In the summer of 2006, 29-year-old mother Robin Aleo was vacationing with relatives in another state and enjoying a backyard pool party. But as the mother of an 18-month-old daughter slid down the six-foot inflatable slide positioned at the edge of the pool, the structure suddenly deflated, causing Aleo to fall head first to the ground. Her head struck the concrete lip of the pool, breaking her neck and rendering her unable to breathe. She died of her injuries the next day.
A preventable tragedy caused by a dangerous product
In 2011, Aleo’s family successfully sued Toys R Us, one of two distributers of the Banzai Falls waterslide, for $20.6 million. The jury deliberated for just under an hour before awarding the damages. But the fight to keep others safe from this defective product isn’t yet over.
Since Aleo’s fatal accident, two other people have suffered catastrophic neck and spinal cord injuries on the slides, while safety advocates believe that even more people have likely been injured by the dangerous product. And while the distributers have taken blame for the defective waterslide, the manufacturer of the slide, a China-based company called Manley Products, has not been cited in relation to the accidents.
The CPSC takes action and recalls Banzai Falls slides
This May, after reviewing the accident reports mentioned above, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of 21,000 Banzai Falls slides from around the country. The recall states that the slides are apt to deflate suddenly and tip over in non-windy conditions, resulting in serious fall injuries.
Anyone who owns a slide is asked to stop using it at once—regardless of whether they have experienced any of the defects associated with the product. Owners should remove the two warning labels located on the slides and bring them to either Toys R Us or Wal-Mart for a full refund.
Texas defective products attorney
It is vital to understand that any injuries associated with these defective waterslides may not have been your fault and should have been prevented by the manufacturer or distributor of the slide. If you or a loved one has been harmed on a Banzai slide, or by any other defective toy or product, be sure to report the incident and speak with an attorney.
At Denena & Points, our Banzai slide injury lawyers have the skill and experience to tackle your defective product lawsuit. Contact us today by filling out the electronic form to the right of this page or by calling us toll-free at 877-307-9500. Get your questions answered and know your legal rights.