When it comes to driving, car accidents happen. It’s important to remember that not all passengers of vehicles are adults. Children are often present in motor vehicles, and they are all too often the casualties of fatal accidents. To parents, nothing is more important than the safety of their child. Don’t stop with just basic safety while driving. When it comes to the car, safety begins with child passenger safety seats.
This week the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be observing Child Passenger Safety week. The weekend will commemorate National Seat Check Saturday, where parents will be able to have their child’s safety seat inspected to be sure it as safe as possible for no charge.
You may not know it, but according to the CDC, motor vehicle accidents have been shown to be the leading cause of death for children in the U.S. That’s more children dying from car accidents than fires, sickness, and accidents put together. While you cannot always prevent an accident from occurring, safe driving and child passenger safety seats have been proven to reduce these types of deaths. In fact, child safety seats worn correctly by infants reduced deaths from motor vehicle accidents by 71%. That’s a huge number.
Thankfully, all fifty states currently have child passenger protection laws. Violations are a primary offense in 48 states and a secondary in Colorado and Nevada. If you are operating a motor vehicle and do not have your child in a safety seat, you could be pulled over and issued a ticket for it. In Florida, children must travel in a child passenger safety seat restraint that is federally approved until they are 8 years old or over four foot nine.
Unfortunately, it’s not always a lack of a car seat that is the problem. If safety seats are not used correctly, the results can be disastrous. Parents often utilize seats incorrectly completely accidentally. One study by the CDC found that out of 3,500 seats, 72% were misused. This increased the chance for severe injuries and deaths caused by a motor vehicle accident for the children inside them.
Parents will be able to ensure that their seats are working properly and are correctly fastened on Saturday. Police departments and nonprofit organizations will be holding checks absolutely free of charge. If you are a parent of a young child, find an inspection station near you.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a motor vehicle accident that involves children, traffic accidents, negligence, or wrongful death, contact a motor vehicle accident lawyer at The Law Offices of Payas, Payas, and Payas.
