The latest on children and motor vehicle accidents - local accident attorney gives advice.

If you could protect your child from the leading cause of death among U.S. children, would you?

As a father and a Gainesville and Ocala accident attorney, I'd guess you would. The solution-buckle them up in an age-appropriate child safety seat.  It's that simple.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released a study stating that proper use of a safety seat significantly lowers the risk of a fatal or debilitating injury in any type of traffic crash for children up to 7 years old.

The NHTSA looked at almost a decade of traffic statistics from 1999 to 2008.  They discovered that child safety seats make a significant difference in keeping kids alive in a crash.

Data shows the most dangerous traffic accident for children up to 7 years old is a rollover crash.  In a rollover, unrestrained children are almost three times more likely to sustain incapacitating or life-threatening injuries than properly restrained children.

In near-side impacts, unrestrained kids are eight times more likely to receive fatal or debilitating injuries than restrained children.

And what are we protecting kids from?  Hands down, head injuries (or Traumatic Brain Injury), like cerebrum contusions or lacerations, being the most common-especially for kids under 1 year's old.  Data shows that skull fractures are more common among older kids, ages 1 to 7 years old, along with, hand and lung injuries, bowel injuries and injuries to legs below the knee.

The good news is traffic crash injuries may be preventable-just buckle up!

For more information:

Its the Law: The Importance of Car Seats

Florida Law on Child Safety Seats

Protect your most precious cargo

Why is a childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a car accident so dangerous?