More than six million child-safety seats were recalled in 2014, but less than half of those seats have been repaired. The reasons for the disparity could be that many parents simply forgot to mail in a required registration card that came with the seat, or in general did not know about the recalls.
A study done by Safe Kids Worldwide, which is a nonprofit organization that is focused on child safety, found that only 42 percent of families fill out and return the car-seat registration card. Eighty percent of parents surveyed said the card is important, but only 68 percent knew that it pertained to safety.
If the car seat is registered with the manufacturer, and there is a recall later, the manufacturer will be able to contact owners directly and also mail any items needed for repairs straight to the owners. If the car seat is not registered, parents will have to learn about the recalls in other ways. Some report hearing about recalls on the news, via social media, or through family and friends.
If you aren’t sure whether your child’s car seat has been registered or if the seat has been recalled, there are a few things you can do. First, register the seat online at the car seat manufacturer’s website. You can find the seat’s model number and manufacture date on a label on the car seat. You can also check for recalls online using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website.
Even if you take the time to register your car seat and check to make sure it’s recalled, many children are not completely protected because most car seats are not properly installed. As children grow, there are generally three types of car seats: rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster seats.
Rear-facing seats are used normally until the age of two, depending on your child’s size. Forward-facing seats are used from age two or three until age four to seven, depending on your child’s size. Booster seats are used after the child outgrows the forward-facing seat, until between the ages of eight and 12. After your child outgrows the booster seat, they should use a seat belt. Until the age of 12, your child should sit in the back seat of your vehicle. Children can be seriously injured by air bags if they are in the front seat of a vehicle.
Car collisions are the leading cause of accidental deaths for children between the ages of five and 18. If children are properly buckled into car seats, the chances of death or serious personal injury to the child in an automobile collision decrease significantly. In some cases, you may have buckled your child into the correct seat, but the seat has been recalled and is not effective in protecting your child in the event of an accident. Many fire stations and public safety organizations offer free car seat checks or perform installations for free. You can check the Safe Kids website to find out more.
If your child has been harmed in an automobile collision, your child may have the right to legal compensation. Call Micha Star Liberty, San Francisco automobile collision attorney at 415-896-1000 or 510-645-1000. She works with clients who have been injured because of the negligence of another driver. Individuals injured in a collision may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and more. Liberty Law works with clients throughout the San Francisco Bay area, including Hayward, Fairfield, Tracy, Berkeley, San Jose, and the surrounding areas. Call today to schedule your free consultation. You pay the firm nothing until we obtain a recovery for you.
