due to suffocation after falling into gaps between the mattress and bed frame and mattress and adjacent furniture or wall. Even properly inflated air mattresses are usually too soft for infants to maintain a clear airway.

Beds: The CPSC has reports of more than 100 deaths of children under age 2, most from suffocation, associated with features of adult beds. These deaths involve an entrapment, a fall, or a situation in which bedding or the position of the child was related to the death. Nearly all of the children, 98%, were babies under 1 year old.

Mesh-Sided Playpens: Defective playpens may not lock securely and may collapse. Parents should always check to make sure the sides of a collapsible playpen are secure before use. If one side unintentionally collapses, the lowered position forms a hazardous "pocket" or "gap" that the baby may become entrapped in and suffocate. Read more about baby suffocation.

Ingested Magnets and Intestinal Damage or Death

Small magnets, like those found in magnetic building sets and other toys, can kill children if two or more are swallowed. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is aware of at least 33 cases of children being injured from ingesting magnets. A 20 month-old died, and at least 19 other children from 10 months to 11 years old required surgery to remove ingested magnets. In many cases, magnets had fallen out of larger components of toys.

If two or more magnets or magnetic components or a magnet and another metal object (such as a small metal ball) are swallowed separately, they can attract to one another through intestinal walls. This traps the magnets in place and can cause holes (perforations), twisting and/or blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning (sepsis), and death. When multiple magnets are ingested surgery is required to remove the magnets and sometimes sections of the intestines need to be removed.

Scalds and burns

Tap Water Scalds: Tap water can scald a child in seconds. Anti-scald devices are available at hardware stores. These devises can keep water temperature below 120 degrees Farenheit to help prevent scald burns. Set water heater temperature at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If your child is scalded in a hotel or motel shower, you may have a claim for damages.

Fires: Each year children are burned in fires they started with a cigarette lighter. Child resistant cigarette lighters, which makes it more difficult for a child to ignite the lighter, cost pennies. If your child is burned in a fire, you may have a claim against a landlord, a homeowner, a manufacturer or others.

Chokings

Balloons and Marbles/Small Balls: Choking/Suffocation Hazard Do NOT allow children under the age of six to play with uninflated balloons without supervision. Immediately collect the pieces of broken balloons and dispose of them out of the reach of young children. Keep small balls and other smooth round objects away from those who have a tendency to put such objects in their mouths.

Rattles: Choking/Suffocation Hazard Avoid rattles, squeeze toys, teethers and other toys with ball-shaped ends. Choose handles too large to lodge in a baby's throat.  Rattles intended as decorations do not meet safety guidelines and should never be given to a child to play with.

Toys: Every year there are a number of toy recalls because small parts can break away and find their way into the mouths of babies and young children. If your child has choked on a toy part, you may have a claim against the toy manufacturer.

Food: Food children love, such as hot dogs and grapes, can pose choking hazards. Cut food up in small enough pieces that your child can't choke. If a child chokes at a daycare, you may have a claim against the daycare center and others. See daycare death lawyer.

Drowning

Baby Bathtub Seats: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is aware of 66 deaths associated with baby bath seats or rings since 1983. These bath rings usually contain three or four legs with suction cups that attach to the bottom of the tub. However, the suction cups may suddenly release allowing the bath ring and baby to tip over. A baby may also slip between the legs of the bath ring and become trapped under it. Do not rely on these devices to keep baby safe in the bath. Parents or other attendants must never leave a baby alone in these bath support rings. Even turning away to answer the doorbell or telephone could result in injury or drowning of the baby.

5-Gallon Buckets, Bathtubs, Toilets, Baby Bathtub Supporting Rings, and Diaper Pails:

  1. NEVER, even for a moment, leave your child unattended near water.
  2. Keep small children away from buckets, toilets, and other containers of water.
  3. Supervise young children at all times in the bathtub.

Swimming Pools: A swimming pool should have a fence or barrier surrounding all four sides with self-closing and self-latching gates. If the house is part of the barrier, all doors leading from the house to the pools should be protected with an alarm. 

Poisoning

Lead Poisoning: If your child has lead poisoning, the most likely source is lead paint on the walls or ceiling of your residence; however, furniture, toys and other products can also have lead paint.  And imported candy, baby bibs, makeup and other products have been recalled due to high lead content.  There have also been cases of lead poisoning in children associated with home remedies.

E. Coli Poisoning: Children are at high risk of developing life-threatening complications from an E. coli O157:H7 infection, one of which is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). E. coli HUS in children can lead to kidney failure, pancreatitis, heart problems, brain damage and death. If your child has a positive E. coli culture, it is critical that further testing is done to determine if the E. coli involved is E. coli O157:H7 and to get a genetic fingerprint of the E. coli O157:H7 serotype to match it to other cases around the country. Your child's legal rights to medical bill payments, pain and suffering compensation and other money is dependent on the correct tests being done.

Medicines and Household Chemicals: Use the child-resistant closures that come on most medicines and household chemicals.
Safety closures save lives. Safety latches for kitchen, bathroom, and workshop cabinets can help keep household chemicals and medicines locked away from children.

Free Consultation with Attorney

Pritzker Olsen law firm is recognized nationally in the areas of product liability, personal injury and wrongful death. Attorneys at the firm have been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Lawyers USA and other publications. 

If your child has died or suffered brain damage that you believe was caused by a defective product or another's negligence, please contact our law firm:

Contact Pritzker Olsen Attorneys

 


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Firm News

Fred Pritzker Listed in The Best Lawyers in America

Fred Pritzker has been notified that he will again be listed in The Best Lawyers in America for his work in personal injury and wrongful death litigation.

 

Infantino SlingRider Recall Lawsuit

The Infantino SlingRider recall was issued in March of 2007. We continue to investigatin injuries and deaths related to this product.

 

Three Pritzker Olsen Attorneys Named Super Lawyers

Attorneys Fred Pritzker, Elliot Olsen and Eric Hageman were again named "Super Lawyers" (August 2010 edition of MN Law & Politics).

 

Magnetix Lawsuit

Attorney Elliot Olsen has successfully represented children who were seriously injured after swallowing Magnetix magnets. There has been a Magnetix recall.

 

Lead Poisoning in Children

Lead poisoning continues to be a problem for children in the United States. Possible causes include lead paint in old buildings, lead in soil, toys and other baby products, even some vinyl bibs.

 

Crib Recall Lawsuit

There have been a number of recalls of cribs prompted by serious injuries and deaths. Our law firm is passionate about pursuing manufacturers of dangerous children's products.

 

E. coli and HUS in Children

Our law firm represents children throughout the United States that have been sickened by E. coli O157:H7 after eating contaminated hamburger, spinach, lettuce or other food. We also represent children whose E. coli infection has developed into hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure, pancreatitis, seizures, stroke, brain damage and death.

 

This is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The result of each case is determined by the specific facts and the applicable law.