The Safety of Car Seats and Boosters in Florida Auto Accidents
Brian O Sutter
Traffic Accidents
When we purchase a car seat or a booster seat for our children, we expect that the manufacturer has done their job and has taken the steps to ensure that these devices are safe for use in automobiles. Many even guarantee parents that to ensure safety, their car seats and boosters have been through several tests, including side-impact tests and simulated realistic side-impact crashes. However, while this may have proven to be a big selling point for parents, the side impact testing may have actually fallen below where it needed to be for it to be proven safe and effective.
pact Testing and Booster Seat Safety
We have all seen the commercials of the crash test dummies being put through rigorous auto accidents to test a vehicle, its seatbelts, and even car seats and boosters. Many use a T-bone crash to see how far a person could be thrown from the seatbelt and how much a car seat may move in the vehicle.
When it came to Evenflo Big Kid Boosters, tests showed that there could potentially be serious spinal, head, and neck injuries along with a higher probability of death. Even with these findings, Evenflo had given this booster seat a passing grade in the category of safety during a side-impact crash.
However, their safety bar was so low, that the only way the booster would have failed during testing was if it were left in pieces on the floor of the car as a result of the collision. ProPublica collected video testing, transcripts, and other evidence from the testing of these booster seats.
A good car seat can reduce the risk of injury in an auto collision by 71 to 82 percent for children when compared to only using a seatbelt. Booster seats have been found to reduce the risk of serious injury by approximately 45 percent for children between the ages of four and eight years old.
Car Seat Laws and Guidelines
When it comes time to purchase a new car seat or booster for your child, you want to be sure it was safety tested and approved. Several resources are available to help you find the best one for your child, including state car seat laws, general guidelines, and other tips to help keep your children safe.
Once you have purchased your new car seat or booster, be sure to register the seat, so you are notified of any recalls. Each child seat also comes with its own specific height and weight requirements. The American Academy of Pediatrics is a good source of information.
Infants and toddlers under the age of two years should be in a rear-facing car seat until they have reached the height and weight as specified by the car seat's manufacturer. Toddlers over the age of two and preschoolers who have reached the height and weight requirements can use a forward-facing car seat with a harness. School-aged children can use booster seats once they have outgrown their other car seats.
All other older children in the vehicle need to wear their lap and should seat belts appropriately for the absolute best protection.
Car Seats Following an Accident
If you have been in an auto accident, then you will want to refrain from continuing to use that same car seat or booster that was in the vehicle at the time of the accident. They should be replaced following any moderate or severe accident to ensure a high level of crash protection for the child.
For more information on car seat and booster safety, visit NHTSA to see more guidelines and recommendations. If you have been involved in an auto collision recently, you should also seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury attorney to help navigate the claim process and get you the compensation you deserve.