CPSC Issues Airborne Beach Umbrella Warning

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning that airborne beach umbrellas can kill explaining that incidents with these umbrellas have become “all too common.” Wind gusts have pulled up beach umbrellas on crowded beaches and sent them hurtling towards people. The results have been deaths and serious injuries like lacerations and impalements. There is now a voluntary safety standard to assist manufacturers in making sure that the danger is minimized. If your loved one was killed or you were injured by a beach umbrella that went flying, you may be able to recover compensation. The seasoned Chicago-based product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group can go over your legal options.

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The new voluntary safety standard ASTM F3681-24 requires that beach umbrellas and their anchor systems, along with beach umbrellas that are used with complaint anchors need to offer a resisting force of at least 75 pounds. Alternatively, they need to stay secure in wind speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, when the compliant anchor is secured in the sand.

Its expected that products compliant with this safety standard will be available soon. Consumers should look at the labels of anchors, which will state whether it meets the new safety standard by indicating that it “MEETS ASTM F3681 FOR WIND SPEEDS UP TO 30 MPH.” This will also set forth the maximum canopy size for an umbrella used with the anchor.

The CPSC also advises consumers to secure their umbrella and anchor by carefully following the manufacturer’s setup instructions and to make sure the anchor isn’t damaged and working the way the instructions describe.

Generally, when conditions are windy, the umbrella’s canopy should be closed.

If you were already injured by an airborne umbrella, you may be able to pursue compensation by filing a product liability lawsuit. Our attorneys can file a lawsuit when a product is defective in terms of its marketing, manufacturing, or design, and injures or kills someone. Marketing defects typically involve the manufacturer’s failure to warn; however they apply whenever the information provided by the manufacturer is improper. For instance, there could be a marketing defect if the instructions that came with the umbrella had a flaw or misstatement. Manufacturing defects are those flaws that are found in certain units of an umbrella, and they are the result of deviations from the specifications during the manufacturing process. Design defects are found in every unit of the product—they occur when the design itself is flawed.

When a product causes a loved one’s death, it may be appropriate to file a wrongful death lawsuit for compensation to address pecuniary injuries to certain family members or survivors such as a spouse or child, including lost wages, loss of services, loss of services, loss of consortium, instruction, and moral training.

If you were injured or a loved one died due to an airborne beach umbrella, call the seasoned Chicago-based product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group for a consultation about your legal options. We represent plaintiffs and their families around the country. Billions have been recovered in cases with which we’ve been involved. . Please complete our online form or call us at 312.462.1700.