Keeping Kids Safe When Traveling in the Family Car

As personal injury lawyers, we see a lot of car accidents, and we also help families deal with the complications that occur after these accidents. Often, children get hurt. It is a parent’s job to keep their children safe when they are driving.

Child Car Accident Statistics

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines a child as 14 years old or younger. According to 2017 data from NHTSA, an average of three children were killed in crashes every day in the United States. In Indiana, children accounted for 4.3% of all traffic fatalities in the same year.

Fortunately, the rate of children killed in motor vehicle crashes has been decreasing since 2008; however, these numbers are still concerning. Keeping kids safe while traveling should be of the utmost importance to parents, guardians, and all drivers on the road.

How to Keep Kids Safe

Follow these tips to keep children safe while in a car or other motor vehicle.

Get Car Seats Checked

Have your car seats installed or checked by a professional. It is important that your car seats are placed in the car properly. If not, your children are more likely to be hurt during an accident.

Use Appropriate Care Seats

The correct car seat for your children depends on how old your children are and how much they weigh. Additionally, make sure that your child faces backwards as long as necessary for their safety.

Check Car Seats Regularly

Children grow constantly. Check car seats to make sure that they fit correctly. You also have to consider whether they are wearing coats or are in plain shirts, which makes a difference in how tight the straps need to be.

Replace Car Seats After an Accident

After a car accident, replace all car seats. Car seats are like helmets: If they have been involved in a collision, no matter how minor, they should be replaced. Most insurance policies will cover the cost of a new one.

Contact an Automobile Accident Attorney Today

If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of a car accident, contact an Indianapolis auto accident attorney from Wilson Kehoe Winingham. The lawyers at WKW can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call 317.920.6400 or fill out an online contact form for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

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