Stroller Injury Investigation Expert Article

In 2010 Robson Forensic was contacted to investigate a case involving a 10-month-old girl whose finger was severed by a hinge on the stroller in which she was sitting; a horrifying incident for any parent with young children and one that seemingly should not be possible in the modern era of safe product design.

Finger Severed in Stroller Hinge – Expert Investigation

To understand how and why the incident occurred, this case was assigned to Industrial Engineer, Harry Ehrlich. Harry was a logical choice for this assignment because he designed consumer products for children earlier in his career and he also has extensive forensic experience investigating pinch-point and shear-point incidents.

The hinge that caused the young girl’s injury was activated when adjustments were made to the stroller’s handlebar. Harry’s investigation revealed that the hinge’s movement involved an unsafe mechanism that produced a scissoring or shearing action. This scissoring action created forces sufficient enough to sever a child’s finger. The manufacturer had failed to guard the unreasonably dangerous mechanism.

Recognizing the potential magnitude of this design flaw and that many other families were exposed to this dangerous condition, Harry Ehrlich and Attorney Dawn Pinnisi filed a report to the Consumer Products Safety Commission. On June 14, 2012 the CPSC issued recall number 12-196, providing notice to approximately 36,000 families who could have suffered the same tragic outcome as the young girl in our case.

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2012/Strollers-Recalled-by-Kolcraft-Due-to-Fingertip-Amputation-and-Laceration-Hazards/

The Outcome

As part of his review, Harry Ehrlich opined that a reasonable alternative design existed that would have prevented the young girl’s injury and that the warnings and safety instructions provided by the manufacturer were not adequate. As a result of this case and the CPSC recall, the stroller manufacturer created a zipper controlled cover that guards the hinge.

The case for the young girl settled before trial for $1,000,000, but the greater good was achieved by addressing a dangerous condition and preventing similar incidents from occurring.

It is cases like this, for which we are particularly proud.

Case Information

• Case: Ariannah Aragon an Inft by Her m/n/g, Erica Alvarez; & Erica Alvarez, Individually v. Kolcraft Enterprises Inc; & Cookie’s the Kids Dept Store d/b/a Sunshine Stores Inc, No. 30994/10
• Court: Kings Supreme (New York)
• Judge: Mark I. Partnow
• Date: 1/26/2015
• Robson Forensic Expert: Harry Ehrlich
• Settlement: $1,000,000
• Attorney Client
  • Dawn M. Pinnisi
  • Talisman, DeLorenz & Pinnisi P.C.
  • www.premierwallstreetattorneys.com

Featured Expert

Harold Ehrlich

Industrial Engineer & Product Design Expert

Harry has worked as an Industrial Engineer since 1978. He has held positions of increasing responsibility within industry and has been responsible for the design and manufacture of consumer products,… read more.