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Paul Englander, PLC

Injury Attorney In Arizona

Children Safety and Motor Vehicle Crashes

Children Safety and Motor Vehicle Crashes

Wrongful Death Lawyer Phoenix AZ
Children Safety and Motor Vehicle Crashes

A wrongful death lawyer Phoenix AZ may be able to assist victims or their family members, as a result of an Arizona traffic accident.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading killer of children. On average, 3 children, ages 14 years and younger, were killed every day in 2016 in the United States in traffic crashes. More than half of those fatalities were boys. The number of child deaths due to traffic accidents decreased by 27 percent from 2007 to 2016, it has decreased by 76% overall since 1975.

It is of great importance for children to be properly restrained while riding in a motor vehicle. Child safety seats reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent for infants, and 54 percent for toddlers, ages 1-4. Analysis shows that lap/shoulder seat belts reduce fatal injuries in kids 5 and up in the front seat by 45 percent, and serious injuries by 50 percent.

It is also important for parents to buckle up. When parents use seat belts, the kids are more likely to follow suit. When drivers were restrained, 72 percent of children were restrained. When the drivers were unrestrained, 66 percent of children were also unrestrained.

Analysis has shown that an estimated 328 lives were saved in 2016 by restraints of children 5 and younger. A wrongful death lawyer Phoenix AZ should be consulted when injuries or a fatality occurs following a crash.

Arizona has a higher percentage of children die as a result of traffic crashes than the national average. There are different safety measures that can help bring that number down, including children in proper restraints for their age, and it is recommended that children under 12 sit in the back seats of vehicles.

Safety campaigns have helped to get kids in the backseat. In 1975, 46 percent of fatalities in car accidents occurred while a child was sitting in the front seat. In 2016, only 14 percent of fatalities in car accidents while a child was sitting in the front seat.

Children need to be in the proper type of restraint for their age.

  • Infants and toddlers should be buckled into a rear-facing car seat until they are 2 years or older and they reach the height and weight limit of the seat.
  • Once they are big enough to face forward, children should ride in a 5 point harness child restraint until they reach the seat’s height and weight limits. A seat should be properly secured to the vehicle with the latch and a top tether.
  • The next step is to use a belt positioning booster seat until the adult seat belt fits properly.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) suggests strategies to increase the usage of proper child restraints. Strategies include strengthening current child restraint laws to include booster seats for children through age 8, or until an adult seat belt fits properly, periodic enhanced enforcement of the child restraint laws that are broadly advertised, plus education programs to provide easy access to car seats with education on the importance of car seats.

When a child is seriously injured as a result of a motor vehicle crash a wrongful death lawyer Phoenix AZ should be contacted by the family, to discuss possible legal remedies.