Inflatable Water Slides for In-Ground Pools Recalled After Causing Head Injuries, Spinal Cord Injuries or Death

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has determined that the Banzai water slides are defective and can suddenly deflate during use and the rider’s head can hit the concrete ground underneath the slide. In addition, the vinyl slide can also tip over in both calm weather or if there is a gust of wind.

This is not the first time there has been concern over the safety of these slides. In June 2006, a mother of an 18-month-old-girl climbed to the top of the 6-foot-high slide and started to come down the slide on her belly. As she neared the bottom of the slide, the slide deflated and she struck her head on the edge of the pool. The fall broke her neck and made her paralyzed and unable to breath. She died the following day at the hospital. The woman’s family sued Toys R Us and a jury returned a $20.6 million verdict in the family’s favor in less than an hours time.

The CPSC is also aware of two other cases: a 24-year-old man who became a quadriplegic and a woman from Allentown, Pennsylvania, who fractured her neck after the slide deflated. While the CPSC began its investigation based on these three catastrophic injuries, it is unsure as to how many other people have been injured due to this defective water slide. Many times, owners or riders of the slides attribute the failure of the slide to be caused by something they did wrong during their assembly process so those injuries go unreported until they are aware of the recall.

The recalled slides, which were manufactured in China by Manley Toys, Ltd, were sold nationwide at Wal-Mart and Toys R Us from January 2005 through June 2009 and cost about $250. People are urged to immediately stop using the slide and return it to Walmart or Toys R Us for a full refund.

The experienced Pennsylvania product liability lawyers of The Beasley Firm have a legendary record of success prosecuting claims on behalf of catastrophically injured and deceased consumers against some of the world’s largest corporations. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed due to a defective product, you should immediately preserve the product and contact our experienced Pennsylvania defective product lawyers for free, no obligation consultation. Our legendary trial and Pennsylvania product liability lawyers have been awarded over $2 billion, representing consumers throughout America for over five decades. For a free, no obligation consultation, please feel free to contact us online.