Most Pittsburgh area parents would never buy their child a toy that they knew was defective and could lead to serious injury. Unfortunately, they unknowingly do this on a regular basis. When it becomes apparent that a toy or other product used by children is dangerous or defective, it is usually recalled. In many cases injuries incurred by children due to the dangerous toys are the reason for this.

Recently, a recall of a toy was announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The manufacturer of certain scooters that were sold throughout the nation by Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us voluntarily recalled the toys. The reason behind the recall is a propensity for the scooters to suddenly accelerate while being ridden. That acceleration could lead to the battery operated vehicle crashing.

According to the manufacturer, Dynacraft BSC Inc., instances of acceleration have been reported at least nine times. Several of those instances led to injuries described as minor, such as bruises and bloody noses.

In total, more than 10,000 scooters are involved in the recall. Decorated with either "Hello Kitty" or "Monster High" graphics, they were available for purchase for four months starting late last year. Undoubtedly, children, some possibly living in the state of Pennsylvania, received these toys as Christmas presents.

It is not entirely clear what is causing the scooters to accelerate without warning, though it may have something to do with the battery used to make it move. Regardless, when a component to a vehicle is defective, it is possible that a products liability lawsuit could be filed.

Source: Fox Business, "Dynacraft Recalls More Than 10,000 Toy Scooters for Sudden-Acceleration Risk," Dow Jones Newswires, Feb. 26, 2013