Another Voice for Consumers

July 5, 2011

ATTENTION CONSUMERS AND CONCERNED PARENTS: You can now report problems and research potentially dangerous products on a single, user-friendly website. In March of 2011, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched www.saferproducts.gov for consumers, government agencies, public safety entities, child service providers, and health care providers to submit reports of harm caused by consumer products.

On www.saferproducts.gov, consumers or witnesses can report injuries and incidents by filling out an online form. Within 5 days of receiving a report, the CPSC forwards the manufacturer of the product a report containing a description of the product, manufacturer name, type of injury caused, contact information of the person submitting the report, and consent to include the report in the database. As a fully searchable database accessible to the public, consumers can research consumer products on www.saferprodcuts.gov to aid in making informed decisions regarding future product purchases.

Once a company receives the consumer’s report from the CPSC, it has 10 days to provide a response. If the company fails to acknowledge the report, the report from the consumer is published on the CPSC website. If the company decides to take further action, it can request that its comments or response be published on the CPSC website. The company may also contact the consumer personally to try and investigate or resolve the issue informally.

Direct communication with a company about product incidents may be advantageous for consumers seeking to put a company on notice about possible defects or injuries. However, it is important for consumers to understand that they are under no legal obligation to cooperate with a company that attempts to contact them directly in response to a CPSC report submitted through

www.saferproducts.gov.

Company investigators and claims personnel rarely share an injured consumer’s best interests. Sadly, this is particularly true when consumers are seriously or traumatically injured. If you or a loved one have suffered harm as a result of a potentially dangerous or defective consumer product, contact Aitken * Aitken * Cohn immediately to discuss your matter.
Our attorneys are here to help you.

Anthony Modarelli