Car accidents are the leading cause of death among children, underscoring the life-saving importance of child car seats. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the seats reduce the chance of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers. NHTSA also reports that an alarming 46 percent of seats are misused.
In Texas, the law requires children younger than 8 – unless they are over 4 feet, 9 inches tall – to be in a car seat when in a passenger vehicle. Children under 13 should ride in the back seat, secured by either a seat belt or safety seat.
Nonetheless, in Texas last year crashes claimed the lives of:
- 62 children younger than 8, with 16 of them not restrained
- 56 children 8-12, with 21 of them not restrained
Save a Child’s Life – for Free
Texas operates a “Save Me With a Seat” campaign to educate parents about child safety seats. The program offers seat inspections year-round at no cost.
A 30-minute inspection can be scheduled with a TxDOT Traffic Safety Specialist by visiting SaveMeWithaSeat.org. The website also provides valuable safety information, including how to determine whether a child should be in a rear-facing, forward-facing or booster seat.
“Proper use of car seats offers the best protection for children in the event of a crash,” Texas Department of Transportation Executive Director James Bass said. “We are making a concerted effort to make sure parents have their children securely buckled in the appropriate car seats, and that those seats are correctly installed.”
Attorneys Can Offer Protection After a Crash
If your child has been injured in a car accident – regardless of whether a child safety seat is the issue – the emotional trauma is bound to take a toll on the entire family. A child may not understand what happened to them as they recover from their injuries. As a parent or adult family member, you may feel guilty for not better protecting the child, even though the accident was not your fault. Regardless, you’re dealing with medical bills, the police, the court system and insurance companies.
The issues are complex and you’ve got enough on your hands. The Texas car accident lawyers at Tracey & Fox know this. With offices in Dallas, San Antonio and Houston, we have experience handling cases just like yours throughout Texas. We know how to deal with the police, the courts, and insurance companies. More importantly, our legal team will treat you with compassion and respect while fighting for justice and fair compensation for you and your family.
Contact us today for a free case consultation. Because we work on a contingency fee basis, you do not pay unless we win your case.