Keep Your Kid Safe in a Florida Crash with the Right Car Seat

Keep Your Kid Safe in a Florida Crash with the Right Car Seat

Keep Your Kid Safe in a Florida Crash with the Right Car Seat

Not sure which car seat is right for your child?

You have an important job as a parent—providing a safe experience for your child while he or she is riding in a vehicle. Thousands of children are injured or killed in Florida car crashes each year, and the right car seat can protect your child from getting hurt.

Choosing the right car seat is essential for keeping your child safe, but with so many options out there, it can be difficult to know which seat is the right one – something that is based on your child’s age, height, weight and other needs.

In this guide, we’re going to go over the different types of car seats available, offer tips on knowing when children are ready to graduate from one stage to the next, and go over proper installation techniques.

Consider these guidelines based on your child’s individual characteristics.

Infants and Toddlers

Rear-facing seats are required for infants and smaller toddlers. These seats are safest for children until they have outgrown them. A rear-facing seat may be static, or it may convert to a forward-facing seat.

Check the car seat manufacturer’s recommendations for height and weight limits. A rear-facing seat secures the child in a five-point harness and is normally rated for toddlers up to 35 pounds.

Some infant car seats have a base that stays in the vehicle while the car seat can move in and out. Not only can these types of seats be carried around with you, often they will pair with a stroller, so you can safely move your child from one to the other without disturbing them.

You can purchase more than one base for use in multiple vehicles.

If your baby slouches or leans inside the seat, you can roll up two blanket and use it to stabilize your child on both sides. You should not place any padding behind or under your baby for safety reasons.

A convertible seat can be used for an infant and then switched to a forward-facing seat for when your child exceeds the rear-facing weight limit. They do not come with a base that allows the seat to be removed and carried with you.

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These seats typically have a higher weight limit of up to 50 pounds, though some go higher.

You can also purchase a 3-in-1 seat that transitions from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat, then to a booster for an older child. These seats are larger than others, so make sure they fit in your vehicle before you purchase one.

It is important to note that both convertible and 3-in-1 seats typically have separate weight limits for rear-facing and forward facing, and that often they are rated for higher rear-facing weights.

Why does this matter? Because studies have shown that children are safer (at any weight) when in rear-facing seats. The longer you can keep your child facing the rear, the safer they will be.

Toddlers and Preschool Children

As mentioned above, children who are too big for a rear-facing car seat can use a forward-facing seat with a harness. The harness will keep them safer than a seat without a harness.

Use this type of seat until your child outgrows the height and weight restrictions as listed by the car seat manufacturer. Typically, these seats are used until a child is at least four years old – but remember that weight and height limits matter face more than age. Many parents make the mistake of putting their kids in “older” seats before they’re ready.

Some vehicles are equipped with built-in forward-facing seats. These built-in seats should not be used unless your child is at least two years old. Check your vehicle owner’s manual for information about height and weight restrictions.

School-Aged Children

Children of elementary school age can use a booster seat once they have outgrown a forward-facing seat. Again, this means checking height and age requirements. Booster seats are recommended for children who are under 4’ 9” and are typically younger than 12 years of age. Booster seats should always be placed in the back seat of the vehicle.

Older Children

Older children must use lap and shoulder seat belts once they are tall enough to wear them. Children younger than 13 years of age should still ride in the back seat for maximum safety.

Installing a Car Seat

Car seats can be installed with the existing seat belts or the LATCH system, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. If your vehicle was made after September 1, 2002, it is likely equipped with two lower anchors between the seat cushions and one upper tether behind the seat, on the ceiling or on the floor.

Both seat belt and LATCH systems provide security in a car accident. It’s best to use only one system unless the car seat manufacturer recommends using both seat belts and LATCH. Seat belts must be tightly adjusted for safety.

Lower anchors are approved for a maximum combined weight of 65 pounds, which includes your child and the car seat. Check the car seat manufacturer’s recommendations to know if a certain seat is appropriate for your child.

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When you follow these tips for proper car seat use, you can protect your child from injury or death in a Florida auto accident.

 

 

About the Author: 

Jeffrey Braxton is a trial lawyer in Fort Lauderdale who has devoted his career to the practice of personal injury law. As lead trial attorney for the South Florida Injury Law Firm, Jeff has litigated thousands of cases and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of attorneys who have resolved cases in excess of one million dollars.

 

Auto Accidents the Leading Cause of Death for Kids in the U.S.

Auto Accidents the Leading Cause of Death for Kids in the U.S.

Auto Accidents the Leading Cause of Death for Kids in the U.S.

As parents, your number one priority is keeping your children safe, healthy, and happy, and you probably do this in all kinds of ways. You baby proof your home. You have strict rules about staying out after dark. You never let your children get on a bike without a helmet.

 

So then why do so many parents ignore safety where automobiles are concerned?

 

You may have seen the recent story about the car crash out of West Palm Beach. Eight people were injured, including four children. Two of the children were immediately rushed to the hospital for traumatic injuries.

 

When neighbors arrived to the scene, passengers in the car were heard yelling that one of the children was trapped underneath the car. The child had been ejected from the vehicle when it rolled over in the crash. Because they weren’t wearing a safety belt.

 

Do you make sure that your children wear seatbelts? Do you do it every single time they get in a car? Do you use the right booster or car seat for your child? Do you properly wear your seatbelt as well?

 

If you’re enforcing other rules to keep your child safe, but letting them slide when it comes to seat belts and booster seats, you may be ignoring the most important tool in your arsenal – and putting them at the highest amount of risk.

 

You don’t notice stories like the one from Palm Beach so often just because they stand out to you: auto accidents and traffic-related fatalities are the top cause of child fatalities in the country. A lack of proper restraint is a big reason why.

 

Stats on Children and Auto Accidents

 

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In 2015, 938 children were killed in traffic-related crashes: 663 of these children were killed as the occupant of a passenger vehicle, 186 children were killed as pedestrians, and 29 children were killed while riding a bike. 2015 was the highest number of child passenger deaths since 2010.

 

Those statistics are just the beginning:

 

  • 1 in 4 unintentional injury child deaths are caused by motor vehicle crashes.
  • 80% of children killed as a passenger were sitting in the rear seat.
  • 32% of children were unrestrained.
  • From 2001 to 2010, around 20% of child passenger deaths were caused by a drunk driver.

 

Thankfully, even though auto accident fatalities in Florida are still on the rise, the rate of children who are killed in auto accidents has been declining since 1975. There is still much work to be done, though, and it starts with you, your children, and your behavior behind the wheel.

 

What You Can Do To Keep Your Kids Safe

 

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Want to prevent your child from becoming a statistic? It’s simple: practice safe driving habits. Don’t drink and drive. Don’t speed or run traffic stops. Keep your eyes on the road, and don’t let your children (or anything, for that matter) distract you when you’re behind the wheel.

 

Set an example for your children. The best way to get them to buckle up in your car and other cars is to buckle up yourself. Seatbelts are not just for kids, and it’s not just for your safety. A whopping 40% of children who drove with unbelted drivers were also not wearing their seatbelts.

 

If your child is under the age of 13, they should be in a booster seat. If you are unsure about which booster or car seat is most appropriate for your child, do some research.

 

While we’re at it, here’s a reminder that not all child deaths in the car happen because of a crash. Never leave your child alone in a closed car. This is particularly important during the summer months when temperatures are at their highest, but even in cooler weather, cars can heat up incredibly fast.

 

Recognize That There Is Always Risk

 

The sad truth is that you can do everything “right” and still get in a car crash. Even the safest drivers cannot control the actions of negligent drivers, whether they are on the road with you or – worse – driving your child.

 

If your child is injured in a crash due to another’s negligence, you owe it to them to seek out compensation for medical, financial, and other related damages and to hold the responsible party accountable for their actions. Not only can this serve to help you and your family to recover during a trying time, it may also help to shine a spotlight on a serious issue and prevent another child from getting hurt in the same way.

 

About the Author:

Jeffrey Braxton is a trial lawyer in Fort Lauderdale who has devoted his 22-year career to the practice of personal injury law. As lead trial attorney The South Florida Injury Law Firm, Jeff has litigated thousands of cases and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of attorneys who have resolved cases in excess of one million dollars.

Where Is the Safest Place for Your Child to Sit in a Car

Where Is the Safest Place for Your Child to Sit in a Car?

Where Is the Safest Place for Your Child to Sit in a Car

When you become a parent, every little decision regarding your child’s safety and development can become a hot debate. We’re not going to tell you how to raise your child, but we do have one piece of advice backed up with statistics from the AAP and NHTSA.

 

When you are driving with your child, the safest place for them to sit is in the rear of the car, behind an unoccupied front seat. That’s a pretty specific location, so let’s break down the reason why they say this is safest place for a child to sit.

 

Why Unoccupied?

If a child is placed behind an occupied front seat, there is an increased risk that the child will be injured (or die) from rear-impact collisions. If a car is driving at 30 miles per hour or faster, an auto accident can force a passenger rearward, causing a rear-impact collision.

 

Since the 1990s, over 900 children have died from these collisions. Sitting behind an unoccupied seat will reduce this risk. If both seats are occupied, then it is suggested that the child sit behind the lighter parent or passenger.

 

Why a Rear Seat?

Whether your child is in a proper safety seat or they’ve outgrown them and can ride in the car without one, it’s best not to keep them in the front seat. Why? Airbags can be dangerous.

 

This may sound silly – or even downright wrong. After all, airbags are designed for our safety in an accident, right?

 

But airbags were not designed for the safety of children. They were designed to keep adults safe.

 

Because of this, the impact and size of airbags can do more harm than good where kids are concerned. Children exposed to airbags are twice as likely to be seriously injured in a crash. On top of that, dangerous chemicals used in airbags can also cause problems if your child’s small lungs breathe them in. And then, of course, you have situations like the one currently going on with the Takata airbags, where a defect is causing problems for people of all ages and sizes.

 

If You Have a Middle Seat

 

Child Auto Safety Florida

You may have to put your child behind a passenger if your car is small and only has space for two seats in the rear row. However, if you have a wider car and there are three spaces for seats, consider putting your child in the middle seat.

 

There is a 43% lower risk of injury when you place your child in the middle seat rather than in a widow seat, and this applies to children of all ages. These statistics, however, only apply when the middle seat has a full 3-point seat belt or the child is in their proper car seat. If this is not the case, it’s best to keep your children in a window seat.

 

If Your Child Requires a Car Seat

 

If Your Child Requires a Car Seat in Florida

It can be frustrating (and expensive) to keep replacing your child’s safety seat as they grow, but it could end up saving their life. Take this time to refresh your memory on the types of safety seats required for children of different ages.

 

  • Infant Car Seats: From your child’s first car ride until the time they are between 40-50 pounds, you will have to use a rear-facing car seat. Infant car seats can only be installed this way, and are often designed with a carrier that buckles into a base that stays in your car. Your child should remain in this seat until the top of their head reaches within an inch of the carrier, or they exceed the carrier’s recommended weight.
  • Convertible and Forward-Facing Seats: At the latest, you should transition your child to a convertible seat when they turn 1. These seats will allow you to keep your child in a rear-facing seat for longer (the age of 2 or 3 is commonly recommended, but weight is always your best guide). If you want to save money, find a convertible seat that allows for a safe install as a front-facing or rear-facing seat. When your kids are big enough, you can turn the seat around.
  • Booster Seat: From the time your child outgrows your forward-facing car seat until the age of 12, you should keep them in a booster seat. This will ensure that they are fitting into a seat belt properly (that the shoulder belt sits on the shoulder rather than across the neck, and that the lap belt fits along the upper thighs instead of the stomach). Once your child can sit on their own wearing a seat belt properly, a booster seat will not be needed.

 

For more detailed information on the recommended safety seats for your child, check out this handy chart.

 

These tips will keep your child as safe as possible during an auto accident, but that doesn’t mean that they will necessarily prevent all injuries. If you do get in an accident and your child is hurt, contact a personal injury lawyer immediately to review the injuries go over your options.

 

About the Author:

Jeffrey Braxton is a trial lawyer in Fort Lauderdale who has devoted his 22-year career to the practice of personal injury law. As lead trial attorney for The South Florida Injury Law Firm, Jeff has litigated thousands of cases and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of attorneys who have resolved cases in excess of one million dollars.