Jayco folding chair collapse seriously injures camper

[Roodna]

My wife and I own a 2020 28.5RSTS the 3rd Jayco we have owned. This unit is equipped with a freestanding dining table with two solid chairs and 2 storable folding chairs. On a trip a few months back we went with another couple, new to camping and I was out helping setting up their unit. My wife and another lady were in our camper, when I heard a loud bang, and a scream. I went inside and found my wife lying on the floor on top of a collapsed folding chair in obvious distress. She was holding the side of her head, crying and very shook up. She had a bruise on the side of her head, her ribs and side of her upper body was bruised as well as her arm and hand. She had hit her head on the side of the table and bruised her torso on the table and her arm struck the kitchen island on the way down. After a few minutes she was able to compose herself and felt she was okay. This was a relief as my wife has Multiple Sclerosis and is slow to react and move. When she was relaxed we were able to determine she had sat down on the chair and it collapsed.
We had rarely used the folding chairs as we usually camp alone, camping is her greatest love next to grandchildren so we camp as much as we can. Upon examining the chair I found that the 4 screws that hold the piano hinge onto the chair seat had all come out and looking at the setup one of the screws had not been screwed into anything, one had just caught the edge of the wood and the other two had been screwed only into the cloth upholstery. Had my wife been sitting over the table her chin would have struck the table dead on, possibly breaking a jaw, smashing teeth, biting her tongue, a concussion or worse.
Returning to home we went to our dealer whose was shocked and horrified with this. I showed them photos of the injuries and of the chair, and they offer any support we needed. They agree to contact Jayco and see what could be done. We received nothing from Jayco, no messages, no confirmation of any kind.
We soon left on a 6 week trip to the Yukon and upon returning the dealer again contacted Jayco (we tried as well but no reply). Finally several months later, Jayco replied to the dealer asking them to “offer their apologies and to advise us they would replace the chair”. They weren’t concerned about the defective workmanship, the possibility of this occurring to someone else, nothing!
Shame on you Jayco.

[GTS225]

Seems to me that your first contact with Jayco about this should have been a letter to them, typed on your lawyer's letterhead.

You might still be able to persue that avenue. For them to show so little regard for thier customer's safety, in a product that they made or supplied, shows a certain.........careless business attitude.

Just my opine.....Roger

[SmokerBill]

Is the 2nd folding chair constructed with the same defects? It would be great proof for a lawsuit, which if I understand your post correctly, I would pursue. Good luck, and sorry for your wife's injury.

[Roodna]

The other chair was fine looks like someone was in a hurry and didn’t bother doing a proper job. They would have to have noticed the screws that went into the cloth as ther was zero resistance. I can guarantee you that if I lived in the USA, Jayco would be facing a lawsuit by the next morning.

[Roodna]

I’m hoping now people will check their chairs to make sure they are put together properly to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. If anyone else has an issue I will definitely support them in any way I can. Jayco’s total lack of concern is alarming and their disregard for customer safety is unacceptable.

[Shokyle1]

The same thing happened to my son with the folding chair in my in-laws eagle ht fifthwheel. They are very poorly built chairs.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Roodna

They agree to contact Jayco and see what could be done. We received nothing from Jayco, no messages, no confirmation of any kind.
We soon left on a 6 week trip to the Yukon and upon returning the dealer again contacted Jayco (we tried as well but no reply). Finally several months later, Jayco replied to the dealer asking them to “offer their apologies and to advise us they would replace the chair”. They weren’t concerned about the defective workmanship, the possibility of this occurring to someone else, nothing!
Shame on you Jayco.

No sure what contact method you used, but you need to write a letter and not use the email contact. Also most companies will not discuss personal injury/medical issues through a 3rd party (your dealer) due to the HIPPA laws in the US. In most cases the same applies to defects, those will not be admitted to in general correspondence where a 3rd party is also involved. I think you would find the same happening with a Canadian Corporation due to possible future litigation.

Also putting it in a letter will alert the higher ups that they may need to recall the chairs in all the units.

[Old and soft]

Glad your dw seems to have recovered.
Time to retain legal counsel. Unfortunately in today's society, the only way to get change, is to hit them where it hurts. You folks may be "the chosen one" to carry the flag for the rest of us that have been calling for change to the deaf profiteers in this industry. Or not.

[craigav]

Just a thought, I doubt Jayco manufactured the chairs (perhaps they did). In any case, any claim for injuries would be against the manufacture of the chair. At least that is my understanding. ~CA

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by craigav

Just a thought, I doubt Jayco manufactured the chairs (perhaps they did). In any case, any claim for injuries would be against the manufacture of the chair. At least that is my understanding. ~CA

I doubt it too. There should be a tag on the chair listing the manufacturer. Most of their furniture comes from Lippert, I know the Thomas Payne does and probably the Stacy Stewart as well.

[GTS225]

That may be, but the chair was supplied with the camper by Jayco, so there is liability on Jayco's part, too.
Even the dealership would be a defendant in the lawsuit, as it ultimatly was acting as an agent for Jayco.

A lawyer would look at this and think....."The pockets are getting deeper."

Roger

[Roodna]

The tag on the chair shows manufactured BY JAYCO Middlebury Indiana Oct 1 2019.

[Roodna]

Originally Posted by Shokyle1

The same thing happened to my son with the folding chair in my in-laws eagle ht fifthwheel. They are very poorly built chairs.

Would you be in a position to supply some details about his experience, maybe we have an ongoing problem that should result in a recall or a warning about a defective product?

[Roodna]

I am not very experienced in posting here but I wonder if we shouldn’t start a separate thread asking for any others having issues with these folding chairs. Enough incidents might force Jayco to act. Also would the U.S. NTSB have any jurisdiction or interest in this being it’s a recreation vehicle component (might be a stretch) or is there another agency that would regulate this type of issue?

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Roodna

I am not very experienced in posting here but I wonder if we shouldn’t start a separate thread asking for any others having issues with these folding chairs. Enough incidents might force Jayco to act. Also would the U.S. NTSB have any jurisdiction or interest in this being it’s a recreation vehicle component (might be a stretch) or is there another agency that would regulate this type of issue?

Or ask the mods to change the title of your thread to include folding chair.

[craigav]

Originally Posted by Roodna

The tag on the chair shows manufactured BY JAYCO Middlebury Indiana Oct 1 2019.

The picture certainly answers who made it. ~CA

[SmokerBill]

Originally Posted by Roodna

I can guarantee you that if I lived in the USA, Jayco would be facing a lawsuit by the next morning.

I don't think where you live matters in a case like this. Might be wrong, but wouldn't hurt to talk to an attorney. As was mentioned earlier, you may be the spark that turns the habit of shoddy RV workmanship around to more reasonable constructional expectations.

[Shokyle1]

Originally Posted by Roodna

Would you be in a position to supply some details about his experience, maybe we have an ongoing problem that should result in a recall or a warning about a defective product?

We were all just sitting around in their fifthwheel when my son hit the floor. He hit his elbow on the floor but other wise was ok. He is young I am glad it didn't happen to my in-laws they are in their 70's. They would have been in much worse shape. When looking at the chair I found the same issue as you did. The screws barely caught the wood or didn't catch it at all. Their unit was out of warranty so I fixed the chair. The chair is designed very poorly and without those screws there is nothing to keep it from collapsing.

[Roodna]

Originally Posted by Shokyle1

We were all just sitting around in their fifthwheel when my son hit the floor. He hit his elbow on the floor but other wise was ok. He is young I am glad it didn't happen to my in-laws they are in their 70's. They would have been in much worse shape. When looking at the chair I found the same issue as you did. The screws barely caught the wood or didn't catch it at all. Their unit was out of warranty so I fixed the chair. The chair is designed very poorly and without those screws there is nothing to keep it from collapsing.

Thanks for the reply and supplying the info, obviously this is not an isolated incident. If anyone else has experiences with this issue, please reply and provide a description of their experiences, maybe someone from Jayco will finally sit up and take notice of this. I won’t hold my breath, it’s been 6 months and nothing directly from Jayco yet.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Roodna

maybe someone from Jayco will finally sit up and take notice of this. I won’t hold my breath, it’s been 6 months and nothing directly from Jayco yet.

Jayco is not involved with JOF. As I mentioned earlier if you didn't follow-up immediately with a letter and only relied on the dealer and your email, it's probably long forgotten if it's been 6 months.