Child Passenger Safety Week 2016
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With Child Passenger Safety Week quickly approaching, we’re taking some extra precautions to alert parents, babysitters, grandparents, and any other individual who may be driving with children in the care about the correct way a child should ride. Between September 18th and September 24th, Child Passenger Safety Week will be working to boost awareness of the number of child deaths or injuries in automobile accidents.
The Reality of Automobile Accidents
Automobile accidents can be dangerous for anyone, but for children under the age of thirteen who are not properly restrained, the consequences can be even more serious. According to a 2012 study, there were 121,000 injuries in children under the age of thirteen due to crashes. Of those 121,000 injuries, more than one third of these children were not properly restrained.
While it may seem like an added hassle, a booster seat or car seat is crucial for keeping kids safe during car rides. A rear-facing car seat can be lifesaving for children under a year old while booster seats and car seats allow seat belts to fit them properly, keeping them safe and restrained in the event of a car accident.
How to Choose the Right Seat for Your Child
Having a booster or car seat is important, but having the right booster or car seat for your child’s age and size can be equally beneficial. If you’re unsure about what kind of seat your child would need, consider this guide:
- Birth – 1 Year: Any infant under one year should remain in a rear-facing car seat.
- 1 Year – 3 Years: Smaller or younger children should be kept in rear-facing car seats as long as they still fit comfortably. Once they have outgrown the rear-facing seat, they can advance to a seat with harness and tether.
- 4 Years – 7 Years: Children should remain in a seat with harness and tether until they outgrow the maximum specifications for that seat. After the maximum height and weight have been met, a booster seat is recommended.
- 8 Years – 12 Years: Smaller children may find that they need to stay in a booster seat until 12 years, but the seat can be eliminated beforehand if the seat belt fits them properly. A proper seat belt should sit across the thighs, not the stomach, and across the chest and shoulder, not the neck or face.
Each child may be different because of their unique weight and height.
You will need to take special measures to ensure your child is not injured in a car accident. If you or your loved one has been in an accident that was not their fault, contact the New York City personal injury attorneys at Held & Hines, LLC.
Posted in: Auto Accidents, Personal Injury
