As a parent of a young child, you are busy. In fact, you may even feel like you are always on the go. Sit back for a minute and think about all the car trips you and your child take every week. There may be daily trips to preschool or daycare, in addition to weekly trips to the grocery store, grandma’s house, and to take older siblings to sports practices. Now, consider the fact that almost fifty percent of all car seats are not installed correctly. It makes one wonder if your child is as safe in the car as you think.
As a parent, there is peace of mind in knowing that your child is indeed safe on those numerous car trips. Recognizing this need, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has sponsored Child Passenger Safety Week, which is being held September 15 – 21, 2019. The purpose of this campaign is to promote care seat safety awareness, and to reach the following goals:
- Correct fit.
When shopping for a car seat, fit is key. First, determine which type of seat your child needs. It is important that a child is in the right type of seat for his or her age, weight, and height. Children come in all different shapes and sizes and so do safety seats. From rear-facing bucket seats to front-facing convertible seats to boosters, a seat must be properly matched with a child to ensure the child is safe. Next, make sure that the seat you are looking at works with your vehicle. Not all seats fit in every vehicle.
- Proper installation.
Car seat installation can be tricky and varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. After you have installed your new seat but before your child rides in it, it is recommended that parents and caregivers have their safety seats inspected by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. They will double-check to make sure the seat is properly installed and that you know how to safely buckle your child into the seat. To find a technician located near you, you can visit the NHTSA’s website. Proper installation can mean the difference between life and death. In 2017, an estimated 325 lives under the age of 5 were saved because they were correctly buckled into a safety seat. Sadly, 46 more children could have been saved if there were buckled properly.
- Registered with the manufacturer.
The last critical element is that parents and caregivers register the car seat with the manufacturer. This step is often overlooked but is critical so that the manufacturer can communicate any information about the seat such as safety recalls. If owners cannot find the registration card that came with the seat, registration can also be done online. This way if there is a defect found in the seat the proper repair or replacement can be made.
Make sure that any time your child travels in a vehicle that he or she is properly restrained. In 2017, 675 kids ages 12 and younger died in vehicle crashes. It is estimated that more than 35% of children who died in car crashes were unrestrained.
If your child was injured after being involved in an automobile accident, it is critical that you schedule an appointment to speak with one of our seasoned Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys. Only an experienced Personal Injury Attorney can make sure that his or her rights are protected. The attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. are skilled advocates who have helped countless accident victims, in both Kansas and Missouri, obtain just compensation. Our compassionate team of attorneys will fight to protect you and hold the wrongdoers accountable. To schedule an initial consultation with one of our Injury Attorneys, contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673.