The Schafer Law Office

Child Safety Seats are the Key to Keeping Kids Safe in Cars

Babies and children have been killed or have been seriously injured in Kentucky automobile crashes even at very low speeds because they were unrestrained or their child seat wasn't fitted or placed in the car correctly.  Don't let your child's injury or death be your own mistake.  Here are some tips to keep kids safe on car seats and their use in the car to avoid such tragedy if you are in a Kentucky car accident.

• § Always use a child safety seat or booster for children under 11 or under 5 feet tall. Install these safety seats in the back seat.
• § Safety seats must be secured or held tightly by the vehicle's safety belt every time you use it.
• § Take time to ensure your child's car harness is adjusted and fastened properly even on the shortest of trips.
• § Always use a seat that meets the latest safety standards and is appropriate for your child's height and weight.
• § If you use a second hand child seat make sure that it meets the current safety standards, has not been in an accident and you have the correct fitting instructions.
• § Seat belts should never be put around an adult and a child because the adult would be thrown forward crushing the child against the seatbelt should a car crash occur.
• § It's not safe to hold an unrestrained child on one's lap because the child is likely to be thrown from the adult's arms and ejected from the car even in a automobile accident under 30mph.

Parents in Kentucky should teach their children that car safety rules are to be followed every time they are in the car. Take these simple steps and precautions to increase the odds that your child will not be injured if you are involved in a Kentucky car accident.