Ensuring That Your Child Avoids Severe Car Accident Injuries

 Posted on December 31,2018 in Car Accidents

On December 23, 2018, a car crash in the Little Village neighborhood on the Southwest side of Chicago resulted in the hospitalization of two children. The injured children, ages 3 and 10, were both rushed to Stroger Hospital. Fortunately, no one was fatally injured in the accident, but the crash did serve as a reminder of the risks that young children face when traveling in motor vehicles. If you or a loved one are injured in a motor vehicle collision, it is important to contact a legal team to learn about your options for receiving compensation for your damages. 

Simple Steps to Protect Your Children From Injury 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), transportation injuries are the most common cause of fatalities among children. While car crashes are often unavoidable, there are a few ways you can lower the chances of your children suffering severe injuries in a collision:

• Buckle Them Up: Studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), found that the lives of more than 14,000 Americans were saved in 2016 due to the use of seat belt restraint systems. Despite the overwhelming evidence that seat belts can be key to avoiding serious injuries, almost 10% of Americans neglect to wear their seat belts. Next time you drive with your children, make sure that they are properly buckled in. 
• Properly Use Booster Seats: For parents of young children, booster seats are needed to help children avoid injuries. When placing your child in their booster seat, make sure that they are in the seat correctly and that the seat is properly restrained. It is also important to ensure that the booster seat is the correct size. If your child grows out of a booster seat, yet they are still not big enough for a vehicle’s standard seat belts, it is important to purchase a larger sized seat. If your child is too small for their seat, return it and get a new one. Utilizing a booster seat that does not fit your child can put them at risk of serious injury. 
• Avoid Distractions: Any parent knows how easy it is to be distracted by your children. When driving, distractions can come with severe consequences. Distracted driving is responsible for approximately 25% of all car accidents nationwide. Next time you drive with your children, avoid taking your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel, which could make the difference in avoiding a collision. 

Contact a Waukegan Car Accident Lawyer

At Salvi and Maher, L.L.C., our legal team is dedicated to ensuring that our clients receive the compensation they deserve for injuries suffered in car accidents. If you or a loved one is injured in a motor vehicle collision, it is time to seek out legal assistance. To schedule a complimentary consultation with a Lake County personal injury attorney, call us today at 847-662-3303. 

Sources:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts

https://www.cdc.gov/safechild/child_injury_data.html

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/3-year-old-boy-among-4-seriously-injured-in-crash-503421001.html