Goldman & Daszkal, P.A. cares about the safety of you and your family. As we begin the school year, we urge you to keep child passenger safety in mind.
Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children. Yet many minor lesions, serious injuries, and loss of life caused by vehicle crashes may be prevented with the consistent and proper use of booster seats, car seats, and seat belts.
In order to promote the proper use of child safety seats, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and SafeCar.gov have designated September 13-19 as Child Passenger Safety Week. Correspondingly, National Seat Check Saturday is September 19, 2015.
Please take a few minutes now to review the important safety information below so that you know the best way to provide safe vehicle travel for your children, grandchildren and friends.
Child Safety Seats: What You Need to Know:*
Select, Install and Register the Car Seat
- Select the type of car seat that best fits your child’s needs, size, weight, and age.
- Register your selected car seat by filling out and sending in the car seat registration card. This will allow the manufacturer to contact you quickly in case there is a safety-related defect or recall.
- Carefully review car seat instructions to ensure the seat fits your child.
- Follow instructions to properly install car seat with a seat belt, anchors or tether. Then, get a car seat inspection to be sure it was installed correctly. For more information and a list of free local car seat inspection locations, visit http://www.safercar.gov.
Follow these guidelines, and visit http://www.safercar.gov for more detailed information
- Use a rear-facing car seat from birth through age 3 for greatest safety. Certain car seats such as convertible or all-in-one models typically are built to allow your child to use the car seat in a rear-facing position for more time than other models.
- Once the child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, he or she can move to a forward-facing car seat with tether or harness (typically ages 4-7 years.)
- When the child outgrows the forward-facing car seat, he or she can use a booster seat in the back seat (typically ages 8-12 years.)
- Once the child outgrows the booster seat and fits properly in a seat belt (lap belt fits snugly across upper thighs, not stomach and shoulder belt lies snugly across chest and shoulder rather than across the neck or face), he or she can use a seat belt.
In order to properly wear a seat belt, make sure your child is able to:
- Sit tall without slouching.
- Keep his or her back against the vehicle seat.
- Bend knees comfortably over vehicle seat
- Keep feet flat on the floor.
Then, check that it fits!
- The lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach.
- The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest, and not cross the face or neck.
And don’t forget these important tips…
- Check the fit of the safety belt fit in every vehicle. In some vehicles, your child may need a booster and may not in others.
- Never let a child put the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back to avoid potential injuries in a crash.
- Children should sit in the back seat until they complete age 12.
- If the manufacturer contacts you or if you find out that there was a recall on the car seat model you own, contact the manufacturer and get the car seat fixed immediately. If you have questions, contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.
*Information adapted from the U. S. Department of TransportationNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration and http://www.safercar.gov powered by NHTSA.
Do you have questions about vehicle accidents and car seat safety?
Goldman & Daszkal, P.A. can answer them. Contact us at (954) 428-9333 or www.goldmandaszkal.com.
Since 1990, Goldman & Daszkal, P.A. has provided reputable legal representation to people throughout Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties. The firm has helped thousands of individuals recover compensation from motor vehicle and boating accidents, slip and fall accidents, product defect and liability cases, pharmacy errors, and negligent security cases to cover medical expenses, pay bills, take care of their families, and return to work. Goldman & Daszkal, P.A. can help you get the relief you need to start living your life again after a serious injury. For a free and confidential consultation, contact Goldman & Daszkal, P.A., at (954) 428-9333.
