Did you know that nearly half of all car seats are installed incorrectly? Car seats and booster seats help keep children safe in automobiles. When properly installed, car seats can reduce the risk of injury in a car accident by 71-82% for children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
To help keep children safe in vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is sponsoring Child Passenger Safety Week from September 15-21, 2019. The goal is to help parents and caregivers make sure that children are in the correct car seats, that car seats are properly installed and used, and that car seats are registered with the manufacturers so that parents receive important safety updates.
Car Seat Sizing and Installation
Selecting the proper car seat size for your child means considering the child’s age, weight, and height. Find a car seat that fits your child now, rather than choosing one for the child to “grow in to.” Manufacturers include guidelines on car seat packaging to help you find the right size seat.
If you have a car seat in your vehicle, you can visit a local Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to double check that it’s installed properly. The NHTSA also provides these helpful car seat installation instructions.
Register Your Car Seat
You’ll want to know right away if there is a safety recall for your child’s car seat. It is important to register all car seats with their manufacturers, whether through the postage-paid registration card in the packaging or online. This simple step will help you receive notification if a car seat defect is discovered so that it can be repaired or the seat can be replaced to keep your child passenger safe.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to an automobile accident, contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.