millerboycott.com

Cars are one of the leading causes of injury to minors and children. From infancy, children and infants are driven around in cars, and this does put them at risk for serious injuries in car accidents. Across the US, car accidents are the leading cause of fatalities for children in the 3-14 age group. Unfortunately, young children are less protected by adult safety belts and air bags – in fact, these devices can seriously harm a child. Children are also more likely to suffer serious injuries in a Miami car accident, since child-aged Miami brain injury victims and spinal cord injury victims, for example, may take longer to heal and may face more complications. Since children are smaller and more vulnerable, they may suffer more serious injuries.

Adult safety devices such as airbags and seatbelts may pose a hazard to young children, there is much evidence that age-appropriate restrains save lives. According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), child restraints have saved approximately 8959 between 1975 and 2008.

It is important to select a car seat or age-appropriate safety restraint system by considering your child’s weight, age, and height. Age alone may not determine the right restraint, since children may grow at different rates. A child that is large for their size, for example, may need to get a restraint for an older child. If you need help choosing a restraint that is right for your child, the NHTSA website has many useful resources that can help.

Once you find the right car seat for your child, consult your car owner’s manual or the seat manufacturer’s directions for the proper use and installation of the car seat. Failure to use the car seat as directed can result in injuries for your child. For as long as possible, keep young children in a car seat – until they no longer fit the weight and height requirement for the seat. As well, once you have a child car seat, make certain that you check often for defects and recalls. You can register the car seat online – often with the manufacturer of the seat – to receive instant notifications in case the product is ever recalled.

The restraint recommendations for your child will change over time. In general, you will want to keep babies in infant seats which are rear-facing. Toddlers are often safest in child safety seats that face forward. Once children are no longer toddlers, they are typically allowed to use a booster seat and to sit in the back using a regular seat belt. In general, children who are younger than 13 years of age should ride in the back seat. According to the NHTSA, this is the safest place for your child to be in the event of a Miami car accident. Florida is one of only four states that does not have a booster seat law, but parents can still choose to use a booster seat for their children. In the event of a Miami traffic accident, a booster seat can ensure that an adult seat belt does not cut into your child’s neck or face, causing serious injuries.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Florida injuries to minors and children are very common in state car accidents. Police officers and child safety advocates note that just any seat belt, however, will not help keep a child safe. The wrong seatbelt can actually cause more injuries. For example, using a regular seatbelt rather than an age-appropriate child safety seat with very young children can result in serious injuries in the event of a collision.

Children under the age should be in a child safety seat in the back seat of the car. Infants should be in rear-facing seats while older children and toddlers can be facing forward, but must be in child safety seats designed for their age group. Most experts agree that until age two, children should be in rear-facing seats. Once children are between 40 and 65 pounds, they can be placed in child safety seats with harness and buckles.

Children under four-feet nine inches in height or under 8 years old should be placed in booster seats. This is because in the event of a Florida truck accident or car accident, the seatbelt can cut into a child’s neck, causing serious and potentially life-threatening injury. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, children should always be in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old. Younger children are much safer in the back, even when they no longer need a child safety seat. The back seat provides more cushioning and more protection in the event of an accident. Children who are in the back seat will suffer fewer injuries from the windshield. As well, airbags, which are now standard in most cars, can be dangerous to children when deployed. The airbags inflate very suddenly and because children are not as tall as adults, children tend to be pushed into the airbag with great force. This can and does cause injuries.

According to federal statistics, the widespread use of child safety seats does seem to have an impact on child safety in car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4% of the nation’s fatal car accidents resulted in the deaths of minors 14 years of age and under. This is 3% lower than the number of childhood deaths in car accidents in 2008. This is despite the fact that the amount of miles traveled by Americans in cars actually increased in 2009. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 179,000 children sustained injuries in 2009 car accidents.

Child safety seat use does seem to be closer to universal – but booster seats are a different problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009, 96% of children between the ages of 1 and 3 were placed in child seats and 89% of children under 13 years of age used child restraints appropriate for their age. 41% of children between the ages of 4 to 7 use booster seats. Child safety advocates would like to see that number increase in order to help safeguard children. The message is clear: In Florida car accidents, age-appropriate safety seats and restrains can save lives and can help prevent injuries.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog