The Best Child Safety is Prevention; but Often that’s not Possible
Nobody is out there trying to get into a car wreck. That’s especially true with parents who are transporting their children.
Our goal is to arrive safely, without any issues. Because we care about our kids and their safety, we have a number of devices and best practices to ensure if an accident does happen the likelihood of them being injured is kept to a minimum.
Sometimes, however, life gets in the way and we forget how to ensure their safety. So we’ve put together a refresher on how to keep children safe in a car accident.
Use the Proper Equipment for the Child
Safety equipment (that is car seats and booster seats) are designed to ensure a safe ride for young bodies. This equipment doesn’t do as much good if it’s not the right one for the kid, or if it’s not used properly.
Car Seats – From infants to toddlers, a rear-facing car seat will provide maximum protection. These seats cradle the child, and since most accidents are from the front, they provide the most support.
Booster Seats – Child safety doesn’t stop as they get bigger. As a child grows, they can’t sit in a rear facing seat anymore. That car seat can be used facing forward, until they exceed the weight limit. A booster seat will help lift the child up, so that a shoulder belt crosses in the right spot.
Old or Damaged Seats – Did you know that car seats have an expiration date? All seats come with a sticker that show when they were manufactured. If it was more than 7 years ago, it’s likely too old. Along those same lines, any car seat that has gone through an accident already may have hidden damage and no longer be safe.
Your local fire department is trained on how to install a car seat. If you’re struggling to get the seat into your vehicle just right, swing on by and ask if there is someone who can lend a hand.
Use the Proper Driving Technique for Safety
We could all benefit by driving safely no matter if there are kids in the back seat or not. But when you’re hauling your precious cargo, it’s time to pay extra attention.
Keep an Eye on Them – As kids age, they get curious. That curiosity can mean they’re intent on unbuckling themselves, opening windows, and opening doors. Use the window lock and the child safety lock for the latter two; pull over if they come unbuckled.
Focus on the Road – Kids are distracting. Just like using your phone while you drive, reading a book while you drive, or doing your makeup while you drive, distractions lead to accidents. When you’re too distracted by the kids, pull over and get things under control before continuing.
Driving safely isn’t difficult. Follow the laws of the road, and be extra diligent to pay attention to everything going on around you.
Use the Proper Checklist so Steps aren’t Missed
Parenting can be tiring. And a tired parent can forget about their kids in the car. Unfortunately it happens way too often. A mental checklist whenever you get into the car, or exit the car ensures you don’t miss a step in your child’s safety.
A – Ask yourself if you’re alert enough to drive.
B – Buckle your child or ensure he or she has buckled up.
C – Check their seat belts, your seat belts, and the vehicle.
D – Distractions = eliminated.
E – Ensure you’re driving safely.
F – Follow the laws of the road.
G – Glance into the back seat.
Even if you’re driving without the kids in the car, check the backseat every time. There are times when we get so into the zone, we forget what we’re doing. Every time you enter or exit the vehicle, give a quick glance into the back seat to make sure you didn’t forget a kid!
Call Herbert Law Group if Your Child is Injured
Accidents happen. If you’re being safe, driving with care, and making sure that your kids are safe, they can still happen when another inattentive motorist hits you.
Hopefully the accident will only cause property damage and no injuries.
But that’s not often the case. If you, or your child, get injured in a car wreck, you need a car wreck lawyer to make sure everything is handled properly. And that’s exactly what Herbert Law Group provides.
Give us a call at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site, and we’ll be in touch. Let’s find out what happened, and see how we can help.