Child Safety Seats - Use Them Right and Save a Life

Did you know that according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), child safety seats reduced death in passenger cars by 71 percent in infants under 1 year and by 54 percent in toddlers 1 to 4.  Considering the benefits of car seat use, it is startling that the NHTSA estimates that 3 out of 4 child safety seats are not used properly.

Car seat laws exist for a reason and should be followed to the fullest extent. It is very easy when in a hurry to rush through buckling your child in his or her car seat. It is just as easy to instead place them in someone’s lap for a quick trip to the store, but the few seconds you save by not following the proper procedures to make sure your child is safe are not worth the consequence of being in a car accident that injures or kills them.

While it is true that some individuals may be careless, most simply do not realize that their children are not correctly restrained or are over or under the weight and height limitations for the car seat in which they are riding.

There are resources in your area, such as child safety seat inspection stations, which do not charge for inspecting and correcting the installation of car seats. Many times, these stations are located at your local fire department or at your county’s health department.

Although there are basic national recommendations for how children should be restrained, each state has its own specific laws, with which every family should become familiar. These laws can be found online or by stopping by one of your local inspection stations. As an added safety measure, always be sure to thoroughly read any literature that comes with your car seats.

Visit www.nthsa.gov/Safety/CPS to learn more. Also, check out Ty's Library and his article Car Seats Save Lives - Child Restraint Safety Information.

Ty Wilson is a personal injury attorney in Georgia and is dedicated to helping injured people and their families. Call his office today at 888-689-5224 to order his free book, 10 Secrets of Georgia Car Wreck Claims. This book is intended to give you and/or your loved one a solid foundation regarding Georgia auto accident claims, how to hire an attorney, and how to deal with the insurance company prior to speaking with an attorney.