Every trip. Every time. Four simple words that can save a child's life. This week, Sept. 19-25, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will reinforce this message by again hosting its annual Child Passenger Safety Week. The goal of the campaign is to remind parents that securing a child in a properly installed and age- and size-appropriate car seat is the best thing they can do to protect their most precious cargo in the event of a Palm Beach car accident or accident elsewhere in South Florida.
The good news is that most parents, friends, family and caregivers know that the law requires children ride in car seats. Unfortunately, the NHTSA has found that 3-out-of-4 car seats are not properly installed. To address this, the week-long campaign will culminate with "National Seat Check Saturday" on Sept. 25, a day devoted to free child seat inspections.
Despite more than 30 years of increasing nationwide public awareness and legislation specifically devoted to child passenger safety, car accidents remain the leading cause of death among children aged 3-14. With that said, from 1975 to 2008, more than 8,950 children's lives were saved because they were using appropriate child restraints when a car accident occurred.
In fact, placing an infant (age 1 or younger) in a child safety seat reduces the likelihood of that child being killed in a vehicle crash by 71 percent. And the risk of a toddler (age 1 to 4) being killed in a car accident is diminished by 54 percent if they are buckled up. Children ages 4 to 7 who use booster seats are 45 percent less likely to be injured in car crashes than children who are restrained only by seat belts.
For a clearinghouse of information regarding car seats to an overview of child passenger safety, visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Here you will also find a recent review of more than 70 car seats, as well as safety ratings and other valuable information about how well the seats will fit your vehicle.
Click here to find a child seat check location in your area.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a Boca Raton, Naples or Fort Myers car accident, contacting the Hollander Law Firm today for a free and confidential appointment will help you better understand your rights. There are never any fees or costs associated with representing you unless we are successful in making a financial recovery on behalf of you and your family. Offices in Boca Raton @ 561-347-7770, Naples @ 239-774-7779 or Fort Myers @ 239-337-7070.
