Will Your Child’s Car Seat Provide Protection in a Car Accident?

 Posted on November 17, 2017 in Personal Injury

Illinois accidnet lawyerAs parents, we do everything we can to ensure our children’s safety. Unfortunately, there are times when danger is unavoidable, and this can be especially true when you are on the road. While driving is a routine part of modern life, it is inherently dangerous, and even the most careful drivers can become involved in a car accident. That is why it is important to take measures to protect your children every time you get into the car.

While you do your best to drive safely while your children are in the car and use safety equipment that will protect them from getting hurt, you may be exposing them to risk without realizing it. Here are two ways you can make sure your children have the protection they need from their car seats:

Be Aware of Car Seat Recalls

While you have been conscientious about using a car seat that will keep your child safe, car seats and car seat parts are often found to be faulty or to provide inadequate protection. Some recent car seat recalls include:

  • In October 2017, more than 500,000 Diono car seats were recalled due to safety issues in forward-facing seats which were installed using a lap belt without a top tether. In these cases, children that weigh more than 65 pounds were at risk of chest injury in a car crash.
  • In June 2017, Britax recalled more than 200,000 car seat chest clips. These clips were at risk of breaking in a collision, which could cause a choking hazard to children.
  • In May 2017, Graco recalled 25,000 car seats which had faulty webbing which could tear in an accident, resulting in inadequate restraint for children.

You should always pay attention to the news about car seat recalls and ensure that any faulty equipment is replaced immediately.

Follow the Right Car Seat Safety Practices

Parents can provide the safest possible environment for their children while driving by following these car seat safety tips:

  • Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure car seats are installed correctly. Be sure to properly fasten seat belts, LATCH anchors, and tether straps.
  • Children should use a rear-facing car seat until they are at least one year old, and preferably for as long as possible until they reach the manufacturer’s height and weight limits.
  • Children should use a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness until they reach the seat’s height and weight limits. This typically occurs around the age of seven.
  • Children should use a booster seat until they are at least 57 inches tall and between 80 and 100 pounds. When using booster seats, the lap seat belt should fit snugly across their thighs, and the shoulder belt should not go across their neck or face.

Contact a DuPage County Car Accident Lawyer

If you or your children have been injured in a motor vehicle collision, the experienced attorneys of Martoccio & Martoccio can help you recover damages for your injuries, whether they were caused by someone’s negligence or a defective product. Contact a Hinsdale car accident attorney today at 630-920-8855.

Sources:

https://www.romper.com/p/how-to-tell-if-your-diono-car-seat-was-recalled-for-lap-belt-safety-concerns-2899938

https://consumerist.com/2017/06/21/britax-recalls-207000-carseats-over-chest-clips-that-can-break/

http://www.fox8live.com/story/35504014/graco-to-recall-25000-child-car-seats

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/ct-auto-seat-check-saturday-20170922-story.html

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