Since the popular Swedish furniture retailer opened its doors to the American market two decades ago, it has become an instant sensation. IKEA stores have popped up all across the nation, and customers have flocked to them.
The company’s business model is somewhat unusual in the furniture market: it offers fashionable home décor at affordable prices—and in exchange, customers are tasked with the job of assembling their purchases themselves. For many families on a budget, this seems like a fair trade-off.
There is an element of trust that goes into making any furniture purchase—trust that the piece is well designed, structurally sound and will serve its intended purpose. In the case of a series of IKEA dressers, however, this has not been the case.
Certain heavy dressers and chests have a propensity to tip over—posing serious safety risks to whomever is in their way. To date, at least 91 children have been injured and eight children have been crushed to death by such dressers. IKEA has issued a recall on many models of MALM chests. It has offered to refund customers or send them a free kit to mount their dressers to the wall.
Such options may be an adequate solution for customers who have not yet encountered any tipping issues with their dressers. But for families whose children have suffered tragedy due to improperly designed home furniture, the company’s efforts are too little too late. If your child has suffered injury from defective furniture, it’s important to talk to an attorney who specializes in child injuries to understand your options.
