Dangerous Toy Compensation

You would think that all toys would have gone through rigorous testing before being sold in stores and children being allowed to play with them. Yet unfortunately there are still many children injured by toys each year.

All the toys supplied in the UK must meet the standards of the Toys (safety) regulations 1995 and bear the CE marking and name and address of the manufacturer.

When buying toys for children there are some guidelines you should follow:

Recommended age-Check the age range the toy is recommended for. But you should also consider the individual child. For example, some four year olds still put things in their mouth so small objects may not be suitable for a child like this even if the age range suggests it is.

Size of toy-When buying for a baby or toddler never buy anything that has parts that will fit in the child’s mouth as this is where it will inevitably end up and could cause choking.

Edges and attachments of toys-Make sure toys do not have any sharp edges, points or other protrusions that could hurt a child. If the toy has any attachments, for example a doll with ribbons in or a teddy with buttons on its clothing, be aware of the potential danger. A child could swallow a button if it was loose or seriously injure themself if trying to tie a ribbon or put a necklace on.

Strings or ties-These are particularly dangerous as strings and cords could get wrapped around a child if they are playing dressing up and present a strangling danger.

Electrical toys-Anything that needs to be plugged in should not be given to a young child for obvious reasons. Children should not be allowed near electrical sockets as their fingers are small enough to fit in a socket.

If you have bought a toy and you feel it is unsafe you should report it to your nearest Trading Standards Office.

If a child of yours has unfortunately been injured by a faulty toy you may be able to make a claim for compensation. Call the team here at Precision Claims on 0844 704 1945 or email us your enquiry and we will call you back to discuss.