According to the study, in the year 2012, 340 children ages 4 to 10 died in car accidents and 35 percent were not even buckled up at the time of the crash
New York, N.Y (PRWEB) October 22, 2014
A new study published by child safety group, Safekids Worldwide, has found that many parents do not know the safety rules when it comes to using their child's booster seat. According to the September 2014 report, the group surveyed 1,000 parents of 4 to 10 year old children and found that seven in 10 parents were not aware that a child should be at least 4-foot-9 to ride in a car using a seatbelt without a booster seat.
The study also found that nine out of 10 parents move their child from a booster seat into a seatbelt before their child is big enough. In addition, one in five parents whose children carpool say they "bend the rules" when driving, letting children ride without seatbelts and without the car seat or booster seat they would normally use, Sakekids Worldwide reports.
According to the study, in the year 2012, 340 children ages 4 to 10 died in car accidents and 35 percent were not even buckled up at the time of the crash. Car accidents are the second-leading cause of death for children of that age group, second only to cancer, the report states. Using booster seats reduces the risk of serious injury by 45 percent compared to seatbelts for children 4 to 8 years old, the study found.
This is a timely and essential study, which shows not only that booster seats enhance safety for young children, but also that parents don't know enough about using these seats, said New York personal injury lawyer Kenneth A. Wilhelm. "We've seen car accident cases where small children had been restrained improperly with seatbelts and suffered serious abdominal, neck or even facial injuries. Parents should keep their children in booster seats until they reach the right height and weight."
Parents should also refrain from taking short cuts when it comes to their children's safety, Wilhelm said. "Whether your child is riding in a carpool or in someone else's vehicle, it is crucial you let them know that your child should not ride without his or her booster seat. Taking shortcuts in these matters can have devastating consequences."
Here are some useful booster seat tips Wilhelm offers for parents:
- All booster seats are required by law to comply with the same standards and guidelines as child safety seats.
- Never use a booster seat that has been in an accident. Such a seat may have defects that are not visible.
- Never use just a lap belt across a child sitting in a booster seat.
- Do not put the shoulder belt under the child's arm or behind the back because it eliminates protection for the upper part of the body and puts the child at risk for serious injury in the event of a crash.
- Do not use pillows, books or other objects to boost the child.
Contacting the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm
For questions or comments please contact the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm. Our New York personal injury attorneys can help victims and families with car accident cases. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida.
The TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496),1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
The Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm
445 Park Ave, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10022
(212) 545-7373
Please visit us at: http://www.WORK4YOULAW.com