With an increase in the use of car seats and booster seats in the recent years, the number of children killed in traffic accidents has gone down, according to a new study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study shows that the number of children killed in car accidents has dropped 43 percent over the last decade. Officials say that even more deaths could have been prevented had more parents made sure that their children were properly secured in safety seats. About one-third of the children under 12 who were killed in traffic accidents in the year 2011, for example, were not buckled up.
In the year 2011, children accounted for 650 of the 21,000 driver- and passenger-deaths. The preliminary figures from the CDC show that the number of young child deaths dropped even further to 637 in the year 2012. The study does not conclusively say why the number of young children killed in traffic accidents has declined, but officials believe it could be due to more states passing laws requiring car and booster seats.
Using Child Safety Seats Correctly
Young children should only sit in the back seat in a child safety seat or booster seat depending on their size and age. Here are the types of seats you should use if your child is:
• Under 12 months old: All children under 1 should be in a rear-facing car seat placed in the center of the backseat.
• Between 1 to 3 years: Your child is safest when facing backwards in a rear-facing car seat, so do not change to a forward-facing car seat until he or she reaches the height or weight limit listed by the car seat manufacturer. Once your child has outgrown the rear-facing seat, then switch to a forward facing car seat with harness.
• Between 4 to 7 years: Your child should remain in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the height or weight limits. Then, your child can safely transition to a booster seat in the backseat.
• Between 8 to12 years: Only switch from a booster seat to the regular seat when your child is the right size to wear a seat belt properly. Make sure the lap belt fits snugly across the upper thighs and not the stomach.
Compensation for Injured Victims
If you or a loved one has been injured or if you have lost a loved one as a result of a car accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our skilled accident attorneys have a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a man who was hit by a van and injured, and $2,550,000 for another injured victim of a truck accident.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: CBS News