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In June of 2020, Modus furniture recalled 1,300 dressers because of their instability. The dressers posed a serious tip-over risk, which placed children at risk of serious injury or death. In addition, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) noted in its announcement about the recall that the tip-over restraint kits that were provided with the dressers did not meet with performance requirements of the U.S. voluntary industry standard. Consumers who owned the recall dressers were directed to immediately stop using it and place it in a room where children could not access is. Modus did not offer a refund but will send consumers a new compliant tip-over restraint kit and one-time installation.
Dresser Recalls
This recall comes after several recalls have been instituted over dressers that are tip-over hazards. In May of 2020, furniture manufacturer Prepac recalled 21,000 dressers due to their instability. Prepac also declined to offer a refund and provided consumers with a restraint kit. Safety experts fear that these restraint kits don’t do enough to protect the public. Restraint kits and installation do not ensure that the dresser will not be moved later and then inadequately installed. A redesign of the dresser is necessary to prevent tip-overs.
The Danger of Unstable Dressers
According to the CPSC, since 2000, there have been 212 deaths caused by dresser tip-overs. Most of these deaths were of children aged six and under. There are have also been thousands of injuries. A dresser tip-over can be extremely dangerous, especially for small children.
Currently, there is no government standard that requires furniture manufacturers to test the stability of their dressers before they are placed on the market. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has created a voluntary industry standard. This standard calls for dressers that are 27 inches or greater in height to withstand a 50-pound weight hung on a single open drawer. For the safety of consumers, manufacturers should abide by this standard to avoid dangerous tip-over incidents. If a manufacturer sells a dresser that poses a dangerous tip-over risk to consumers, they should be held liable for any injuries.
GGRM Can Help
If you or a loved one was injured by a dresser tip-over, you might want to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. The attorneys at GGRM have over 50 years of experience helping the victims of defective products pursue compensation for their injuries. To set up your free consultation, contact us online or call us at 702-978-7641 today.