When we become parents, we spend many hours every day worrying about the safety of our children—and rightfully so. We make sure our houses are "baby-proofed," but some people forget that one of the most important places we need to baby-proof are our cars—not necessarily to stop the child from doing something that can hurt them, but to protect them from other drivers on the road. The sad truth is that car accidents are the leading cause of death for children three years of age and older, so it's important to do everything in your power to keep your child safe in the car.
Properly install an age-appropriate safety seat in the car. The rules have changed since you were a child, and you may be surprised to know that even when your child outgrows a traditional car seat, it is recommended that they sit in a booster seat until they are 4' 9" and between 8 – 12 years old. There are also very specific rules for the type of car seat your child needs to sit in and which way it should face, depending on how old they are. A properly installed safety seat is vital to protecting your child in the event of a car accident.
Keep them in the back seat. The back seat is the safest place for your child to be in a moving car, so try to keep them back there as long as possible. It is recommended that children younger than 13 years old should stay out of the front seat.
The bottom line is that properly restraining your child in a moving vehicle is 100% necessary. Don't let them unbuckle for "just a minute" or ride with them on your lap because it's convenient.
If you or your child were seriously injured in a car crash, contact the Texas car crash law firm of Girards Law for a free consultation at 888-897-2762.