All parents delight in giving their children new toys for Christmas. Joy can turn to sorrow, however, when defective products are unknowingly placed under the Christmas tree and children become injured while playing. In Florida and throughout the United States, parents may act on behalf of their children when injuries occur because of another party’s negligence.
The potential dangers associated with lasers of all types include a risk for fire and burn injuries. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a request that incidents of injury connected with lasers be reported. The agency has also asked that it be notified when an item that has caused injury was advertised as a toy for children under age 14.
Parents whose children have been injured by a laser are advised to report the product’s brand name, the location where they purchase the product, and the color and brightness of the laser beam. Apparently, even lasers operating at five milliwatts (the FDA regulated limit for handheld pointers) can cause temporary blindness if the beam is directed into an eye. Lasers that emit more than the regulated limit of light power can cause irreparable damage to a person’s eyes.
A Florida parent whose child has been injured by a laser advertised as a toy, or any other potentially defective products, can seek legal guidance through an experienced personal injury lawyer in the area. A successfully litigated claim can provide compensation for damages that include both physical and emotional suffering. A first logical step to take in seeking accountability against a potentially liable party would be to retain legal representation in the matter.
Source: kmov.com, “FDA: Report laser injuries from pointers and toys“, Marvin Harris, Jan. 2, 2016
