RSSIkea Recalls Millions of Chests and Dressers After Several Children Are Killed
Ikea, known for its affordable and simply designed furniture, announced that is recalling millions of dressers and chests after several deadly accidents involving toddlers. According to a statement released by the company, the furniture affected ranges from adult items to items for children, all of which are in the MALM style, specifically, the MALM 3, 4, 5, 6, and the 6 LONG. Ikea sold these items in stores from October of 2002 until June of this year, when the company finally decided to completely discontinue the line in the wake of a third death resulting from the faulty design.
The problem, as outlined by Ikea and the numerous consumer report groups that have commented on the MALM furniture, lies with the stability of the dressers. If not firmly anchored to a solid structure (such as a wall), the furniture presents a highly dangerous tipping hazard. Due to very little encouragement, the furniture can topple forwards and cause great harm to any individuals standing before it. This fault in the design has been behind all of the reported deaths associated with the furniture. The deaths, which stretch back to February of 2014, are all children around 2 years of age. The latest death, and the one which prompted the ultimate cessation of the items sale, occurred earlier this year when a dresser of the six-drawer variety tipped over and killed a 23-month old child.
After the first two fatalities, Ikea did not issue a recall. Along with the deaths, Ikea also received 41 separate tip-over reports and 19 more children were reported as injured due to the falling furniture. In an attempt to remedy the situation, Ikea offered a free repair program for all affected dressers and chests. This program included a wall-anchor, which was supposed to be used to prevent the heavy furniture from falling forwards, however this still required the customer to attach the dresser or chest to the wall, which was a precaution that some owners did not take.
The MALM style chests and dressers are not the only style to result in dangerous and harmful accidents. As of right now, reports exist detailing the deaths and injuries from the GUTE 4-drawer model, the RAKKE 5-drawer model, and the KURS 3-drawer model.
To set up a free initial consultation with Orlando product liability lawyer James O. Cunningham, contact us today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).
Sources:
- Ikea Dresser Recall: Millions of Chests of Drawers Recalled After Deaths of Three Toddlers
- Following an Additional Child Fatality, IKEA Recalls 29 Million MALM and Other Models of Chests and Dressers Due to Serious Tip-Over Hazard; Consumers Urged to Anchor Chests and Dressers or Return for Refund
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.