Does Car Seat Position Affect Safety?

You’ve heard that car seats save lives—but did you know the car seat position can have a huge impact on its effectiveness? Angela Brown, a mother from New South Wales, Australia, learned this lesson the hard way when she was driving her two young daughters home and crashed her SUV into a tree at 62 mph. The vehicle flipped over, and the tree snapped and crashed down onto the SUV.

Brown’s infant daughter was in a rear-facing seat and sustained no injuries besides a small bruise on her shoulder. The older daughter, who was not quite 2 years old at the time, was strapped into a forward-facing car seat. She suffered life-threatening injuries, including two broken vertebrae in her neck and torn ligaments. The accident was three months ago, and the Brown family continues to treat her serious injuries with no clear end in sight.

Brown has taken to Facebook to share her story in hopes that other parents will learn from her mistake and keep their children rear-facing for as long as possible.

California has recognized the importance of proper car seat position, and governor Jerry Brown recently signed a bill that will require parents to keep their children rear-facing until age 2. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2017. California also requires children under the age of 8 or shorter than 4’9” to be restrained in a car seat or booster seat.

“Keep your children in a car seat as long as you can, and keep them rear-facing until they are at least two—and even longer if possible. You could truly save a life,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in an auto accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.

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