When it comes to protecting your kids in a car accident, a lot depends on their car seat. Proper size, fit, and positioning can be the difference between bumps and bruises and serious injury. That’s why the Farmington Hills Fire Department recently offered free car seat inspections, to make sure local children were safe.
Child safety seats are are essential to protecting kids from car accident injuries. That’s why car seats are mandatory for every Michigan passenger under age 4. Kids ages 4 to 8 years old and less than 4 feet 9 inches tall must use booster seats and sit in the back seat. Even above age 8, all children need to ride with their seat belts on at all times.
In spite of the laws, 75 percent of children across the country ride in car seats that don’t fit or aren’t installed correctly. That’s why the Farmington Hills Fire Department recently offered free child safety seat inspections. Nationally-certified child safety seat technicians were on hand to check the fit and installation of residents’ car seats, and make sure the brands had not been recalled.
Similar inspection events are available all across Michigan. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has put together a database of all the places where concerned parents can have their car seats inspected. Just enter your zip code to find an inspection station convenient for you. At most locations you will need to schedule an appointment. Be sure to allow a half hour or more for a proper inspection.
The NHTSA also helps parents keep up to date on child safety seat recalls. Parents can type in their brand and model number and find out whether there are any safety concerns connected with their car seat.
One of the worst things in a parent’s life is when their child is injured in a serious auto accident. If a child safety seat has been installed incorrectly, or if the child has outgrown it, an accident could affect your child’s development and future. That’s why it is so important for parents to take car seat installation seriously, and have their child safety seats inspected by a professional regularly.
David Christensen is an auto accident attorney at Christensen Law in Southfield, Michigan. He and his team represent the families of children injured in car accidents, to make sure all their needs are met while they recover. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a car accident, contact Christensen Law today for a free consultation.
