Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers: Decline in Child Restraint Use

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One of the simplest and most effective ways to keep children safe and secure while driving is to make sure that they are properly restrained. Seat belts and booster seats can save a child’s life in the event of a serious car accident. Yet, according to a study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there has been a sharp decline in the use of child restraints from 2013 to 2015. This jeopardizes the safety of children and puts them at risk for serious, often fatal injuries.

Baltimore car accident lawyers report that the U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx urged parents to use seat belts and other appropriate restraints every time they ride in the car, no matter how short the ride may be. In 2000 alone, proper child restraint use was responsible for a 25 percent decrease in child injuries and fatalities in car accidents.

A Decrease in Safe Practices

The NHTSA study revealed the following alarming statistics regarding child restraint use in the United States:

  • The number of children aged four to seven that were properly belted in booster seats decreased from 46.3 percent in 2013 to 44.5 percent in 2015.
  • Among children aged four to seven, 37.4 were not properly restrained, either in a forward-facing car seat or a booster seat.
  • Out of the above 37.4 percent of children, close to 30 were only restrained by seat belts, and close to 12 percent were not restrained at all. In addition, in 2015, nearly 14 percent of children between the ages of one and three were moved into booster seats too soon, compared to 9.3 percent of children in the same age range in 2013.

While there was significant progress made in addressing this issue in 2000, the decline in child restraint use over the years is a serious issue. In the event of a car accident, if a child is not properly restrained, the sheer force of the impact can send the child through the windshield, resulting in very serious, often fatal injuries. Making sure your child is safely restrained is a simple, yet life-saving step that should be taken every time you get in the car.

Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Obtain Maximum Compensation for Car Accident Victims

 If your child sustained serious injuries in a car accident, you are urged to contact the Baltimore car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton as soon as possible. We understand how devastating it can be when your child is hurt, and we will work tirelessly on your behalf to secure financial compensation. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.

Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent victims of car accidents in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Parkville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.