11 | 15 | 2009 Posted By George L. Garrow, Jr., of The Garrow Law Firm, DC

Child Loses Finger in Stroller - Injury Forces Recall

British stroller maker Maclaren failed to inform government regulators for 5 years about the danger of its strollers. The company has known for some time that the stroller hinges could cause serious injuries to the fingers of children.

In 2004, 23-month-old Connecticut toddler Carlos DeWinter lost his right pinky in a Maclaren Triumph stroller, according to court papers obtained by The New York Post. As his mother, Jane DeWinter, was shopping for a Maclaren Triumph stroller at a shop near Greenwich, NY, the dangers of this product became exceedingly clear. She began to do what any parent would do in testing the stroller. She examined the one-handed folding and unfolding mechanism and tried to lock the stroller into the open position. At that point, Carlos put his finger on the hinge, and his pinky finger was quickly amputated.

Despite two surgeries, the pinky finger could not be reattached.
 
The pricey stroller can be retrofitted by going to the Maclaren recall website and filling out a form for hinge covers. You also can call directly, but the company has been experiencing a high volume of calls.