The U.S. government is suing Britax Child Safety, Inc. to stop the South Carolina-based company from selling its jogging strollers that are being blamed for at least 97 injuries.
200 Complaints Over Wheel Detachments In Britax Strollers
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has filed administrative complaints against Britax after the latter failed to recall a jogging stroller whose design, the CPSC claims, poses hazards to both children and adults.
Consumers have so far filed at least 200 complaints since January 2012 citing wheel detachments in certain models of B.O.B. jogging strollers.
The CPSC said in a statement released on Friday, Feb. 16 that children who were injured from use of the strollers suffered from concussions, dental injuries, contusions, abrasions, and injuries to the head and face that require stitches. Adults, on the other hand, had torn ligaments, abrasions, and bone fractures.
The CPSC also said that the complaint aims to halt the sales of the strollers and for Britax to notify the public and address the safety issues of its stroller.
CPSC said that the design of the strollers make it possible for them to be rolled regardless if the front wheel is not properly secured.
The agency said that wheel detachments can cause the stroller to tip over and possibly injure the children who are in the device and the adult operator. Of the reported injuries, 50 involve children and 47 involve adults.
Strollers Safe When Used As Instructed
Britax defended its decision saying that the strollers are safe when these are used as instructed. The company said that the front wheel detachments are not a defect in the design of the product.
"Because the front wheel can be removed when necessary, it folds up easily and compactly for transport and storage. CPSC wants to eliminate this functionality," Britax said in a statement released Feb. 16.
Sarah Tilton, Consumer Advocacy director at Britax said that all BOB jogging strollers were rigorously tested and these often go above and beyond performance requirements
"At Britax, our commitment to improving child safety through research, testing, design, and community advocacy is unparalleled. We engineer our products to exceed the safety standards set by the federal government," Britax claims.
Britax Strollers Available At Second-hand Stores
The strollers in question were sold for $400 to $650 at mass retailers and independents stores across the country. The CPSC said that many of these are now available in second-hand stores.
