Car Seats

A car seat used in the correct way can reduce the chances of injury or death by 70%. Parents are usually overwhelmed when it comes to the many choices of car seats for their child. A Car Seat Safety Specialist says the first step is knowing your child’s exact height and weight, then getting a car seat with the highest limits. “It’s important to choose the seat that is going to allow you to keep your child in the right stage for a longer period of time,” they said. “You want a seat that allows your child to stay rear-facing as long as possible, and that will keep them in harness straps when forward-facing for as long as possible.” Parents are often worried about when to convert their rear-facing car seat into forward-facing. Many parents disagree on what age their child should be. “Parents try to rush from stage to stage, but your child is safer rear-facing than forward-facing, and they’re safer in a harness than in a booster.” Safety regulations say a child must be harnesses until they reach 40lbs, then ride in a booster until they reach a certain height or are nine years old, according to news reports.

As a car accident attorney Orangeburg, I hope caretakers and parents are careful when selecting and using a car seat. If you or a loved one were hurt by a defective product, discuss your case with a personal injury attorney who can evaluate your claim, assess your case, help defend your rights, and answer any legal questions you have concerning your case.

Even if you’ve made sure to strap your child into her car safety seat according to the best and latest recommendations to ensure adequate security, if your child is wearing bulky clothes or several layers, she might not be as safe as you think, report news sources.

Proper fit is the key to child safety seat effectiveness, so making sure car seat restraints are adequately snug, is paramount. However, if a child is wearing a puffy winter coat or several layers of clothing, all of that bulk is subject to coat compression, meaning that, in an accident, clothing fabric can compress, making straps and restraints too loose to protect your child. Babies and toddlers are more at risk in this scenario than older children.

Experts recommend that parents and caregivers strap children into safety seats before bundling them up. Some clothes and blankets are designed with openings to allow straps to pass through so that the restraints lay under the fabric. Layering a blanket or putting a coat on backward after the child is securely in the seat will help with warmth without compromising safety.

As a Charleston car accident lawyer, car safety is something that I am very conscious of. I encourage parents and caregivers to stay up to date on the best car safety practices for their children. Because of my experience as a Charleston personal injury attorney, I am very aware of the split-second difference between everything seeming fine and a terrible vehicle crash. I urge motorists to always practice safe driving habits.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death of children between the ages of 3 and 14, report news sources. Statistics indicate that states with more rigorous child safety seat laws, including booster seats for older children, are saving the lives of more kids.

Booster seats use the car’s seat belt to restrain a child, lift the child up so that the seatbelt fits properly. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety evaluated 83 booster seats for their latest set of recommendations. Of the seats evaluated, 31 were rated as “best bets,” meaning the seats were considered safe and effective. Five seats were given a “good bet” listing and six seats were not recommended.

When choosing a booster seat, fit is key. Make sure the lap belt lies flat across the child’s upper thighs. The shoulder belt should cross snugly over the middle of the shoulder. Using a seatbelt incorrectly with a booster seat, can lead to injuries in the event of a crash, including internal organ and spine injuries.

As a Columbia auto accident lawyer, child safety is something that I am very conscious of. I encourage parents and caregivers to get trained in the best ways to use child safety seats and booster seats. Because of my experience as a Columbia personal injury attorney, I am very aware of the split-second difference between everything seeming fine and a terrible vehicle crash. I urge motorists to always practice safe driving habits.

The cooler temperatures and nature’s vibrant foliage make fall and inviting time to go for a bicycle ride with your family. Using a bicycle trailer is a great way to get moving and enjoy time with your child. If you are considering using a bicycle trailer on a ride, experts have some safety suggestions to keep the ride fun and safe:

• For safety and visibility, make sure the trailer has a flag perched on top of it
• Before leaving the house, inspect the trailer’s hardware to make sure everything is up to snuff
• Be familiar with the trail and terrain of your route before taking your child; remember, travel downhill may be more difficult because of a higher risk of loosing control of the bicycle and trailer
• Make sure you child is in the mood for a ride: check to see if she’s fussy or crabby
• Above all, have fun!

As a Beaufort personal injury lawyer, child safety is something that I am very conscious of; I encourage parents and other family members to become familiar with the best way to use a bicycle trailer so that everyone can stay safe and have fun. Because of my experience as a Beaufort workers compensation attorney, I am very aware of the split-second difference between everything seeming fine and a fall or injury. I urge cyclists to always practice safe riding habits.

The cooler temperatures and nature’s vibrant foliage make fall and inviting time to go for a bicycle ride with your family. Using a bicycle trailer is a great way to get moving and enjoy time with your child. If you are considering using a bicycle trailer on a ride, experts have some safety suggestions to keep the ride fun and safe:

• Be sure your child is wearing a bicycle helmet
• Strap you child securely into the trailer
• Make sure the trailer doesn’t tip over even if you’re bicycle takes a spill
• Wait until your child is at least a year old before putting her into a bicycle trailer
• When purchasing a used trailer, inspect it for structural integrity, make sure it has not been recalled or involved in a crash
• Inspect the fabric for holes that a child could stick an arm or leg through—there shouldn’t be any

As a Charleston personal injury lawyer, child safety is something that I am very conscious of; I encourage parents and other family members to become familiar with the best way to use a bicycle trailer so that everyone can stay safe and have fun. Because of my experience as a Charleston workers compensation attorney, I am very aware of the split-second difference between everything seeming fine and a fall or injury. I urge cyclists to always practice safe riding habits.

A 4-month-old girl was killed and several other people were injured Saturday in a single-vehicle crash near Spartanburg, say media reports.

According the South Carolina Highway Patrol, shorty after 7 a.m., a Decatur, Ga. Man was driving a sport utility vehicle northbound on Interstate 85 near the Interstate 26 exit when he lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn.

Four of the five occupants of the SUV including the infant, who died at the scene of the crash, and a 12-year-old girl were unrestrained at the time of the crash and were ejected from the vehicle. A 7-year-old boy, who was wearing a seatbelt, was also injured, but he was not thrown from the vehicle.

As a Spartanburg auto accident lawyer, I have witnessed first-hand the grief and sorrow of those left behind after an unexpected death. My heartfelt condolences go out to the baby’s family, friends and loved ones. I hope that they are getting all of the help and support they need during this challenging time. Being a Spartanburg personal injury attorney, I am well aware of the types of injuries that can be suffered in a rollover accident. I wish the all of the people injured in the crash a rapid recovery from their injuries.

Child car seats can be the difference between a few scrapes and serious injury in a crash, so it’s important to make sure your child’s car seat has not reached its expiration date, say news reports.

Every year, approximately 11 million child safety seats are purchased in the United States. Each of those seats is considered effective for about six years and should have an expiration date stamped on the bottom of the frame.

The time stamp is the result of research that indicates that the plastic materials used in the safety seat degrade overtime because of exposure to ultraviolet light, which is intensified through car windows. This degradation leads to reduced effectiveness of the car seat’s ability to withstand impact in the event of a crash. You should also dispose of a child safety seat that has been involved in a crash because of compromised effectiveness.

If tossing an expired car seat in the landfill does not appeal to you, car seat recycling is gaining traction around the country. Often the large plastic pieces and metal parts can be recycled, so check around to find out if there is a car seat recycling program in your community.

As a Beaufort car accident attorney, child safety is something that I am very conscious of; I encourage parents and caregivers to get trained in the best ways to use a child safety seat. Because of my experience as a Beaufort personal injury lawyer, I am very aware of the split-second difference between everything seeming fine and a terrible vehicle crash. I urge motorists to always practice safe driving habits.

Researchers have released a video that helps highlight the severity of what can happen to an unrestrained child in a motor vehicle crash, report news sources.

The eight-second video was made by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute in an effort to demonstrate the importance of using child safety seats. The researchers used two 33-pound crash test dummies to simulate 3-year-old children riding in the back seat of a vehicle during a crash. One dummy was restrained in a forward facing safety seat; the other was left unrestrained. The simulated crash replicated the conditions of moderate to severe crash at roughly 30 mph.

In the dummy representing the unrestrained was flung into the back of the front passenger seat then tossed back into the rear seat. Researchers say that in a real-life situation, the child would have either been killed or suffered serious injuries. Had the restrained dummy been a real child, it probably would have walked away from the crash with just minor injuries like scrapes and bruises.

Experts recommend that children be restrained in safety seats until they are either 8-years-old or 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

As a Charleston car accident attorney, child safety is something that I am very conscious of; I encourage parents and caregivers to get trained in the best ways to use a child safety seat. Because of my experience as a Charleston auto accident lawyer, I am very aware of the split-second difference between everything seeming fine and a terrible vehicle crash. I urge motorists to always practice safe driving habits.

In a study released Thursday, researchers found that most parents are not using child safety seats correctly, report news sources.

The study, conducted by non-profit group Safe Kids USA, found that only 30% of caregivers are using the tether straps designed to keep the top of the seat and children’s heads secured in the event of a crash. The study also found that many people responsible for children in vehicles are not using the safest seat for the child’s age.

Researchers reviewed 79,000 car seat checklists that Safe Kids collected at voluntary inspection events held in 2009 and 2010 in what is believed to be the largest study ever done of child safety seats. The non-profit suggests that the rate for proper use of child safety seats is even lower than what is stated in the report because the safety checkup events are voluntary, therefore supporting the idea that more education regarding proper safety seat use is needed.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 3 and 14.

As an Orangeburg car accident lawyer, child safety is something that I am very conscious of; I encourage parents and caregivers to get trained in the best ways to use a child safety seat. Because of my experience as an Orangeburg auto accident attorney, I am very aware of the split-second difference between everything seeming fine and a terrible vehicle crash. I urge motorists to always practice safe driving habits.

Media outlets reported that twenty-five children participated in a car safety seat checkup event that was sponsored by Head Start and the Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

During the checkup, certified child passenger safety technicians helped parents properly install car seats and safely secure their children in the seats. Technicians reviewed labels on the seats to make sure the restraint was appropriate for the child’s age, weight and height, while also checking for recalls and expiration dates.

Of the twenty-five seats checked, twenty-one had at least one error in use. The certified child passenger safety technicians provided the results of the checkup.

Parents and caregivers do a good job of installing the car seats tightly in their vehicles. Only seven of the seats were installed too loosely. However, many of the seats had other installation errors like the incorrect use of the lower anchors and tethers. Sixteen car seats had errors related to how the child was secured in the restraint, like the harness straps not being snug over the child. Two car seats had previously been in a crash or the history of the seat was unknown. One seat was expired. Car seats shouldn’t be used if they’ve been in a crash or are over six-years-old.

Child Passenger Safety Program director Dawn Mayer said, “There are many different types of car seats and vehicles and it can be confusing to use car seats correctly. Parents should check the labels for weight and height limits and they should read the car seat instructions and vehicle owner’s manual for information on lower anchors, tether anchors, air bags and how their seat belts work.”

As a Florence car accident lawyer, I’ve seen the results of improperly secured car seats in car accidents and hope that this information is useful in ensuring the safety of the children in our community. If you’ve been involved in an accident that you feel was the result of another’s negligence, speak with a car accident lawyer in your city.