(Photo credit: Eric Hamiter/Creative Commons)
Many of us rely on cars to help us get around, whether it’s visiting family or heading to the store for groceries. While cars are tested to ensure that vehicles are safe for drivers and passengers, there’s an increased risk of injury for child passengers.
Seatbelts are meant to protect passengers from injury, but they can only keep passengers safe that are about 145 cm (4′ 8”) tall and weigh at least 36 kilograms (80 pounds). Children usually reach this height when they’re between the ages of eight to ten. Until children reach this age, the seatbelt doesn’t rest properly on their body, which endangers them if they’re involved in an accident. Before children reach the proper height and weight to safely use seatbelts, they should be using a car seat or a booster seat when they’re riding in a vehicle.
Using the proper restraints can help your child avoid head injuries, spinal cord injuries, other serious injuries and even death, if used properly. According to Parachute Canada, in cases where child passengers suffered serious injuries, 92 per cent of infants were not using the proper restraint, while 74 per cent of toddlers and 96 per cent of school-aged children weren’t either. There are laws regarding the restraints required for children, but legislation varies by province.
When an infant first rides in a car, they should use a rear-facing car seat, which they should use until they’re one year old and weigh 10 kg (22 lbs). This prevents infants from suffering injuries to their head, spine or neck. These car seats should be placed away from the airbags since airbags are designed to protect adults. Once the child outgrows a rear-facing car seat, they should use a forward-facing car seat until they weigh at least 18 kg (40 lbs). Parents should follow the product’s instructions to safely install the seat in their vehicle.
When choosing a car seat, parents should look at the seat’s details to ensure that it’s suitable for their child’s age, weight and height. You should only buy a used car seat if you know its full history and whether or not it’s been involved in a collision. Car seats may also come with expiration dates, which is usually around six years.
Once a child no longer meets the car seat requirements based on their weight and height, along with whether the child’s ears go above the top of the car seat or if the child’s shoulders go above the slots for the top harness, parents should upgrade them to a booster seat. Unfortunately, many parents don’t make this switch with only 30 per cent of Canadian children between the age of four to eight using booster seats when they ride in car, according to Parachute Canada.
Along with making sure the car seat or booster seat is properly installed, drivers should also avoid keeping hard and loose toys in the vehicle since they can harm children during an accident. Children should also ride in the backseat since research shows they have less risk of suffering a serious injury or dying during an accident.
Adults should encourage good habits by also making sure that they always wear buckle up their seatbelt as soon as they get into the car.
Accident benefits are available to anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident. The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been dealing with all accident related issues throughout Ontario for over 45 years. We know how to get you the compensation that you deserve and get your life back in order after being in a car accident. Call us at 416-920-4242, set up a free consultation, and come speak with us.
Greg Neinstein
Latest posts by Greg Neinstein (see all)
- Do I have a personal injury case? - April 23, 2019
- Are your insurance premiums high? Check your postal code - April 17, 2019
- This was an unusually harsh winter for slip-and-falls - April 11, 2019