Britax Child Safety Seats Recalled for Harness Adjuster Defects

Britax Child Safety Inc. has recalled 14,220 child safety seats because of product defects that cause the restraint system to fail in the event of a collision. According to a news report in The Wall Street Journal, Britax is recalling certain Chaperone restraint systems for infants because the harness adjusters may detach from the seat leaving children unprotected in the event of a car accident. The defective car seats were manufactured between Sept. 1, 2010 and April 30, 2011.

So far, the company has reported receiving 57 complaints from customers in the United States about these faulty seat harness adjusters failing. Such failure could result in serious injuries for children. Company officials say the flaw was caused by a manufacturing defect where improper rivets were used to attach the adjusters to the seats. So far, no injuries or fatalities have been reported as a result of these child safety seat defects. Britax will notify owners about these products and provide repair kits at no charge to consumers.

As parents and caregivers, we count on child safety seats to keep our little ones safe in the event of a crash. Child safety seats, when they are built properly, save lives. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 244 lives were saved in 2008 by restraint use among children under the age of 5. Between 1975 and 2008, an estimated 8,959 lives were saved by child restraints. The value of properly restraining your child in a vehicle cannot be underestimated.

NHTSA is also encouraging parents and caregivers to register safety seats with the manufacturer. That way, if the car seat you own is recalled, manufacturers are required to notify you by first-class mail. It is important that the manufacturer has your current mailing address and all the information necessary to identify the product you purchased.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, the experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at Shook & Stone can offer you more information about pursuing your legal rights. Please contact us at 702-570-0000 to find out how we can help you.