Last year, there were reports of nine deaths and nearly 150,000 toy-related injuries. Although most injuries are minor, seven percent of toy-related injuries are serious and require extensive treatment. To keep your children safe this holiday season, our Texas product liability attorneys explain which type of toys to avoid while shopping.

#1: Knock-Off Toys

According to the U.S. PIRG Education Fund, knock-off toys should be avoided this holiday season. A counterfeiter can produce a toy much cheaper than a legitimate manufacturer – which can result in the use of faulty materials that are unsafe for children. In 2020, over half of 1,000 consumers surveyed stated that they purchased games and toys online that were counterfeit.                            

#2: Toys with Small Parts

While shopping this holiday season, be sure to avoid toys with small parts. The GoPop! toy will be one of the most popular this holiday season. However, there are many knockoff products of this pop fidget sensory toy that rips easily and can become a choking hazard.

#3: Second-Hand Toys

PIRG doesn’t recommend parents to purchase second-hand toys from online marketplaces such as eBay or Facebook Marketplace. It is illegal for any resaler to sell a product they know or should know has been recalled unless the safety issue has been fixed.

#4: Toys with Ingestion Risks

It is important to avoid toys with magnets and disc batteries since they have serious ingestion risks when a child swallows them. According to PIRG, “In August 2021, the CPSC recalled about 10 million units of Zen Magnets and Neoball Magnets. This large recall took place after Zen Magnets LLC, and the CPSC was informed about two children who ingested magnets and required extensive surgery for their removal.”

If your child has suffered serious injuries after playing with a toy, you might have a product liability claim. Contact us today at (888) 273-1045 to learn more about your options!