It\’s a frightening statistic that parents fear most. Every year thousands of children are killed in motor vehicle crashes. In fact, it\’s the leading cause of death among children in the United States. To prevent this kind of tragedy, parents purchase car seats to keep their children safe. Statistics show us that by putting kids in age as well as size appropriate car seats, they significantly cuts down on serious and even fatal injuries.
But did you ever think the child car safety seat you purchase might be flawed or defective? In December of 2009, almost half a million infant and child car seats were recalled by the Dorel Juvenile Group. The problem? As reported by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the handle on the car seats could loosen and become detached. This could cause some infants to suffer fall related injuries.
As a parent, how can you tell if a child seat is safe and what should you do if the child car seat you purchased is recalled? The short answer is parents must strive to be as informed as possible and do some research. If your child\’s seat is recalled, many times the problems that led to the recall can be fixed without even having to send the product back. Many time manufacturers will send replacement parts, free of charge to remedy the issues.
It\’s also important to understand how to use your child car or booster seat. Many times these product are installed incorrectly, putting the child at unnecessary risk. In fact, one study found that 72% of almost 3,500 observed car and booster seats were used improperly.
With so many products on the market today geared toward children of all ages it can be a little intimidating walking into a store trying to pick the right one. While research is definitely needed, all products, especially children\’s car seats, come with a reasonable expectation of safety. It is however, important to know the products history and safety record, especially if it\’s been used in the past.
While it\’s usually not a bad idea to pinch pennies and purchase pre-owned items, that\’s not always the safest bet when it comes to child car seats. Many thrift stores, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, have been found to sell seats that have been previously recalled due to safety concerns.
While many critical steps towards child safety have been taken by both the government and retailers in recent years, many children unfortunately are still injured every day.
If your child has suffered an injury during an auto accident and was properly riding in a child car seat, contact infant and child car seat lawyer Jeffrey Killino at 1-877-875-2927 today. As defective infant and child car seat lawyers, they can offer you a free consultation on whether you may file a claim against a child car seat manufacturer.
