Dresser Tip-Over Risks Tested By Consumer Reports, With Unnerving Results

Fatal dresser tip-over events are surprisingly common and difficult to avoid, according to a study released by Consumer Reports.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, thousands of children are injured in dresser tip-over accidents every year, with one child killed by furniture tip over every two weeks. Backing up the relatively common nature of dresser tip-over events, a study from Consumer Reports says that it is difficult to pick a safe dresser.

“There’s absolutely no way for someone to look at the shape, size [and] weight and know whether something is going to be tippy or not,” says James Dickerson, Chief Scientific Officer for Consumer Reports, speaking to NPR. “We had dressers that passed at all price points, at all dimensions and at all weights. We also had dressers that failed at all price points, at all dimensions and at all weights.“

According to NPR, Consumer Reports tested 24 dressers in their study following two voluntary testing standards which are not required if dressers are below a certain height. The first testing standard involves the dresser standing upright with all drawers open and empty. The second testing standard involves the dresser standing open and empty with 50 pounds attached to the top drawer, simulating the weight of a child climbing the furniture. As an additional test, the company tested dressers open and empty with 60 pounds applied to the top drawer.

Over half of the tested dressers passed all of the dresser tip-over tests administered in the study. Six passed the voluntary standards but failed the additional test from the study. Five other dressers failed the 50 pound dresser tip-over test. Despite Consumer Reports’ efforts to understand the dresser tip-over hazard, the results of the testing were not easy to map based on dimensions, weight, or price point.

Anchor for Prevention

Manufacturers of dressers and other furniture items have urged consumers to mount their dressers and take other actions, such as removing items from the top of the dressers which may entice a child to climb the unit. However, not all parents are capable of mounting their dressers due to renting rules, lack of tool proficiency, and material difficulties.

“Through interviews with parents of victims and with industry representatives, CR […] found the most effective prevention strategy available today, anchoring dressers to walls using brackets and straps, isn’t an easy option for families less proficient with tools or contending with brick walls,” Consumer Reports wrote. “Some parents told CR that they had no idea kits for anchoring dressers even existed.”

Although wall brackets may help in protecting children from dresser tip-over accidents, some consumers argue that it is the manufacturers’ responsibility to design a safe dresser and recall items should they be found unsafe. Some consumers have even filed lawsuit against manufacturers, as occurred with the IKEA Malm dresser recall, blaming them for dresser-tip over injuries and possible death.

If you were affected by a recalled dresser prone to dresser tip-over incidents, you may be eligible to file a similar lawsuit against the manufacturer.

Join a Free Dresser Tip Over Recall Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you own a chest of drawers that was recalled because of a dresser tip over hazard, you may be entitled to compensation.

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