Ikea is one of the most popular furniture stores in the country. An outlet opened in Norfolk in 2019. Although IKEA has a reputation for good value, fewer shoppers realize the deadly downside of some of its furniture. Injuries and deaths to children from falling Ikea dressers have dogged the Swedish retailer’s reputation in recent years, culminating in one of the largest child wrongful death recoveries in U.S. history. The product liability attorneys at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers could help you and your family if you have a viable defective products claim, such as one of this nature.
Settlements for Crushing Injuries and Deaths to Children
Earlier this month, the parents of two-year-old Jozef Dudek, who died when an IKEA dresser crushed him, secured a settlement of $46 million from the store, according to their injury lawyers.
The deadly accident happened in May 2017 after Jozef’s father put him down for a nap in his California home. The child got up from his bed and went over to an Ikea three-drawer Malm dresser that was in his room. He pulled the dresser onto him. His father later found him with his head in between the middle drawer and the top drawer. The child was asphyxiated to death.
The lawyers representing the families believe the settlement they announced is the largest child wrongful death recovery in U.S. history. They are concerned millions of the recalled three-drawer Malm dressers are still in use and may be in many children’s bedrooms, posing a potentially fatal hazard.
At least eight children are believed to have been killed by falling dressers from Ikea, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Many more suffered injuries.
The recalled dressers pose a risk of tipping over if they are not secured to the wall. Ikea has warned the hazardous drawers are not meant to be free-standing. Still, the family’s lawyers claimed the dresser model is “inherently unstable.”
Joleen and Craig Dudek, Jozef’s parents, said they did not want the same tragedy to befall other young families. According to NPR, the family is donating $1 million of the settlement money to organizations that fight to protect kids from unsafe products. IKEA recalled the Malm furniture following a spate of crushing injuries and deaths to children from falling Ikea dressers.
How Many Kids Have Have Suffered Injuries from IKEA Furniture?
Recent figures suggest the eight deaths reported from falling dressers are the tip of the iceberg. A few years ago, we noted 186 reports of Malm dressers tipping. About half of these, 91, resulted in crushing injuries. Additionally, consumer watchdogs received 113 reports of non-Ikea dressers tipping over with 53 injuries. In 2016, IKEA offered full refunds or free anchoring repair kits for 17.3 million dressers, chests or bureaus sold in the U.S. since 1985.
This is a horrifying statistic that points to a defect in the furniture. In 2016, IKEA reached a $50 million settlement with the families of three toddlers who died after dressers toppled over.
CNN reported the 17.3 million recalled dressers sold in the US included child dressers over 23.5 inches tall and adult dressers over 29.5 inches. The recalled items were sold online and in IKEA stores from January 2002 and June 2016 for $70 to $200. Other items of furniture forming part of the recall were sold from 1985 and June 2016. The company set up a website to help consumers identify recalled dressers.
Speak with a Defective Product Attorney in Virginia for Cases Involving Injuries and Deaths to Children from Falling IKEA Dressers
Our thoughts are with the families whose child has died or suffered serious injuries due to heavy furniture toppling on them. When we buy an item of furniture from a popular store like IKEA we do not expect it to be a hazard in our homes.
However, this is exactly what is happening these IKEA dressers and other products made by other manufacturers. Although IKEA says it has recalled dangerous furniture, they are still posing a danger in thousands of homes across America. Please contact our Virginia defective products attorneys if you or a family member suffered crushing injuries from furniture or another dangerous item.
