Should You Replace Your Child’s Car Seat If You Were in an Accident?
Using the correct child restraints can increase your safety on the roads and help to prevent your child being seriously hurt or killed if you are involved in a collision. In fact, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation maintains that correctly installed child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injuries amongst infants by 71% and toddlers by 54%.
The state’s strict road safety laws mean that appropriate child safety seats should be used whenever you’re transporting anyone aged up to 8 years, depending on their height and weight, but do you know what to do with your car seats after an accident?
moderate or severe crash.
Has Your Child Been Injured in a Car Accident?
Any type of car accident can be traumatic, but these incidents can be particularly distressing if you’re traveling with children. If your child has been injured due to a road traffic accident, you may be able to commence legal action and obtain compensation on their behalf.
Although child safety seats can reduce the risk of serious injury or fatalities, this doesn’t mean that harm can always be prevented. Sadly, youngsters can sustain a wide range of injuries when crashes occur, such as:
- Broken bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Whiplash
- Head injuries
- Back injuries
How Do Child Safety Seats Help?
Small children cannot be adequately restrained by regular seatbelts, but child safety seats help to ensure young people are fully restrained when traveling by car. This prevents them from being thrown around the vehicle if an impact occurs and, therefore, reduces their risk of injury.
According to Safe Kids Pennsylvania, children aged between 4 and 8 years are 45% less likely to be injured if they’re using a booster seat, as opposed to a standard seatbelt. However, child safety seats are only effective if they’re installed and used correctly.
This means it’s vital to select an appropriate child safety seat, based on your child’s age, weight and height and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using it. By doing so, you can help to protect your child if an accident does happen.
Taking Legal Action After a Car Accident in Pennsylvania
Claiming compensation might not be the first thing you think about after a car accident but getting legal advice should be a top priority. As well as helping you to obtain compensation on behalf of your child, personal injury lawyers can also help to protect your liability and prevent you from being blamed for an accident that wasn’t your fault.
