Tip-over accidents occur when an object falls over a person. Typically, these accidents are caused when a person knocks over, climbs, or exerts force on furniture like cupboards or TV stands. With these accidents increasing each year, parents and guardians are urged to be more careful in preventing them.
A report released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) revealed that nearly 22,500 people required emergency medical attention following tip-over accidents in 2020. Moreover, 44 percent of these accident victims were children below 18. This was particularly surprising as children only comprise 22 percent of the total American population.
The report further revealed that adults between 18 and 59 accounted for 37 percent of tip-over accidents. On the other hand, adults over the age of 60 contributed to 19 percent of these injuries. “When an accident was caused by another person’s recklessness or negligence, you can reach out to a lawyer,” says Felix Injury Lawyer.
Within 20 years, from 2000 to 2020, 581 people succumbed to tip-over injuries. Most of these victims were children, representing 81 percent of the total deaths. This was followed by senior citizens, who accounted for 15 percent. Adults between the ages of 18 to 59 recorded the lowest number of fatalities with only three percent.
These statistics show that many people, particularly children, are getting injured in tip-over incidents. However, most of these injuries are easily preventable by simply anchoring objects around the house. Most anchoring kits are cheap and easy to install.
Unknown to most guardians, items like bookshelves, tables, cupboards, and dressers pose a huge risk to children. As bigger and better televisions continue to be produced, more Americans purchase them, unaware of their danger. For example, more than 45 million televisions were purchased in America last year.
That said, televisions caused 32 percent of tip-over incidents, while 31 percent resulted from furniture. Appliances around the house caused the remaining seven percent. Accidents from furniture and television sets amounted to 30 percent of the total tip-over injuries.
The most common injuries from tip-over accidents included head injuries, contusions, crashing injuries, positional asphyxia, abrasions, and internal organ injuries. From these, head injuries and crashing injuries resulted in most deaths.
Preventing Tip-Over Incidents
Caregivers are required to secure furniture, television, and appliances in the house. Below are a few tips for preventing tip-overs at home
- Anchor television and furniture firmly to walls and floors.
- If televisions are not anchored, place them on a low and firm stand. While doing this, push them back as far as possible.
- Store heavy items on lower shelves and drawers.
- Keep items like remotes and toys within children’s reach. This will prevent them from climbing furniture to acquire them.
- Ensure a responsible adult is always looking after the kids.
The CPSC started an ‘Anchor It!’ Campaign to advocate and remind parents and guardians of the importance of anchoring. Most anchoring kits cost about $20 and require very little skill and time to be installed.
Unfortunately, manufacturers can still produce defective products, which could easily tip over. This was the case with the Ikea dressers, which had to be recalled after causing eight deaths in children. This has raised the need for stricter regulations in the industry.
A Final Word
Should you or a family member get injured from manufacturing defects in products, you can file for a product liability claim. Experienced lawyers with the right resources often guarantee the success of such a claim. Therefore, you should hire one before making a liability claim.
