September 17–23 was Child Passenger Safety Week. But it should be every week!
As a personal injury attorney, I wanted to bring your attention to important information regarding children in cars and some tips on how to make sure your smallest passengers stay safe!
First, a few crucial details you should know:
- Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of injury and death for children.
- For infants and toddlers, using the right kid safety seat can reduce the chance of a fatal injury by up to 71% and 54%, respectively.
- For older children and adults, seat belts reduce the risk of serious injury by about 50%.
Here are 4 Tips to Ensure Child Passenger Safety
Make Sure You Choose the Appropriate Car Seat for Car Seat Safety
Infants and young children should ride in rear-facing car seats until they reach the manufacturer’s recommended maximum weight or height. When your child outgrows the rear-facing seat, switch to a forward-facing car seat with a harness, then switch to a booster seat until your child is tall enough to fit correctly in a seat belt, which is typically around 4 feet 9 inches tall.
You can get custom guidance provided by NHTSA here.
Install the Car Seat Properly for Car Seat Safety
For accurate installation instructions, refer to both the car seat manual and the owner’s manual for your vehicle. Ensure the car seat is securely installed and does not move more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back. Place the car seat in the back seat, preferably in the middle. Call the car dealership where you purchased the vehicle if you are experiencing any trouble installing the car seat.
Insist on Seat Belt Safety
Teach your kids the value of fastening their seatbelts each time they enter the car, and lead by example by wearing yours. Please make sure the seat belt fits properly; the shoulder belt should cross the shoulder and chest, not the neck, and the lap belt should rest on the upper thighs rather than the stomach.
Complete Regular Car Seat Checks
Take advantage of free car seat inspections by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to ensure your child’s seat is correctly installed.
By following these guidelines and staying informed, we can work together, this week and always, to significantly reduce risk and protect the most vulnerable in our community. If you have any questions about child passenger safety, car seat safety or any other legal matters, I’m here to do whatever I can to keep your family safe and secure.
Robert M. Klein
Robert Klein helps people. In January 1994, he started his own firm focusing on personal injury cases. These include wrongful death cases, motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents; slip & fall (or trip & fall) cases, and dog bites. He represents people who suffers broken bones, permanent scarring, or the family who lost a member in a wrongful death case. In 2022, he merged his firm with Deldar Legal in order to provide more services to his clients. Visit Deldar Legal to learn more about Robert.