Cars are an essential part of many of our lives. Summer is a good time to tune-up child car safety.
If you or a family member is injured in a car accident, contact Aversa & Linn for help in protecting your rights.
Look before you lock
Vehicles heat up quickly; if the outside temperature is in the low 80s°, the temperature inside the vehicle can reach deadly levels in just a few minutes—even with a window rolled down.
A child’s body temperature rises 3 to 5 times faster than that of an adult. Visit NHTSA.gov/ Heatstroke to learn more tips and reminders to prevent heatstroke.
- Never leave your child unattended in or around a vehicle.
- Always remember to lock your vehicle when exiting so children do not play or get trapped inside.
Use Seatbelts and Car Seats
If you were born in the 1980s or earlier, you likely remember a time when seatbelts were optional. In fact, in the 1980s, only about 10% of Americans wore seatbelts!
We have come a long, long way. 92% of Americans wear seatbelts today. According to NHTSA, seatbelts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 15,000 lives in 2017![1] Every state has laws requiring seatbelts and car seats for children.
Child passenger safety laws – Pennsylvania
Laws differ from state to state, including laws involving child passenger safety.
In Pennsylvania, the child passenger safety laws require:
- Child from birth–2 Years: Must be secured in a rear-facing car seat until the child outgrows the maximum weight and height limits designated by the car seat manufacturer.
- Child from birth–4 Years: Must be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat.
- Child from 4-8 Years: Must be restrained in an appropriate booster seat.
- Child 8 Years and Older: Must be in a seatbelt.
It’s important to remember that these are minimum requirements. Many experts, including the NHTSA, have stronger recommendations to keep children as safe as possible as a passenger.
Seatbelts for children
Sometime between the ages of 8-12, most kids are ready to give up the booster seat and start using a regular seatbelt. How do you know when your kid is ready?
Remember cars can be different – so for each vehicle check that the child is tall enough to sit without slouching and be able to:
Keep their back against the vehicle seat;
Keep their knees naturally bend over the edge of the vehicle seat; and
Keep their feet flat on the floor.
In addition, when wearing a seatbelt, the lap belt should lie across the upper thighs, not stomach, and the shoulder belt should lie across the shoulder and chest, not across the neck or face.
Remember, the back seat is safer for kids under 13!
Car seats for children
From the time of their birth until they leave behind the booster seat, your child should always ride in the appropriate car seat or booster seat.
THERE IS HELP AVAILABLE! Deciding which car seat to use when and how can be overwhelming. You can go to the PennDOT website or NHTSA for information about choosing and installing the right car seat for your family.
Even more important than choosing the best car seat is making sure it is installed properly because even the best car seat improperly installed is dangerous.
You can also bring your car and car seat to a location near you to have an expert help you with installation.
Find a FREE car seat installation location near you..
A safety check can give you peace of mind as you travel this summer and fall. Children grow faster than we realize and it may be time to make an adjustment before hitting the road for vacation.
If you or a family member is injured in a car accident, hiring an experienced attorney is essential to protect your interests and get the best possible outcome for your case.
Contact Aversa & Linn for help in evaluating your claim.
