Car accidents are a leading cause of childhood injuries and deaths. Fortunately, many injuries that children face in car crashes are avoidable. Using a safety seat or booster seat correctly could save a child’s life.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state using proper car seats for infants lowers risk of death in a crash by 71 percent. Toddlers are also safer in a car seat, reducing the risk of fatal injury by around 45 percent.
Using Car Seats
The CDC found car seat use reduces the risk for injury to a child in a crash by 71–82 percent compared with seat belt use alone. However, one study found that in one year more than 618,000 children ages 0-12 rode in vehicles without the use of a safety or booster seat, or a seat belt, at least some of the time. Additionally, some parents were using the wrong kinds of car seats for their children.
The type of car seat you need for your child depends on your child’s height, age and weight. The seat belt needs to fit properly across your child’s shoulders and waist. If a child is too big to use a safety seat, it may be time to move to a booster seat. Booster seats should be tall enough that the lap belt fits securely across your child’s lap. Any cross belt should fall along your child’s shoulder.
A common problem with using car seats is that not all parents and caregivers know how to use them appropriately.
Get Help Installing Your Child’s Car Seat
A Child Passenger Safety technician will be happy to help make sure car and booster seats are installed correctly. Visit the National Child Passenger Safety Certification Training website to meet with a trained technician or instructor in your area.
Your child deserves protection, and a good car seat helps. If you’re a victim of a crash and your child suffers injuries, you have a right to seek compensation.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do.
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Child Passenger Safety: Get the Facts“
