Many of the motor vehicle injuries in children can be prevented

Child passenger safety

When a child is involved in a motor vehicle accident caused by a drunk driver, 65 percent of the time it is the person driving the vehicle the child is riding in who was drunk. Even parents who have never operated a vehicle under the influence can be a bad influence on their child by not buckling up themselves. Forty percent of children who are passengers of an unbelted driver will not wear proper restraints themselves. Additionally, almost half of all car booster seats are used incorrectly. The CDC reports that 59 percent of car seats and approximately 20 percent of booster seats are installed or used in a manner that reduces their effectiveness. An Illinois car accident lawyer can advise you if you feel your child has been injured due to an accident that was not your fault.

Prevent child passenger injuries and deaths

Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that many parents are turning child car seats to face forward too early. These agencies updated their guidelines for child passenger safety five years ago to recommend children ride in rear-facing car seats until they reach the age of 2. They further recommend that children below the age of 13 should ride in the back seat and some children should use booster seats to age 12. Children under age 2 are 75 percent less likely to die or suffer a severe injury when they are properly buckled in a rear-facing car seat when an accident occurs. For adult seat belts to position properly, children who have outgrown their front-facing car seats should still use booster seats. Children tall than 4′ 9″ no longer need a booster seat.