Family Sues Croc Shoe Company After Toddler’s Foot Gets Stuck In Escalator

Since their arrival in 2002, the rubber clog, better known as Crocs, have gained popularity worldwide. Whether they’re being criticized for their distinctive design or praised for their comfortability, Crocs have undoubtedly become a household name. Parents have grown to love the shoe because they’re easy to clean, they’re durable, and they slip on and off. The fact that they come in every color imaginable is also a plus. Although they may be adorable on children, many parents are learning that they may also be dangerous.

According to New York Daily News, a couple decided to sue Crocs and a resort in Waikiki after their 2-year-old son was severely injured on an escalator while wearing the shoes. The parents, who both happen to be oral surgeons, were at the Hilton Hawaiian Village to attend an obligatory work meeting called the American Association of Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons that happens every year. After the meeting, they were exiting out the resort’s ballroom when their son’s left foot got jammed between the escalator wall and a stair. By the time a spectator was able to locate and activate the emergency stop button, the boy had already been dragged from the floor upstairs to the downstairs floor. It took an hour before paramedics could separate the toddler from the escalator.

The boy was taken to a hospital in Honolulu where he spent two days undergoing emergency medical services. Doctors say the escalator had completely destroyed his foot, resulting in broken bones and several dissevered muscles and tendons. They say there also could be permanent damage to the boy’s growth plate. When the family arrived to their hometown in Dallas, Texas, the toddler underwent two procedures at a local medical center. One was to repair the damaged skin on his foot and the other was a skin grafting surgery – a procedure that consists of transplanting skin from one part of the body to another. In the parents’ lawsuit they claim that the shoes were “negligently and improperly designed,” emphasizing that this incident isn’t the first of its kind to occur. This year, the family’s case has been moved to federal court.

Reports across the U.S. and other parts of the world document accidents involving small children wearing crocs that prove to be strikingly similar to their sons case. In fact, a previous court case revealed that Crocs had once contacted the Consumer Product Safety Commission admitting that the company had garnered 186 complaints in reference to children who had been in escalator accidents while wearing their shoe since the company opened in 2002. Podiatrists say that the shoes get caught in teeth of the escalator or on the side wall because of their enhanced grip, one of the main reasons the shoe is so popular.

Escalator injuries are frighteningly widespread. If you have been harmed as a result of the negligence of a company, you may be entitled to compensation. Attorneys Charles Gilman and Briggs Bedigian are dedicated to getting you the best results possible. Call their office at (866) 849-9899 or contact them online. The firm handles cases in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.