Maclaren, the Northamptonshire based pushchair manufacturer, has agreed compensation for 40 children who suffered finger injuries in the hinges of their buggies. Some children even lost their fingertips in the pushchair mechanism accidents.
Whilst Maclaren has not admitted liability, it has agreed to payouts ranging from £2,500 to £10,000 depending on the severity of the injuries. The money given to each child will be invested until they are 18.
This long-running group action case, brought by legal firm Russell, Jones and Walker, began in late 2009, though some injuries occurred as far back as 2003.
Cathy Wickenden’s daughter, Bobbi, was aged 2 when, in 2008, the top of her ring finger was cut off in the hinges of her buggy. Ms Wickenden adds:
“We were packing up on the last day of our holiday and the buggy, which was brand new, was folded up. Bobbi went round to the front of and asked to get in, and when I flicked it open her finger got trapped.”
The controversy has not been confined to the UK: In November 2009 Maclaren made the headlines when it recalled millions of buggies from sale in the USA.
A Maclaren spokeswoman however says:
“We have sold more than a million buggies in the past decade in the UK and have only had around 100 complaints. We feel this issue affects the whole industry and not just Maclaren.”
Hinge covers for buggies can now be ordered from the Maclaren website.
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