Child Safety Seats and Accidents
Auto accidents are the leading cause of death for children of every age from 4 to 14 years old. In fact, each day on U.S. roads, an average of six children ages 0 - 14 are killed and 732 are injured in an auto accident (National Center for Health Statistics).When used properly, child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury in an auto accident by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars (National Center for Statistics and Analysis).
The dangerous consequences of children riding in the wrong type of restraint or not being buckled up at all are staggering. The Crash Injury Research & Engineering Network (CIREN) reported that children who are inappropriately restrained are nearly three and a half times more likely to experience a severe injury in an accident than those who are restrained properly. A full 56 percent of children who were killed in auto accidents in 2000 were not restrained at all (National SAFE KIDS Campaign).
Despite these numbers, only 6 percent, or 1.2 million, of the 20 million children who should be in car seats or booster seats are using them (NHTSA). And of those children who are using them, more than 80 percent are using them incorrectly (National SAFE KIDS Campaign).
Gordon & Doner is the proud sponsor of the local Florida SAFE KIDS Campaign Training Van.
Facts About Child Restraint Safety in Auto Accidents:
30 percent of infants are inappropriately turned forward before reaching one year and 20 pounds (Florida Child Passenger Safety and Resource Center).
29 percent of 3-year-olds are moved too early from child safety seats with a harness to booster seats that use adult safety belts ( Florida Child Passenger Safety and Resource Center).
83 percent of children 4 to 8 years of age are not fully protected by the adult safety belt ( Florida Child Passenger Safety and Resource Center).
64 percent of children suffer significant head injuries when involved in motor vehicle crashes. Children do not heal as easily from brain injuries as they do from injuries to other parts of their bodies ( Florida Child Passenger Safety and Resource Center).
62 percent of children in rear-facing seats and 67 percent of children in forward-facing seats were in restraints with the safety belts not locking the seats in tightly (National SAFE KIDS Campaign).
65 percent of children in rear-facing seats and 67 percent of children in forward-facing seats were in restraints with loose harness straps (National SAFE KIDS Campaign).
Tips For Child Car Seat Safety
The National Safe Kids Campaign cautions parents to do the following to make sure their child avoids the worst in the case of an auto accident:
To ensure your car seat is installed properly, visit one of the Florida car safety seat inspection stations today. It is best to call ahead for an appointment.
Click here for a list of fitting stations in our area.
Each year Gordon & Doner holds a safety seat inspection event at our office. Contact a Gordon & Doner lawyer at 1-800-659-1159 to find out more.
