Car Seats

Child passenger safety and car seat usage

While Americans are basically aware of the need to protect child passengers by using a car or booster seat, there continues to be a significant injury and death rate from collisions where children are not properly restrained. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the problem is significant:

• In the United States during 2011, more than 650 children ages 12 years and younger were killed in motor vehicle crashes, and more than 148,000 were injured.
• In one year, more than 618,000 children ages 0-12 rode in vehicles without any use of a child safety seat, booster seat, or a seat belt at least some of the time.
• Of the children who died in a crash in 2011, 33% were not buckled up.

How do we improve the safety of our child passengers?

To prevent motor-vehicle crash injuries to children, more public education, along with strengthened car seat laws and improved access to car seats for low-income parents, will decrease injuries to child passengers. Also, an increase in the age requirement for car seat and booster seat use will decrease injury and death rates.

How does the use of a car seat affect the insurance claim of a child injured in a motor-vehicle crash?

Just as car seat and booster seat use may affect the level of injury after an auto accident, their use may also affect a resulting insurance claim. After a child has been injured in a crash, it is important to get the help of a personal injury lawyer who can build an insurance claim and protect the rights of the injured.