Child Passenger Safety Week takes place during the third week of September. Organizations such as the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) use the event to raise awareness of safety issues related to the kids that ride in our cars. To help you and your child passengers stay as safe as possible, the car accident lawyers from Lerner and Rowe have assembled a Child Passenger Safety Week guide.
Follow These Child Passenger Safety Week Tips
According to the NHTSA, “Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children. 710 children (under 13) were killed in passenger vehicles in 2021, and more than 100,000 were injured.” Additionally, more than a third (36%) of children (under 13) who died while riding in passenger vehicles were unrestrained (i.e. improper child seat or seat belt use).
While those statistics are frightening, the good news is that the majority of child passenger deaths are avoidable. There are many simple things that you can do in order to greatly increase the safety of your child passengers. Here is what our passenger injury lawyers have learned from decades of successfully serving clients.
Use the Proper Safety Seat for Your Child’s Age and Size
One of the most important steps in increasing the safety of your child passengers is finding the right child seat and using it properly. Child seat laws vary from state to state, so be sure to check with your state’s motor vehicles division for full details.
That said, the NHTSA has a great tool that can help you find the right seat for your child. After all, kids come in different sizes and grow at different rates, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. NHTSA also provides a search option to help you find a local certified technician that can inspect your car seat and show you how to correctly install and use it.
Buy a Child Seat That’s Easy for You to Use
Many child seats feature highly engineered designs in order to maximize occupant safety. While our lawyers agree that safety is paramount when it comes to our children, there are some overly designed models that can make securing your child complicated. Before you purchase a safety seat, be sure it’s one that you’re comfortable using. It doesn’t matter how many bells and whistles a child seat has if you’re unable to use it properly.
Cars sold within the last two decades (starting with model year 2002) are required to have a minimum of two lower anchors and three tether anchors in order to make safety seat installation easier and more secure. If you’re driving a car older than that then make sure that the child seat you buy can be secured with a seat belt as well.
Teach the Importance of Seat Belt Use Early
As your child grows, they’ll eventually graduate from a safety seat and have to use a proper seat belt. Similar to child seat laws, child seat belt laws vary from state to state.
Most laws have a height requirement (usually 4’7”) for seat belt use, while other states also have age and weight requirements. Whatever the case may be for your state, it’s important to teach your child the importance of wearing a seat belt.
As we remind our clients and friends during National Seat Belt Day, nearly half the people that die in motor vehicle accidents every year do not wear seat belts. The NHTSA claimed that, “In 2017 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives and could have saved an additional 2,549 people if they had been wearing seat belts.” It’s crucial for your kids to learn that the simple act of wearing a seat belt can make the difference between life and death.
Contact Lerner and Rowe
The team at Lerner and Rowe hopes that you and your family have an excellent child passenger safety week. We encourage you to use the event to examine your safety practices and reinforce what you already know. Please share this guide with your family and friends so that the child passengers in their lives are as safe as yours..
Unfortunately, some accidents happen no matter how safe you’re being. If your child has been injured in an accident contact Lerner and Rowe for immediate assistance. Our team of knowledgeable and skilled personal injury lawyers will do everything possible to help you carry the burden of your child’s injuries so that you can focus on their health as they build a case that will get you the money that you deserve.
Lerner and Rowe is available to assist you and your family 24/7. You can reach us by phone at 844-977-1900 and online through encrypted online form and LiveChat. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Remember, our firm works on a “no win, no fee” basis so you do not pay a cent unless our attorneys have recovered money on your behalf. Reach out to us today and find out why Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys is one of the most trusted personal injury firms in the nation.