A car accident is one of the leading causes of death among children. While fatalities in car accidents vary from one state to another, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says many fatal car accidents involving children can be prevented and thousands of young lives can be saved.
This past summer, two children were killed in a car crash involving four people not far away from Los Angeles.
Car accidents like this are not uncommon in Los Angeles and all over California, where thousands of children get killed mostly due to being improperly restrained or not wearing a seat belt at all.
A recent study found that a whopping 43% of children who have died in the U.S. were not restrained properly or were not wearing a seat belt at all.
Using car seats for infants and toddlers properly can reduce the risk of fatality by 71% and 54% respectively, according to the CDC.
Proper use of seat belts can reduce the risk of severe injury or death by 50%. But here’s the problem: 72% of car and booster seats are used improperly, according to the CDC citing a study.
In fact, using car and booster seats incorrectly can actually aggravate the risk of injury or death in car accidents involving children.
Here at the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg, we’ve navigated many cases where defective seat belts caused serious injuries and deaths to many young children.
Our finest Los Angeles car accident attorneys were able to hold manufacturers of defective seat belts liable for the injuries and fatalities to get compensation for the victims.
Although no money in the world is worth the life of a child, it’s vital to get justice and make those responsible for the death of a young child pay for their negligence.
Save your children by following these tips
Given the rather gloomy statistics about the improper use of seat belts as well as car and booster seats, it’s paramount to make sure that you’re following all the CDC recommendations to make your child’s ride as safe as possible:
- Use the proper seat belt, car, or booster seat for your child individually. Read the instructions to make sure it’s appropriate for your child’s age, height and weight, and make sure you follow all the instructions about its use
- Never ignore the need to use the proper restraint system even if you know the trip is going to be short
- Have your child or children seated in the back seat (preferably the middle of the back seat, which may leave your child unharmed in a car accident)
- Never allow your child to sit in front of an airbag
- It’s recommended to use a rear-facing car seat for children under two
- It’s vital to use a booster seat for children aged over five until a seat belt fits them correctly
- Make sure the car and booster seats undergo a checkup from one of the certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians before using them.
Some car accidents are inevitable no matter how many safety recommendations you follow. There will always be those who don’t follow driving rules, speed through red lights, and drive under the influence.
Contact our experienced Los Angeles car crash lawyer to investigate your particular case and provide you with the best legal representation.
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