Are You Up to Date on Car Seat Safety?

May 25,2016

Victorville California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials provided a car seat safety workshop recently to draw attention to several safety tidbits that sometimes elude new and even experienced parents. Parents were given hands-on training on proper car seat installation, as well as information about the types of seat their children need at various stages of development.

Although safety advances have significantly reduced crash fatalities since 1975, crashes still cause one in four unintentional injury deaths in children under 13. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), restraining children under age 3 in the backseat reduces the risk of fatal injury by about three-quarters. In children 4 to 8 years old, it cuts the risk in half.

While keeping kids in the backseat is the first step in ensuring their safety, getting them into the proper safety seat is also crucial. California law requires children to be secured in a car seat or booster seat until age 8. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also recommends keeping children in rear-facing car seats until they are 2, as research shows children under 2 are 75% less likely to die or be seriously hurt in a crash if they are rear-facing. California recently passed a measure that will require children to remain rear-facing until age 2, which will go into effect Jan. 1 of next year.

Buying the right seat is only half the battle. Many parents underestimate the difficulty of properly installing the car seat. That’s why the CHP offers car seat installation days, where parents can have their car seats installed and learn about car seat safety.

If you need help installing your car seat or want to get a second pair of eyes on one you already have in your vehicle, call the Victorville CHP office at (760) 241-1186 to schedule an appointment.

“Getting kids into proper car seats is the best way to protect them from death or injury in a crash. If you need help installing a seat, take advantage of the free help available from the CHP,” 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.