Car Accidents - A Leading Cause of Childhood Deaths

Protect your child by following proper safety procedures in the car.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that car accidents are a leading cause of death of children. It reports that a large number of childhood deaths due to accidents can be avoided by following proper safety procedures while traveling in a car.

Use of Car Seats

Car seats are known to prevent deaths and data provided by the CDC also indicates that the use of proper seatbelts reduces the risk of death by 71 percent in infants and 54 percent in toddlers. For children between 4 – 8 years of age, the use of a booster seat reduces the risk of serious injuries by 45 percent. The risk of death amongst older children reduces by 50 percent when they are wearing seat belts.

Choosing the Correct Restraining System

Having the right restraining system and using it correctly is very important for ensuring the safety of children while traveling in a car. Incorrect use can, on the contrary, increase the risk of serious injury. The CDC has provided recommendations for ensuring the safety of your children.

• A child’s age, height, and weight are the main factors for determining the type of restraint; for example, a car seat, booster seat, or a seat belt, to be used in a car.
• The length of the trip should not govern the type of restraint used. Even for a small trip to a local grocery store, you should put your child in the correct restraint.
• Children should always sit in the back seat and never on the front seat next to the driver.
• Children should never sit in front of an airbag as a child will not be able to withstand the impact of the airbag in case of an accident.
• Children below two years should sit in rear-facing car seat and those between the age of two to five years should be sitting in a forward-facing car seat.
• A seat belt should be used for children above five years when the seat belt starts fitting properly without the booster seat. Make sure the lap belt lies across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt lies across the child’s chest.
• Car seats should be properly installed and it is advisable to seek help from a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician for installation.

St. Louis Car Accident Attorney

It is extremely important that a safety restraint system is used correctly; failure to do so can have disastrous consequences. If your child is injured in a car accident and you claim compensation for the injuries, your case can be adversely affected if you failed to secure the child properly.

If you child has been injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, contact a St. Louis car accident attorney from The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. to protect your child's legal rights.

The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C.

(314) 361-4242