Child seats are critical for any parent who drives a vehicle with their child riding along. In fact, you cannot even leave the hospital with a newborn until you have the right car seat properly installed in your vehicle. Then, for years following, you will be driving your child around with you - first using a car seat and then, a booster seat.
Many parents assume that once they have a car seat, their child is safe from harm. However, child car seats can fail in different ways and not provide the protection your infant or small child needs. While you cannot prevent a defective car seat from malfunctioning, you can take steps to try to avoid car seat failures whenever possible.
Choosing the Right Car Seat
Not all car seats are created equal, and children of different ages and sizes require different levels of protection. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides guidance on how to select the right car seat for your child and your situation, and parents should use resources like this to choose the proper seat and best prevent car seat failures.
A car seat needs to be appropriate for both your child’s age and size, as well as your vehicle. Not all seats fit correctly in all cars, so you want to choose the right one with all safety factors considered. Also, always note when it is time to switch to a different car seat due to your child’s growth or wear and tear on your current seat.
Proper Installation
Having the right car seat is only the first step in preventing failures when possible. You must also ensure that the car seat is installed correctly in your vehicle. This can be confusing for new parents or for those who recently switched to a new car seat model. If you have questions about the installation process or want to have your installation checked, you can look up a certified inspection station in your area.
Since 2003, consumer vehicles must come with car seat tethers included, though many parents are unaware of these tether systems or ignore them. Having your seat properly tethered can help to prevent car seat failures and injuries to your child.
In addition, most car seats for smaller children should be rear-facing for as long as possible. This way, if you have to stop suddenly or get into a collision, your child would fall into the seat instead of being thrust forward out of their seat. Such a forward movement can result in both external and internal injuries.
However, even when you choose the right car seat and install it properly to the vehicle strapping and have the child properly placed in the car seat in the correct position the car seat may fail by breaking, seat belt and or locking mechanism failure and the type of child seat failure causing tragic injury. If you find yourself in this situation, call now The Law Firm of David C. Chavez at 505-865-9696 who will evaluate the claim. You must preserve the child car seat for inspection.
Call Us Now to Discuss Your Claim with One of the Top Recognized Law Firms in the Untied States
There are some car seat malfunctions that parents cannot prevent. If a car seat is defective and your child is tragically injured, call to discuss the matter with an experienced New Mexico products liability attorney now at 505-865-9696. David C. Chavez Law Firm, handles cases involving injuries to children due to defective infant and child products, so call 505-865-9696 or contact us online to discuss your claim recognized as Top 10 Top 100 and Super Lawyer in Personal Injury Claims.
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