Important Tips for Parents and Guardians from Aronfeld Trial Lawyers
In the United States, car accidents are the leading cause of death in children between the ages of three and fourteen. Parents and caretakers may not be able to prevent every car accident, but there are important safety standards that parents can follow to keep their Child Passenger safer.
Buckle Up
The best protection for your child passenger when riding in a car, truck, or SUV is a physical restraint. Car seats save more pre-adolescent lives than any other factor. Given that car accidents are the leading cause of death for children ages three to 14, finding the right car seat is essential to safety.
While many expensive options exist, the best car seat for your child’s safety is going to fulfill two main objectives. First, the seat will buckle properly into your vehicle, whether it uses a seat belt, or the LATCH system. Second, the straps on the car seat will fit snuggly around your child.
Most car accidents involving children happen close to home. Many caretakers forget this essential fact when putting kids in the car to run a quick errand or drop an older child off at school. It may seem like an insignificant decision to leave the car seat unbuckled or not carefully secure straps around your child. However, accidents are most prone to happen during these routine trips.
Children Should Always Ride in the Backseat
Second to using a good car seat, where you place your child passenger is also important. Studies show that children under 13 are five times safer when they are secured properly in the back seat. Young children should never sit in the front seat. Accident statistics show that children who are seated up front, even in car seats, are more likely to sustain injuries in head-on or side collisions. Moreover, the same airbags that provide protections for the driver and adult passengers can harm small children. By moving your kids to the middle or back seat, you can cut the possibility of serious injury in half.
Ensure Your Child’s Car Seat is Installed Properly
Research from Safe Kids Worldwide, reveals that more than half of all car seats are installed improperly. It’s a scary statistic, and hard to ignore. In fact, 64 percent of car seats are not installed using the top tether. The tether secures the top of a car seat to the vehicle seat and keeps a forward-facing car seat from plunging forward at a sudden stop or crash. Other common installation mistakes include the car seat and harness being too loose.
Do Not Hesitate to Seek Medical Attention.
Children are particularly fragile and at risk of injury in the event of a car accident. The force and trauma involved in a car accident can result in more serious injuries to their smaller bodies, and it can be more difficult for children to discuss pain or injury. Many children hurt their heads, chests, and lungs in auto accidents; exactly where or how these parts of the body hurt can be tough for a child to describe. Therefore, parents and guardians should be proactive about seeking medical attention for children involved in an accident. If an injury is suspected or likely, do not hesitate to call for emergency medical care, see a pediatrician, or make follow-up appointments with a specialist.
Receiving Insurance Benefits and Obtaining Experienced Legal Counsel
While we hope today’s safe and secure car seats prevent any injury to young children in the event of an accident, you want to know your options if injuries do occur. Specific insurance plans cover passengers involved in a motor vehicle accident, including children. Our No. 1 Tip for Florida drivers is to carry uninsured motorist coverage on your policy.
If an insurance company refuses or undermines your request to cover children’s medical expenses, legal options are available. Florida allows guardians to bring actions on behalf of minor children as guardian ad litem.
FREE Consultation With a Child Car Accident Injury Attorney
After an accident, you will have questions regarding insurance coverage, recovery of children’s medical costs, or the appropriate process for bringing a personal injury claim as guardian ad litem. A child car accident injury attorney in Florida can answer these questions.
If you or your child passenger have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Florida it is very important to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. Spencer Aronfeld is a Board Certified Trial Lawyer, and he and the lawyers at Aronfeld Trial Lawyers understand Florida’s complex personal injury laws and since 1991 we have fought hard to protect the legal rights of the injured and their families- and hold auto insurers like State Farm, Allstate, Progressive, GEICO and others accountable for the pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages and other damages suffered by our clients.
Contact us today and speak with an experienced Miami personal injury attorney toll free 1-866-597-4529, local 305-441-0440, or by email. We offer a free initial consultation at your home, office, hotel or hospital. Call us today, we are ready to help.
