National Child Passenger Safety Week is recognized Sept. 13 to 19 throughout the country. It is an effort put forward by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to raise awareness about the importance of child safety in vehicles.
Car accidents are the number one cause of death among children in the U.S. But many of those deaths can be prevented through the appropriate use of the right type of car seat for your child.
There are four types of child restraint devices available for children: rear-facing car seats, forward facing car seats, booster seats and a simple seat belt. Each seat has specific age and weight restrictions that can help you determine which seat will best-protect your child.
It is also important that parents correctly install their car seat and that it fits your vehicle. Each manufacturer of each type of car seat should provide instructions on the appropriate installation for your car seat. This is an important step in making sure that your car seat will work correctly in the event of an accident.
The NHTSA also strongly encourages every parent to register their car seat with the manufacturer. Last year, a record more than six million car seats were recalled for safety defects. However, because not everyone registered their product, less than half of that total were fixed.
Registering your car seat is a simple step to ensure that you are notified of any and all product recalls affecting your car seat in a timely and dependable manner.
Child safety is a top priority for both the NHTSA and the attorneys at O’Connor, Acciani and Levy. We encourage every parent to get their child’s car seat inspected this week to ensure their safety.
If your child is hurt in an auto accident, a personal injury lawyer in Cincinnati from our law firm may be able to help you get the justice you deserve.