Did you know last week was Child Passenger Safety Week? It was observed September 18 through September 24. Additionally, the last day of Child Passenger Safety Week was National Seat Check Saturday. If you missed out on the safety week, don’t worry because we’ve got your back. Here, we will discuss Child Passenger Safety Week and provide child passenger safety tips.
We hope the below discussion helps you keep your loved ones safe. If a driver injures you in a Las Vegas area car accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer will help to protect your rights and ensure you receive maximum compensation. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
What Is Child Passenger Safety Week?
Child Passenger Safety Week is a time to spread education and awareness about the importance of child passenger safety. It is also a time for parents to learn more about finding the right car seat for their child’s age, height, and weight. Children are our most precious passengers. Taking steps to keep them safe in vehicles can help avoid tragic accidents.
Why Is Child Passenger Safety Important?
Child passenger safety is important year round. Consider the following data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
- In 2020, 614 children ages 12 and younger were killed in traffic crashes while riding in passenger vehicles.
- Every 25 seconds a child 14 and younger is involved in a crash while riding in a passenger vehicle.
- In passenger cars, car seats reduce an infant’s risk of fatal injury by 71 percent.
- On average, two children under 13 were killed every day in 2019 while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups, and vans.
- An estimated 374 children were injured every day in 2019 while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups, and vans.
- In 2019, 608 child passenger vehicle occupants died in traffic crashes. Thirty-eight percent of the children who died in 2019 while riding in passenger vehicles were unrestrained. This was an increase of five percent from the previous year.
Child passengers in Las Vegas have already lost their lives this year. Last month in Las Vegas, a young child was injured and a 3-month-old baby died after a crash. Their mom who was driving the car was allegedly driving under the influence and the children were unrestrained in the vehicle.
We hope you and your loved ones are safe in your vehicle. We also understand that accidents can happen, even to the most cautious individual. If you or a loved one are injured in a car accident due to the fault of someone else, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. The experienced team at Anthem Injury Lawyers can help you protect your rights and help you get the personal injury settlement that you deserve. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
For a free legal consultation, call (702) 857-6000
Child Passenger Safety Tips
The best child passenger safety tip is to make sure that your child is properly restrained. Younger children should be restrained in a car seat or booster seat that is appropriate for their height and weight. Older children should wear a seat belt every time they are in the car. This isn’t just important for safety, it is also required under Nevada law.
Below we discuss how to find the right seat for your child. Keep in mind when selecting a car seat that not all car seats fit all vehicles. When you select a car seat make sure it fits your child as well as your vehicle. For more information on car seats, see Are You Car Seat Smart?
Find the Right Seat
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has an online tool to help you find the right seat for your child. To use the tool, you simply input the following information about your child:
- Date of birth
- Height
- Weight
Once you enter the information, the website provides you with recommended car seats based on your child’s age and size. First, the recommendations are provided by car seat type. Then, it provides a list of car seats that meet your child’s needs. The list provides the following information on the car seats:
- Brand and model
- Acceptable child height
- Acceptable child weight
- Whether the seat is rear-facing, forward-facing, or a booster
- Ease-of-Use ratings
Car Seat Types
Did you know that there are four types of car seats? The following are the four types of car seats:
- The rear-facing car seat has a harness and is best for a young child. In a crash, a rear-facing car seat cradles and moves with the child to reduce the stress to the child’s fragile neck and spinal cord.
- The forward-facing car seat has a harness and tether that limit the child’s forward movement during a crash.
- A booster seat positions the seat belt so that it fits properly over the stronger parts of a child’s body.
- A seat belt should lie across the upper thighs. It should be snug across the shoulder and chest to restrain your child safely in a crash. The seat belt should not rest on the stomach area or across the neck or face.
Properly Install and Use Your Car Seats
Once you have selected the right car seat for your child, you should also check that you have correctly installed the car seat and know how to use the car seat. You can check via an inspection station or a virtual inspector. To have your car seat inspected, use the Car Seat Inspection Finder or Find a CPS Technician.
Select the Right Seat for Older Children
Many children ages 8 to 12 still need booster seats. Do not move your child to an adult seat belt until the adult seat belt fits them properly. Children should continue to ride in the back seat at least through age 12. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a seat belt fits properly if the following is true:
- The shoulder belt lies snugly across the shoulder and chest, not crossing the neck or face.
- The lap belt lies snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach.
EXPERIENCED LAS VEGAS PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
We hope the above tips help you and your family stay safe. If you or a loved one is injured in a Las Vegas area car accident, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Some people wonder why they need a personal injury lawyer to help them.
Your choice of an accident lawyer is one of the most consequential decisions you will ever make. It’s important to select a Las Vegas attorney that can put you in the best position to win your case. That’s why you need to speak with Anthem Injury Lawyers. Our experts offer you the best opportunity to win top compensation. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
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