Child Passenger Safety Week

Tragically, the leading cause of death in children 13-years-old and younger is from injuries related to car crashes. In many cases, these car crash deaths can be prevented through the use of the appropriate child restraint device, including seat belts, booster seats, rear-facing car seats and forward-facing car seats.

Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 13 through 19, is promoted by The Department of Transportations National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and The Ad Council to encourage parents and caregivers to keep their most treasured assets safe by finding and maintaining the appropriate safety seat for their child.

There are a variety of different car seats and harnesses available for children. The NHTSA provides reviews and evaluations of different car seat options to help parents make informed decisions for best safety practices.

In ensuring the safest ride for your child, you should take into account these factors:

• Make sure the seat properly fits your child, based on their given age and size.
• Make sure the seat is installed appropriately. Proper installation for your child passenger seat is crucial for safety.
• Make sure the seat fits properly in the vehicle being used.
• Make sure the car seat is registered with manufacturers, in order to be notified of potential recalls.

Child Passenger Safety Week will provide opportunities across the country for caregivers to get their child safety seats inspected, including checking for proper installation. In addition, parents and caregivers can get help registering their car seats.

The NHTSA is encouraging all parents to register their car seats with the manufacturer so they will be notified and can take immediate action if a recall is issued on the seat. The NHTSA is bringing special attention to this after more than six million car seats were recalled in 2014 in the largest car seat recall in U.S. history.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, our attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers are here to help you get the justice you deserve. We have helped thousands of clients recover damages for their pain and suffering.