Do you know what the leading cause of unintentional injury and death is in children 14 and younger? If you guessed car accident then you are correct. The statistics on this are startling but the good news is that any parent can take steps to protect their children. Read on to learn more. If you have lost a child in an accident, please reach out to The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
A closer look at the statistics
To put this into perspective, let us take a look at some stats from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Details from the years between 2010 and 2014 showed that nearly 3,000 children people died in car accidents throughout the United States. This comes out to more than ten children every week.
In most cases, children who died were not wearing their seatbelts or were otherwise not properly restrained. Other leading causes of children’s deaths include children sitting in the front seat when they are too young to do so and intoxicated drivers getting behind the wheel.
A study has brought forth interesting information
A recent study by the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center has brought up some interesting information. Their study looked at the causes of fatal car accidents in which children died. They found that the leading cause of those accidents is actually different on in different states.
For example, 99 children died in car accidents in Mississippi during their study period. They found that more than half of them were not wearing seatbelts. Compare that to New Hampshire, where five children died during the same period and all five were correctly belted. Across the board, rural roads are most dangerous for children. This is due to the fact that lighting is poor and trauma centers tend to be further away from them.
Properly restraining your child will keep them safe
The research is very clear: The most effective way to keep your child safe in the event of a car accident is to ensure they are properly restrained. In California, the law states that children who are under two years old are required to be in a rear-facing car seat until they either weigh 40 pounds or more or are taller than 40 inches.
California law also states that children seven and younger must be in a car seat or booster seat and in the back seat. Once a child has either reached eight years old or four feet nine inches tall, they must wear a seatbelt. These rules are not just there arbitrarily – they can save your child’s life.
If you have been involved in a car accident in which you or your child were injured then you should take a few minutes to talk to a personal injury attorney who can help you with your case. You can reach The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for your free legal consultation.
