Installing a car seat for your child may seem straight forward, but according to a recent news article, approximately 80 percent of child car seats are improperly installed. This is a shocking statistic, especially when you consider that the leading cause of death among children 14 and younger is related to motor vehicle crashes. In order to make sure your child’s restraint is safe, follow these tips:
-Register your child’s car seat with the manufacturer. This way, you will know if a recall is made on the model.
-Know the history of the car seat. If it’s been in a car accident or is more than 6 years old, you should get a new one. Experts warn against buying a car seat secondhand, as it could be missing parts, or it could have been in a crash without your knowledge.
-Check the label for height and weight restrictions and make sure it’s appropriate for your child.
-Check your vehicle owner’s manual to see if they have any specific instructions or warnings regarding installing car seats.
-Make sure the seat is installed tightly, with correct use of the lower anchor tethers and recline. Most area police stations or other community groups will provide free car seat check-ups either routinely or once a year. Check with your local police stations to find where this is available.
In most states, children younger than 7 years old are required to be in a car seat. As a car accident lawyer, I know that preventative measures are extremely important when it comes to avoiding serious injury or even death in an accident. Additionally, making sure the product you choose to use to protect and restrain your child in the event of an accident is a sound and safe product is important to our Los Angeles personal injury law firm. If you believe that your child or someone you care about has been wrongly injured due to a faulty car seat, contact a product defect lawyer as soon as possible to protect and help you and your child or loved one.