Ikea announced a voluntary recall of 29 million chests and drawers, after three children died in the past two years because of dresser tip-over accidents. The recall affects MALM dressers and chests of drawers with three or more drawers, as well as a number of other Ikea models.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) the dressers and chests referenced can be pulled over by a child if the furniture is not securely attached to a wall, or if a child opens drawers and attempts to climb on them. In 2014, two children, both around 2 years old, died in tip-over accidents involving Ikea’s MALM dressers. In 2015 Ikea began offering free wall mounts to customers encouraging them to mount the dressers to a wall. However after a third child died in February, Ikea and the CPSC announced that MALM and other models of tall dressers are now being recalled.
Consumers may still ask for a wall mount for the purchased dressers or have the option to a full refund. Ikea is offering full refunds for all dressers sold after2002 and partial refunds for models sold before that year. The safety standards that make dressers more stable are currently voluntary, but some lawmakers are pushing for legislation to make the standards mandatory.
Tip-over accidents involving heavy furniture can be prevented if all manufacturers provide clear warnings to consumers and provide free of charge mountings to secure the furniture to walls. There are also ways manufacturers can design items such as tall dressers to be more stable.
For over 20 years, the Dolan Law Firm has assisted parents whose children have been severely injured or died due to a product defect hold the manufacturer accountable. Our law firm possesses the experience, legal skill, and financial and technological resources to comprehensively investigate – no matter how complex the case or significant the injuries – and litigate your case.
