The hard truth is that there are more than 63,000 children under the age of 12 years old that get injured in motor vehicle accidents each year. Often when we talk about Connecticut auto accidents we discuss what general safety measures can be taken to keep all drivers and passengers safe. Of course, it is important to look at overall safety measures that can be taken for adults and children alike, but it is critical that children are watched over and protected specifically when they are riding in a vehicle.
The specific needs of children are, of course, different from those of adults who are riding in a car. Children are often shorter and weigh less than their adult counterparts and this difference in stature can often lead to more troubling outcomes if safety procedures are not in place for the child passengers of a vehicle.
Along with common safety measures that you should take when riding in a car like not driving at an excessive speed and utilizing seat belts, there are some safety measures that you can take, specific to young children to provide them additional safety. These safety measures include the following:
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Depending on the age of your child you should have her/him in a car seat. The safety regulations often change, but you can view the latest information here. There are many different requirements based on your child’s height, weight and age that are taken into account to determine whether or not they should be in a car seat and what type of car seat she/he should be in.
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Utilize the seat belt in the vehicle properly. Cars come with different structures of seat belts and they should be used accordingly. Children should be made aware of the type of seat belt that your vehicle has and should utilize all parts of the seat belt for complete safety.
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Teach your children about good behavior in the car and how important it is to keep them safe and you from being distracted. One of the most dangerous things that can occur inside a vehicle is for the driver to become distracted. A child in the back seat who is yelling, being uncontrollably silly or doing other things that could distract the driver is one way for an accident to happen. Children should be educated on the dangers of bad behavior while riding in a vehicle.
Keeping children safe in the car is so important and doing your best to avoid a Connecticut auto accident by not speeding and having all passengers wear seat belts is critical. Children bring with them even more challenges than riding with other adults and it is important to understand those challenges and take steps to mitigate the additional safety issue.
If you or a child were injured in an accident you may need to speak with an attorney who has experience with a similar situation. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will speak with you about your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.
