According to the CDC, car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in children. However, many of these deaths can be prevented. Proper car seat use cuts the death risk by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers. Booster seat use in children aged four to eight reduces serious injury risk by 45% compared to the use of only a seat belt. Below are some recommendations that may help parents and children be safer on the road as well as information on how auto accident attorneys Brockton can help in some cases.
Safety Recommendations
The CDC recommends that parents use the correct restraint system for their children. The correct option depends on a child’s weight, height, and age. Restraints should be used on every trip, no matter how short, and children should always sit in the rear seat. Children should not sit near airbags, and babies under two should be placed in a rear-facing car seat. Parents should model good behavior for their children, by always wearing a seat belt themselves.
Requirements
Every jurisdiction has laws on child safety seats, but requirements may vary by location. Fines and enforcement provisions can vary widely, with some areas making safety seat violations a primary offense, meaning that a driver can be stopped for that reason alone. However, this provision applies mainly to seat belt rules for older children as opposed to child restraints.
Consequences of Improper Child Restraint Use
The consequences of improper use of child restraints are significant, as shown in CDC statistics. Moreover, if a child is injured in an auto accident, a parent’s failure to secure them properly may keep auto accident attorneys Brockton from helping them to make a financial recovery after a serious injury or death.
How Parents Can Learn About Their Legal Status
There are few things more devastating than having a child who is killed or severely injured in an auto accident. In many cases, numerous factors are in play, including the use of restraints and other drivers’ behaviors. Some parents can even share liability for an accident where failure to properly secure the child is a factor. If a parent needs help sorting out their legal situation, they should call The Law Office of Bruce S. Raphel PC for a no-obligation consultation. Click here for more details.
