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Car Seat Injuries Resulting From Improper Car Seat Installation
It’s no secret that riding in a car with a proper and secured car seat is one of the safest ways to transport children. However, when those seats are not properly installed, it can lead to devastating injuries for young passengers. Children are at higher risk of injury due to their smaller and more fragile bodies. One of the best ways to protect children in the event of a car accident is to ensure that they are properly secured in a car seat that is installed correctly. Unfortunately, many children are still injured in car accidents due to improperly installed car seats.
We want to help you avoid car seat injuries to your small children. The Georgia injury attorneys at Jarrett & Price strive to provide our clients with knowledge that will help to reduce the risk of injury and keep your loved ones safe on the roads. Below are some of the most common types of injuries small children suffer after an accident resulting from riding in an improperly installed car seat.
Head Injuries
Head injuries are one of the most common types of injuries suffered by children in car accidents. When a car seat is not installed properly, it can result in a child’s head hitting the car’s interior or other objects in the car. This can lead to concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and other serious head injuries.
Neck Injuries
Whiplash is a common neck injury that occurs in car accidents, and it can also happen to children who are not properly secured in their car seats. When a child’s car seat is not installed correctly, it can cause their head and neck to move in unnatural ways during an accident, which can result in neck injuries and whiplash.
Chest Injuries
Chest injuries can occur when a child is not properly secured in their car seat, and the force of the accident causes them to be thrown forward. This can lead to broken ribs, punctured lungs, and other serious injuries.
Abdominal Injuries
Abdominal injuries are also common in car accidents, especially if a child’s car seat is not installed correctly. When a child is not secured properly in their car seat, they can be thrown forward, which can result in abdominal injuries such as internal bleeding, ruptured organs, and other serious injuries.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are some of the most serious injuries that can occur in car accidents. When a child’s car seat is not properly installed, it can cause their spine to twist or bend unnaturally during an accident, which can result in spinal cord injuries such as paralysis.
RESOURCES TO ASSIST PARENTS
There are several resources and websites that parents can refer to in order to learn more about the proper installation of car seats. Here are some examples:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
The NHTSA is a government agency that provides information and guidelines on car seat safety. Their website offers information on how to choose the right car seat for your child’s age and size, how to properly install and use car seats, and how to register your car seat to receive safety recall notices. The website also has a directory of child passenger safety (CPS) technicians who can help parents with proper installation. Start here.
Safe Kids Worldwide
Safe Kids Worldwide is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing childhood injuries. Their website offers information on car seat safety, including how to choose and install the right car seat, and how to get help with installation. They also offer online and in-person car seat safety courses for parents and caregivers.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
The AAP is a professional organization for pediatricians. Their website offers information on car seat safety, including guidelines on how to choose and install the right car seat, and how to properly secure your child in the car seat. They also provide a car seat product listing, which shows car seats that have been evaluated and tested by the AAP.
Car Seat Lady
The Car Seat Lady is a website run by a certified child passenger safety technician. The website offers information and tips on car seat safety, including how to choose and install the right car seat, and how to properly secure your child in the car seat. The website also offers virtual car seat safety consultations for parents and caregivers.
Car Seats for the Littles
Car Seats for the Littles is a nonprofit organization run by certified child passenger safety technicians. Their website offers information on car seat safety, including how to choose and install the right car seat, and how to properly secure your child in the car seat. They also offer online and in-person car seat safety courses for parents and caregivers.
By utilizing these resources and websites, parents can ensure that their child is in the proper car seat, that it is installed correctly and that their child is properly secured, reducing the risk of injury in the event of a car accident.
Has Your Child Been Injured Due to a Faulty Car Seat?
Jarrett & Price is a Georgia-based law firm with offices in Savannah and Northeast Georgia, that specializes in personal injury cases, including those involving car seat injuries.
Car Seat Manufacturer Liability
Car seat manufacturers have a duty to ensure that their products are safe and free from defects that could harm users. If a child is injured because of a faulty car seat, the manufacturer may be held liable for the child’s injuries.
In order to establish liability, the plaintiff must show that the car seat was defective in some way and that the defect caused the child’s injuries. There are three types of defects that can be the basis of a product liability claim: design defects, manufacturing defects, and marketing defects.
Design defects are flaws in the car seat’s design that make it inherently dangerous. Manufacturing defects, on the other hand, occur during the manufacturing process and result in a car seat that is different from the intended design. Finally, marketing defects occur when a manufacturer fails to provide adequate warning or instructions for the safe use of the product.
If it is determined that the car seat was defective and that the defect caused the child’s injuries, the manufacturer may be held liable for the child’s medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages.
At Jarrett & Price, Georgia Injury Lawyers, we understand the devastating effects that car seat injuries can have on families. Our experienced personal injury attorneys are dedicated to holding manufacturers accountable for their negligence and helping our clients receive the compensation they deserve. If your child has been injured due to a faulty car seat, contact us today for a free consultation.
