Driving is one of the most dangerous activities we engage in on regular basis. It is also dangerous for our children passengers; therefore, we have to take special safety measure to help protect our most precious asset.
According to AAA, motor vehicle “… crashes are the leading cause of death for children from 3 to 14 years old. Every day in the United States, an average of 4 children age 14 and younger were killed and 529 were injured in motor vehicle crashes during 2008.”
These statistics are startling, but the good news is that there are many ways to protect our children while they are passengers in a motor vehicle. The most important thing we can do for our children while they are passengers in a motor vehicle is to ensure that they are properly restrained. Proper safety restraints can range from a seatbelt to a car seat. However, many people are not aware that there are four stages of proper safety restraints for children.
First is the rear facing car seat; according to AAA, the rear facing car seat is used with children that are newborn to one year of age (or greater than 20 pounds). It is important to make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s specifications for proper instillation, use, and weight and size limitations.
Second is the forward facing car seat; according to AAA, the forward facing car seat is appropriate for children that are over one year of age or greater than 20 lbs. Again, make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s specifications for proper instillation, use, and weight and size limitations.
Third is the booster seat; according to AAA, the booster seat is typically used for children between the ages of 4-8 until the child is 4’9” tall. Again, make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s specifications for proper instillation, use, and weight and size limitations.
Fourth is the seatbelt (aka safety belt); according to AAA, “[a] child is ready to switch to an adult belt when he can sit with his back straight against the vehicle’s seat-back cushion and bend his knees over the seat edge without slouching. The safety belt should fit low across the hips and thighs and across the shoulder and chest. It should not cut into the child’s abdomen or neck.”
Car seats, booster seats, and seatbelts have been shown to drastically reduce injury and/or death to children involved in motor vehicle crashes. AAA states, “[a]n estimated 8,959 lives were saved by child restraints from 1975 to 2008. Car seats have been proven to drastically improve the odds of survival in the event of a crash. Research shows that safety belts and safety seats – when properly used – are the most effective tools in preventing injuries and deaths in vehicle crashes.”
If you or a loved one were injured from an accident, please contact us at Thacker and Mulvihill, PLLC for a free consultation. Care, Compassion, and Preparation: Florida Personal Injury Law As It Should Be.