When we travel in our vehicles, we need to make sure that our children are as safe as possible and protected in case of an accident. You never know when an accident may occur, and even a short trip could result in a serious incident. Vehicles accidents are the leading cause of death for children under the age of 13. Each year, thousands of young children are killed or injured in car crashes. Proper use of car seats helps keep children safe, but with so many different seats on the market, many parents find this overwhelming. If you are expectant parents, give yourselves enough time to learn how to properly install the car seat in your car before your baby is born to ensure a safe ride home from the hospital.
The type of seat your child needs depends on several things, including your child's age, size, and developmental needs. Read on for more information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) about choosing the most appropriate car seat for your child.
Child Restraints Save Lives
The use of child restraints is proven to save lives. The National Safety Council published a report about child restraint use. The report shows that unrestrained children are as much as 50% more likely to die in an accident as children who are properly restrained. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides recommendations for child restraint use.
There are four different child passenger safety and seat belt use recommendations.
Children under the age of 1 must always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
Keep young children in rear-facing seats for as long as possible. When they outgrow the rear-facing car seat, they should ride in a front-facing seat.
Children ages 4 to 7 should use forward-facing car seats based on the height and weight limitations of the manufacturer.
When a child outgrows a car seat, they should move to a booster seat.
Children ages 8 to 12 should ride in booster seats until they are big enough to fit into the vehicle’s seat belts properly.
Adult car seats should only be used once the child can be properly restrained by a standard seat belt.
Drivers can face tickets and fines if they are found to be driving with children who are not properly restrained in child safety seats or booster seats.
Proper Child Seat Installation
It is essential that the child safety seat or booster seat is installed properly in the vehicle. Many times, the seats are found to be installed incorrectly and will therefore not provide adequate protection for the child. There are many different child car seat manufacturers and many various vehicles. This can make it difficult to install the seat correctly into your particular car. A Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPS) is a trained professional who will check and inspect your car seat and teach you proper installation.
You can make an appointment for a free car seat safety check through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. You can search for a list of locations in College Station where you can get a free car safety seat check. It is best to make sure that your car seat is installed correctly to prevent injuries in a crash.
If you or your child were injured in a car crash in Texas, you may be owed money for your injuries. Contact Paradowski Law today to discuss the details of your case. Call (855) 524-2976.