This week is National Child Passenger Safety Week and Safe Kids Pennsylvania is taking this opportunity to promote car safety for children by encouraging families to take advantage of free car seat checkups throughout the state.
The theme for this effort is “Back to 2,” emphasizing the importance of having infants and toddlers in rear-facing car seats until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer.
When infants and toddlers are in rear-facing car seats, they are 75 percent less likely to suffer severe injury or death in a car accident, according to Safe Kids Pennsylvania’s Allyson Fulton.
Also, 82 percent of children involved in a car accident in Pennsylvania from 2010 to 2014 did not suffer an injury if they were properly restrained in a car seat.
Pennsylvania law requires all drivers secure children in appropriate car seats or restraint systems. While toddlers and infants must be secured in a rear-facing seat, children from four to eight must be in the appropriate booster seat anywhere in the vehicle.
Unfortunately, 59 percent of car seats are not installed correctly, according to research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
That is why Pennsylvania residents should take advantage of the free car seat checkups, which are being performed by more than 1,000 certified passenger safety technicians. Visit PaSafeKids.org to find a location for a free checkup.
Car accidents are a significant threat to children, as more than 2,600 children under the age of 13 are involved in a car crash on a daily basis. That amounts to one child every 33 seconds.
If your child was injured in a car accident, you may be able to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for damages. The car accident lawyers at Schmidt Kramer will aggressively fight for your rights.
Call (717) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Review form right now.