Using a car seat or a booster seat in your vehicle is something that is recommended and legally required, but many people are doing it improperly and this could jeopardize their child’s health and safety during an accident. The majority of states require a child to ride in a booster seat until only age 8, however, moving a child from a booster seat to a seatbelt is the most significant safety demotion that a child could experience. There’s a five-point test available to determine whether or not your child is truly ready to use the seatbelt. These steps include:

  • The back of the child is flat against the back of the seat.
  • The knees bend over the seat’s edge and the feet fall flat on the floor.
  • The seatbelt sits on their chest and shoulder rather than the neck and face.
  • The lap belt touches their upper thighs and the belt sits low on their hips rather than the stomach.
  • Your child is able to sit comfortably this way for a complete trip.

Children should stay in the back seat until their 13th birthday, according to research. Unfortunately, many children are killed by airbags prior to parents being advised that their children should sit at the back. The child may be too small to absorb the sudden force of an inflating airbag, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The right carseat and the proper installation of it are essential for minimizing injuries in an accident. While you can’t always predict when an accident will happen, the carseat should be ready to withstand a crash at any moment.

If you or your child has been seriously injured in an accident in California because of someone else’s reckless behavior, or if the injuries sustained by your child were more severe due to defective vehicle parts, you may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim. Scheduling a consultation with an experienced lawyer is vital.