Children count on the adults in their life to keep them safe, and most adults do a great job. One thing that shouldn’t ever be negotiable is having a child properly restrained when they’re in a vehicle. Whether the child is in a child safety seat, booster seat or using a regular seat belt, they should be buckled in if the vehicle is in motion.
Data from 2019 shows that younger children are most likely to be in a safety seat or seat belt than older kids. Around 41% of children ages 9 to 12 who died in a car crash that year were unrestrained, but only around 25% of those under one year old who died were unrestrained. Around 49% of 9 to 12 year-olds fatally injured were in a seat belt or child safety seat, but 68% of those under a year old were restrained. Clearly, even a restraint can’t prevent all fatal injuries in serious crashes.
Non-fatal injuries are also possible
In some crashes, children might not suffer fatal injuries. The impacts of the crash might change the child’s life considerably. A child who is restrained may suffer less serious injuries than one who’s unrestrained because they won’t be flung around the interior of the vehicle or thrown out of it if there’s a wreck. Because of this, drivers should always ensure that all passengers are buckled up before starting the vehicle.
Parents who are involved in a crash while their kids are in the car should ensure they get the children the medical care they need. The cost of this can be considerable, so some parents may opt to seek compensation for the monetary damages. The law in Connecticut leaves you only two years from the date of the crash to file your case.
