Children are some of the most vulnerable in traffic accidents. Their bodies can’t take the force of an accident as effectively as an adult, and so they’re injured and killed more often than adults in these events. This is why safety advocates across the nation are stepping up and asking both parents and guardians to do their jobs to make sure that young children are properly buckled in during each and every car ride. It’s all a part of Child Passenger Safety Week, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
According to the latest traffic data, over a third of children under the age of 13 who were killed in passenger-vehicle accidents in 2011 were not properly belted in when the accident happened. The truth is that children need extra occupant protection, specially designed for their size and age to provide the best safety in a vehicle.
Our Cape Coral car accident lawyers know motor vehicle accidents continue to be the top cause of child deaths in the U.S. In 2011, there were 2 children under the age of 13 killed and another 350 injured each and every day while riding in passenger vehicles. But regardless of what kind of vehicle you’re in or how old your child is, it’s critical that they’re buckled in. Kids turn to us for safety, and it’s about time we ensure it.
“Car seats, when correctly installed and used, provide proven life-saving and injury-reducing benefits for child passengers.” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.
From 1975 to 2011, there were about 10,000 young lives (under the age of 5) saved because they were properly seated and belted in a child restraint system. In 2011 alone, officials estimate that more than 250 young lives were saved.
So before getting in and heading out, make sure that you follow these listed safety tips to help to protect our youngest motorists:
-Make sure that your child’s car seat is appropriate for their size, height, weight and age.
-Remember that as children grow, how they sit in your car will change. Make sure the car seat you purchase is designed to fit your child’s current size and age.
-Make sure you’ve gone through the seat’s owner’s manual to make sure you’re using it correctly in your vehicle.
-Stop by one of the many car seat inspection stations in the state of Florida and have your child’s car seat inspected and properly installed by a trained professional.
-Head over to SaferCar.gov and register your child car seat to stay informed about any safety recalls or other related news.
-Make sure you’re always buckled in, too. Drivers who buckle up are more likely to buckle in their youngest passengers.
-Share this information with those who may also be transporting your child, like babysitters and daycare centers.
-Adults can stop by SaferCar.gov/TheRightSeat to find out more information regarding the proper car seat for your child.
Call today if you or your child has been injured in an accident. We offer free and confidential consultation to discuss victim’s rights. Call 1-800-283-2900.
More Blog Entries:
Kids & Hot Cars and Your Risk for Injury in Southwest Florida , Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, August 25, 2012
Keeping Our SWFL Bus Stops and School Zones Safe, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, September 10, 2013