Car accidents are very frightening. They can cause a great deal of emotional as well as physical trauma. Those injured in a York car crash may be permanently disabled and require long-term medical treatment and care. Seat belts are the best possible protection against serious car accident injuries. However, seat belts worn alone do not provide adequate protection for infants, toddlers and young children—they are designed for adults. Children should always be restrained in a federally-approved child safety seat when riding in the car. Child safety seats come in three basic varieties:
- Infant safety seats are rear-facing car seats designed for children under the age of one. They should be used until the baby reaches the top height or weight limit recommended by the manufacturer. Infant safety seats are equipped with a harness restraint system and are often portable to allow parents to remove the seat from the car with the baby in it.
- Forward facing car seats are designed for children—generally between the ages of one and four—who have outgrown a rear-facing infant safety seat. These seats are equipped with a harness and tether system and should be used until the child reaches the top height or weight limit listed by the manufacturer.
- Booster seats position a child so that the seat belt is in the proper place to protect them in a York car accident. Booster seats are designed for older children, generally between the ages of four and seven, who have outgrown the top height or weight limit of their forward facing car seat.
There are three basic types of child safety seats, but manufacturers have created additional options that combine them to provide additional safety, convenience and cost savings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reviews many of the car seat options available on the market. It provides a 5-star ease-of-use rating system to help parents evaluate and choose a child safety seat to best suit their needs.
Have you or a loved one been seriously injured in a car crash due to the negligence of another party? Contact a Harrisburg car accident lawyer today at Schmidt Kramer. Call (717) 888-8888 for a free consultation. You may also download a free copy of the book Who Pays the Bills When You Are Injured in an Automobile Accident? for more information.