BCI Burke Recalls Playground Merry-Go-Rounds Due To Crush Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced the recall of BCI Burke Merry-Go-Rounds. Such merry-go-rounds are sold directly to municipalities and churches to furnish their playgrounds. According to the recall, the space between the rotating platform and the stationary outer rim can leave a gap that narrows too much, posing a crushing hazard to children. The recall includes about 415 units and another six that were sold in Canada.

Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the recalled merry-go-rounds and contact the owner of the equipment, such as a park director or a school principal, to determine if the equipment has been inspected and repaired. BCI Burke will schedule a free onsite repair for the merry-go-rounds.

Two injuries have been reported as a result of the recalled merry-go-rounds. According to the recall, two incidents of fingers getting trapped in the gap between the rotating platform and the outer rim. This resulted in two finger crushing injuries.

Can I sue a school for playground injuries? 

Yes, but there are several obstacles when it comes to suing government-controlled entities directly. In fact, you may have better luck suing the manufacturer of the playground equipment. While a school may be the most obvious defendant, it is not the only at-fault entity that contributed negligence to a child’s injury. When the playground equipment contains a known defect, the manufacturer of the product may be liable for your injuries. Product liability lawsuits are generally easier to file than premises liability lawsuits. A parent with an injured child could hold the manufacturer strictly liable which means that they wouldn’t have to prove that the manufacturer was negligent or that they failed to use proper care.

In the case mentioned above, the merry-go-round exposes children to a possible crush hazard. Two children have sustained finger crush injuries as a result of the defect. The parents of the children who sustained the injuries could file product liability lawsuits against the manufacturer of the merry-go-round and recover damages related to medical expenses and pain and suffering.

In addition to the manufacturer, you can hold a contractor liable if they failed to install the playground equipment properly. A claim against a contractor would involve proving negligence as opposed to the strict liability you see with product liability cases. In other words, the parents would need to identify certain acts or omissions that contributed to the child’s injury. In the case mentioned above, the contractor can’t be faulted for installing a defective piece of equipment.

Talk to a Florida Product Liability Lawyer Today 

Halpern, Santos & Pinkert represent the interests of consumers who have been injured by dangerous or defective products. You can file lawsuits against product manufacturers when you are injured by their goods. If you have been injured by a dangerous or defective consumer product, please give our Florida personal injury lawyers a call to schedule a consultation, and learn more about how we can help.

Source:

cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/BCI-Burke-Recalls-Playground-Merry-Go-Rounds-Due-to-Crush-Hazard