Children are the most vulnerable passengers in vehicles. Even a minor crash can cause a significant injury that requires expensive medical treatment. If the accident was the result of another driver’s negligence, then a personal-injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation to pay for health-care bills and other losses.
Although nobody can control the actions of reckless or negligent drivers, there are certain steps that parents can take to keep their kids safe on the road. Perhaps the most important of these is purchasing an appropriate car or booster seat.
Not all car seats are suitable for all children; you will need to choose one according to your child’s size. According to HealthyChildren.org, there are several factors that you should consider when making this purchase, including whether the seat is front-facing or rear-facing, and whether your child is big enough for a booster seat or an adult seatbelt.
A car seat can keep your children safe in several accident scenarios, but there is always a possibility that you or your children will sustain injuries in a crash. If you were in an accident that a negligent driver caused, then contact a Scottsdale auto accident attorney from the Rudolph & Hammond Law Firm. Schedule a consultation by calling our office at 480-951-9700.
In the meantime, read on to learn how to choose the most appropriate car seat for your child:
Rear-Facing Car Seat
You will need a rear-facing car seat for your children from birth until about age 3. Consider purchasing an infant-only seat that is rear-facing only, or buy a convertible seat that can face both forward and toward the rear.
Forward-Facing Seat
You can start considering a forward-facing seat for your children from age 1, but you should keep the rear-facing seat for as long as possible. This is the safest way for your child to ride in the car.
Once your child outgrows the rear-facing seat, you can put him or her in a forward-facing seat with a harness and tether. When your child outgrows this seat – typically between the ages of 4 and 7 – you can consider a booster seat.
Booster Seat
Keep your child in the forward-facing car seat for as long as possible. When he or she eventually outgrows this, a booster seat is a good option during the transition to an adult seatbelt.
The booster seat should be in the back. It will allow your child to sit safely in the car with an adult seatbelt.
Seatbelt
Eventually, your child will outgrow the booster seat. This typically happens between the ages of 8 and 12.
At this stage, you can start using an adult seatbelt. Make sure that it fits comfortably across the child’s chest and shoulder, and is snug on the upper thighs. If it is not possible to achieve this fit, then keep your child in the booster seat.
If you were in an accident in Arizona, then contact the Rudolph & Hammond Law Firm. A Scottsdale personal-injury lawyer will examine your case and determine if you may have valid grounds for a claim. To schedule a consultation, call us today at 480-951-9700.