Blog Post

Father Sues Crocs after Escalator Accident


February 13, 2008
Topic: Products Liability

The father of a three-year-old child, whose toes were seriously injured when they were caught in an escalator at LaGuardia airport, is suing the company that made the child's clogs, Crocs, for a sum of $7 million. Jeffrey Hochberg filed the lawsuit on behalf of his daughter Emma whose injuries, he contends, were caused by her wearing the trendy and hugely popular clogs.

This isn't the first incident of Crocs being responsible for the mangling of kids' feet. In fact if you do a Google search on "crocs injuries" you'll get a grand total of 170,000 results. Since their introduction a couple of years ago, the bulky looking clogs with multiple holes have been popular with adults and kids alike. The bright colors and comfort factor have made them a popular choice with children, which account for a large part of Croc's business.

Crocs unique selling points are its loose design that allows feet to breathe freely in them, and its tight grip that prevents slipping and accidents. It's these two features that also cause Crocs to be such dangerous footwear for little kids. The rubber material that Crocs are made of helps with traction but it also grabs hold of other materials, like the steps of an escalator for instance, and refuses to let go. Add to this the fact that these shoes are made to be too big for the feet and you have the potential for a tragedy. The sides of the escalator can easily grab hold of the clog and drag the child's foot with it.

This is what seems to have happened in the case of Emma Hochberg. In other cases, kids have had their toes ripped out while riding on an escalator.

Clearly, there seems to be a pattern here, and the all-important question is, why is no action being taken? Many malls have put up signs saying Crocs are dangerous on their escalators, but it's far from a universal thing. The Washington Metro has a sign asking its subway riders to avoid stepping on moving machinery like escalators while wearing these clogs. Crocs aren't mentioned by name, but the signs have a picture of the shoes, and an image of a crocodile.

There are those who claim that escalators are dangerous for kids and that parents should watch their children when they are on any sort of moving machinery. These people either have no kids or have never been on an escalator. If you're carrying bags in your arm, you are obviously not going to be in a position to carry your 3-5 year old child. Malls are always exciting places for kids and getting your kids to stand at the center instead of the sides of the escalator can be a challenge. When these shoes prove such a major safety hazard on escalators, why make them in the first place?

When you manufacture a product for kids, you need to make sure it's safe to use in all kinds of situations. Blaming parents just doesn't cut it.

One hopes that this lawsuit will be the final straw that forces the company to come up with better alternatives or safety features.

If you have a child that has been injured by a dangerous product, you need the help of a top California personal injury law firm. Contact a lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.


The California personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group represent victims of accidents, injuries and wrongful death throughout California from our offices in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Fresno County, Kern County, Sacramento County, San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Antelope Valley, Torrance, Glendale, Bakersfield, Santa Ana, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Ontario, and Victorville.