Car accidents can be pretty tricky. Many different things need to be considered, especially when it comes to your children. Their developing bodies make them more susceptible to certain types of injuries. When a child is hurt in an accident, the parent or legal guardian has the legal right to recover compensation on their behalf.
Our injury and accident attorneys at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm can help protect your rights and seek maximum compensation from the at-fault party for your injuries and losses. Call us today at (470) 323-8779 or complete the online form on our website to request a free case review with one of our accomplished car accident lawyers in Atlanta.
Ways to Keep Children Safe While Travelling in a Car
Taking children on a trip can be fun and exciting. It can also be stressful and dangerous, especially if you are driving. Accidents happen every day, even to the most cautious of drivers. As a parent, you will want to take extra precautions to keep your children safe while driving. Check out a few simple ways you can ensure your child’s safety inside a car:
Get the Right Car Seats
The best seats for young children are ones that have been crash-tested, but you should also look for convenience features like ease of installation, compatibility with your particular vehicle model, and easy-to-use harnesses and buckles. In Georgia, children under 8 years must be placed in an appropriate child restraint system which could be a booster seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a guide to help you find the right car seat for your child’s size and age.
Children under the age of 8 should ride in the back seat to avoid injury from deploying airbags. Newborns and very young children should be in a rear-facing infant or convertible car seat to protect their heads, necks, and spines. Older children should be in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until they reach the maximum height or weight recommended by the manufacturer. Then, they should use a booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt until they’re tall enough to fit adult seat belts properly.
Wear Seat Belts
Once your child is old enough for a booster seat, they need to buckle up whenever riding in the car. Seat belts should fit snugly over the shoulder and across the hipbones — never under the arm or behind the back. Children should ride in this way until they are between ages 8 and 12.
If your child is too young to wear a seatbelt, you may want to place a pillow or thick blanket around them before strapping them in. This will prevent them from being injured if the car comes to an abrupt stop or gets into an accident.
Make Sure the Car Seat Is Installed Correctly
In addition to choosing the right car seat, you should ensure that it is appropriately installed in your vehicle. There are specific instructions for installing every kind of car safety restraint system. Make sure you follow those instructions precisely so that your child is properly protected in the event of an accident. If you have questions about installing your car seat, check with the manufacturer or speak with the expert at the dealership.
Keep a Tab on Power Windows
Power windows are a comfort feature in today’s vehicles, but when not secured, child safety locks can fail and power windows can be strong enough to injure or kill. These can strangle a child that puts their head out the window and can fracture fingers when extended if the timing isn’t perfect. Be cautious of power windows and ensure they’re properly secured before driving off with children.
Don’t Leave Your Child Alone in a Vehicle
Kids are curious and adventurous and can easily be tempted to explore the inside of a car when their parents aren’t around. So, although it may seem harmless to leave your child in the car for a few minutes while you run an errand, it could prove fatal.
Never leave a child unattended in a running car. Even if you think it’s safe and you’ll only be gone a moment, it’s not worth risking it. If you need to go into a store or business, take everyone out of the car with you — even if they’re sleeping.
Always keep your car locked and keep keys out of reach. Children can unlock doors easily, and once they’re inside a vehicle unattended, they can start the engine or shift the transmission into gear. If your car is parked at home, use anti-theft devices such as steering wheel locks or brake locks to prevent someone from taking off with your child in the vehicle.
What To Do If You’re In Car Crash and There a Child in Your Vehicle?
- Check yourself first. Make sure you aren’t injured before checking on the child. If you are hurt, get help immediately.
- Don’t move the child unless they are in danger or the car is on fire. Moving an injured person can make injuries worse. The best thing to do is to wait for a professional to arrive.
- Be careful removing the child from their safety seat because releasing the safety straps might cause additional injuries. Instead of unbuckling the safety straps, cut them with scissors or a knife that won’t cut skin.
- If the child has been ejected from their car seat, don’t move them. The force of a crash can injure internal organs, so moving them can do more harm than good. Wait for medical professionals to arrive instead.
- If your child has been harmed in any way, schedule a consultation with an injury attorney to obtain the entitled compensation.
How Experienced Attorneys at the CEO Lawyer Can Help
Injuries suffered in childhood can have long-term consequences and impact every aspect of a child’s life. Our attorneys at fhe CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm have extensive experience handling personal injury claims involving children. We know how to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, gather evidence supporting your claim, and work with medical professionals to determine the extent of harm suffered.
We understand that this is a difficult time for you and your family. Our legal team will make sure that you fully understand all of the legal issues about your case and keep you apprised as it progresses through each stage of litigation. We take pride in providing compassionate counsel while aggressively pursuing all of the compensation you deserve. Set up your free consultation with our attorneys by calling us at (470) 323-8779 or contact us online.
