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.
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