News

Study Shows Improper Use of Car Seats a Common and Risky Problem


Posted on Oct 03, 2011

When driving with small children, safety is a priority. However, a recent scholarly study has shed light on a common problem that may be putting small children at risk.

 

The study, which was headed by Lilia Reyes MD, a clinical fellow in the pediatric emergency room at Yale, shows that children as young as 12 months may start to unbuckle and get out of their car seats. This is often done while the vehicle is in motion, and is a cause for concern because it increases their risk of being injured in an accident by 3.5 times. 

 

Reyes was inspired to do the study after meeting two different mothers at the ER who were involved in car accidents when they were distracted by their children's escape from their car seat. The study showed that children between the ages of 1-3 were most likely to unbuckle, possibly because they were old enough to do so but too young to understand the danger.

 

In commenting on the study, Lorrie Walker of the advocacy group Safe Kids USA said that it was likely that the parents in the study were not properly using the car seats. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as many as three out of four parents are using their car seats incorrectly. 

 

Walker pointed out that if properly buckled and restrained, a child should not find it easy to unbuckle a harness or wiggle out of a restraint. In fact, Walker points out that federal regulation requires car seat buckles to need 9 to 14 pounds of pressure to release and oftentimes even adult have difficulty unbuckling the harness. 


For more information, please see:


Child Passenger Safety Week: It's never too late to Educate! Gainesville Accident attorney explains.


Where can I get my child's car seat checked?  Gainesville accident attorney helps answer.

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I am local Accident Attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, and I strongly believe that public education is the first step in the prevention of and/or recovery from a serious accident. 

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The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury lawyers, litigators and trial lawyers that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 37 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in their practice as accident attorneys.
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