As a personal injury attorney and a mother, car seat safety is something I’m incredibly passionate about. I am a mom on the move, and during every trip to the park, visits to see family, and late-night drives to help my little ones drift to sleep, I know the car seat I chose is responsible for protecting my most precious treasures.

The alarming data behind the importance of car seat safety

A child without proper restraints is highly vulnerable in a vehicle collision, and this fact is tested every minute of every day. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a child is in a vehicle collision about every 25 seconds. In 2021, 710 US children were killed in traffic collisions, and over 100,000 were injured. Of the children who died, 36% were not adequately restrained.

When we drive with children in the car, we are legally required to ensure they are adequately secured. Although child passenger safety laws vary from one state to another, my home state of Connecticut requires children under two years of age or 30 pounds to be seated in a rear-facing car seat that provides optimal support for a child’s head, neck, and spine during an accident. It is by far the most secure way to travel. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents use rear-facing car seats until they reach the maximum weight or height limit permitted by the car seat manufacturer.

Connecticut law also requires children between two and five years old or weighing under 40 pounds to be in a child restraint with a five-point harness. Kids aged five to eight or weighing 40-60 pounds must use either a five-point harness or a booster seat, which elevates them enough to ensure a proper fit of the car’s regular lap and shoulder belts. Children at least eight years old and over 60 pounds can use either a safety belt or a booster seat.

These laws are designed to protect children, and while we must follow the law, it’s even more critical that we do everything we can to protect our children’s safety. Properly installing their car seats is the best way to ensure they are fully secured on the road.

How to properly install and use car seats

A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that 46% of parents don’t use car seats and booster seats properly without realizing it, making them less effective. Common errors include placing the infant car seat at the wrong angle, securing the car seat or booster seat too loosely, incorrectly positioning the lap belt on the child in a booster seat or the chest clip on the child in a car seat, and installing the car seat with twisted harness clips.

The NHTSA determines that using a correctly installed car seat decreases the chance of a fatal accident by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. To guarantee correct installation, we can first follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions closely and then double-check the seat is properly installed by asking officials at a nearby fire or police department that offers public safety inspections.

Along with installing the seat correctly, we must also ensure that we properly secure our child each time we go for a ride. Their harness should fit tightly against their body, with the chest clip positioned at armpit level to prevent the straps from sliding off their shoulders. Because the straps and clips shift with time, we should remind ourselves to check and make adjustments on a regular basis.

When should car seats be replaced?

Something parents may not know is that a car seat needs to be replaced after it’s involved in a car accident. The good news is that if the accident was not your fault, the other driver’s insurance or your own insurance (if you have collision coverage) usually pays for the replacement.

The NHTSA recommends replacing car seats after moderate or severe crashes, and most insurance companies follow those guidelines by covering the cost of a new one to ensure the safety of children. Just make sure you share the type of seat that was damaged in the crash so that, when you file your claim, you get reimbursed for a seat that matches the quality and value of the damaged one.

Even after a minor accident, it’s a smart idea to replace the car seat. When it comes to your family’s safety, you can never be too careful.

The legal weight of responsibility in car seat safety

Without exception, every state in the US mandates the use of car seats. Although these regulations vary, one common thread is an acknowledgment that car seats are non-negotiable in keeping our children safe.

Even beyond requiring car seats for children, the law specifies that we must use them correctly. This critical distinction that many overlook includes the direction the car seat faces, its installation, and the positioning of harnesses and straps.

Legally, we shoulder the responsibility for car seat safety by selecting the appropriate seat and ensuring its installation aligns with the specifications outlined by its manufacturer. In a collision, learning to properly install and use the right car seat could make all the difference. Our children are counting on us every day and every mile.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Article kindly provided by  Alex Mario, Attorney — Carter Mario Law Firm