Restrain Your Child the Right Way – Make Sure Car Seats Are Installed Properly

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the deaths of 4 out of every 10 children under the age of 6 who die or are seriously injured in auto accidents can be attributed to being unrestrained or improperly restrained. When car seats are properly used and installed, however, they are 71% effective in preventing injury among infants and 54% effective with children ages 1-4.

The most common problems with the use and installation of child car seats, according to the NHTSA, include:

using the wrong child safety seats for a child’s size and age;
failing to place the child safety seat in the correct direction;
incorrect installation of the child safety seat in relation to the vehicle’s air bags;
incorrect installation and tightness of the child safety seat to the vehicle seat;
not securing/tightening the child safety seat’s harness and crotch straps;
improper use of locking clips for certain vehicle safety belts;
not making sure the vehicle’s seat belts fit properly across the child when using a booster seat; and
using a defective or broken child safety seat.

Texas law requires that any child passenger younger than 8 (unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches) must be buckled up in a child safety seat according to the instructions of the seat’s manufacturer.

On its website, the NHTSA has useful information and instructional videos to help parents properly install child safety seats. Additionally, the Texas Department of Transportation has great information about how to select the right seat for your child, and offers free safety seat check-ups in each of its 25 district offices throughout Texas. You can schedule a safety check at the Dallas office by calling (214) 320-6220 or (214) 320-6235.

At Greening Law, P.C., we provide aggressive, compassionate and experienced representation for car accident victims in Dallas and throughout Texas. Please give us a call at (972) 934-8900 or fill out our online form to arrange for your free initial consultation.

Schools In: Keeping Kids Safe On The Bus

School is officially back in session, and that means slowing down in school zones and watching out for kids getting on and off school buses. Unfortunately not every driver is diligent enough to avoid an accident, and injuries involving school buses do occur. We all know how important it is for children to get to and from school safely, and when drivers are unreliable sometimes the best thing a parent can do is to give their kids a few school bus safety tips.

Some things you can do to help make sure your child’s school bus experience is a safe one includes:

If your child is young, walk with them to the bus stop in the morning and arrange to have an adult present at afternoon drop off. This will ensure your kids get on and off the bus without running into the street, where the risk of being hit by a car is great.
For children that are old enough to get to and from the bus stop without an adult, make sure they know to stay at the stop and away from traffic.
Be sure kids are not overloaded with backpacks, books, and school projects when getting on and off the bus. When your children have too much to carry, their hands are not free to use the handrail when going up and down the bus stairs. If possible, send projects to school ahead of the due date, or make plans to drive your kids to school on the days they have a lot to transport. Just be sure the drive is safe, school car lines and parking lots can quickly become congested at peak times, so going a bit early is a good idea.
Tell your kids never to cross in front of the bus, and to always wait for the driver to signal the all clear before approaching the bus or walking away from the stop at the end of the day.
When crossing behind the bus, be sure the bus has already pulled away and that the roadway is clear.

While taking the bus is typically considered the safest way to get your kids to school and home again, accidents do still happen. Not all drivers pay attention to a stopped bus, and not every driver abides by the speed zone near schools. This type of negligent driving behavior can result in accidents involving buses, and if that happens you should take immediate action to hold the negligent driver responsible. Call our office today to find out more about school bus safety, and what to do in the event of an accident.

If you have questions about school bus accidents, call our office. Attorney Robert Greening has the answers. Call a Dallas, Texas personal injury attorney today.