Last month, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved a new federal safety standard for children’s booster seats, including those used at home and in restaurants. This standard does not apply to booster seats intended for use in vehicles.
There were a total of 912 incidents related to booster seats reported to the CPSC between January 1, 2008 and October 31, 2017. These incidents included two fatalities. Head injuries as a result of falling out of the booster seat are the most common injury hazard. Restraint/attachment issues, problems with the seat, lock/latch failures, and problems with the tray or design are other common hazards.
The new safety rule incorporates the most recent standard developed by ASTM International. It also includes several points to help make sure that consumers know the proper way to use booster seats and how to keep kids safe while using them. For example, the booster seat’s retail package should indicate minimum dimensions for the adult chair that the booster seat can fit onto. There should also be a warning on the booster seat that reminds consumers to ensure that the seat is securely fastened to the adult chair before it is used. Booster seats should have an active means of attaching to an adult chair to prevent falls. Also, consumers should stop children in booster seats from pushing away from the table to prevent falls.
If your child has been injured due to a defective booster seat, 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.
