Graco Recalls 25,000 Car Seats Due to Injury Risk

Graco is recalling more than 25,000 car seats because they might not properly restrain children in the event of a crash. According to a CNN news report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated in its announcement that the webbing in the Graco My Ride 65 seats failed to meet standards set by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The agency found that children who are not properly restrained are at an increased risk of injury in the event of a car accident.

The 25,494 Graco My Ride 65 car seats recalled were produced between May and August 2014. Units with a webbing code tag of 2014/06 are affected. NHTSA noted that in the event of a serious auto accident, the harness webbing restraining the child may break resulting in the child not being appropriately restrained, increasing the risk of serious injuries. If you own one of these Graco car seats, contact the manufacturer at 1-800-345-4109 to order a free replacement kit. While waiting for the kit, consumers may continue to use the My Ride 65 convertible car seats, Graco has said. For more information, contact safercar.gov.

Dangers of Defective Car Seats

As parents and caregivers, we count on car seats to protect our children in the event of a car accident. However, when these car seats are defective, the consequences can be catastrophic or even fatal. It is important to understand the serious risk posed by faulty car seats. There are a number of different types of defects that could make your child’s car seat dangerous.

For example, faulty latches or buckles could cause children to be ejected from vehicles. When a latch or buckle is stuck, it makes it difficult for children to be rescued from vehicles in emergency cases. Low-quality materials can also car seats to be flammable and when a car seat frame is weak or broken, children could be in danger because the seat doesn’t function as it should.

What Can You Do?

If you registered your car seat when you bought it, you should be notified via snail mail if a recall is issued on the product. NHTSA also provides information about recalls through email notifications, mobile apps and through its website, safercar.gov. If you find your infant car seat is faulty, use an alternate safe car seat and contact the manufacturer for more information.

If your child has been injured as the result of a defective car seat, you may be able to seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced product defect lawyer can provide you with more information about pursuing your legal rights.