Majority of Parents Do Not Use Child Car Seats Properly

By Peter DePaolis
Attorney

The next time you secure your child in his or her car safety seat, double-check that you are doing it correctly. A study conducted by AAA revealed that parents, according to a report at wtop.com, use 75 percent of child car seats improperly. In addition, the study found that four out of five kids injured in car accidents were improperly restrained.

A spokesperson for AAA said some parents face their child the wrong way, fail to buckle the child properly, or fail to anchor the seat inside the vehicle. The AAA spokesperson said that children under one year old should face the rear in their car seat, and children under age 13 should ride in the back seat. Children ages 8 to 12 should ride in booster seats until they are old enough to fit in regular seat belts.

Drivers in the District face fines for failing to secure their children inside the car. Drivers in DC face a $75.00 fine, drivers in Virginia face a $50.00 fine and drivers in Maryland face a $25.00 fine.

In the rush of getting your kids in the car every morning, do you pay attention to their safety restraints? Call today for more information.

Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis L.L.P.

Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia Injury Attorneys

   Approved by attorney Paulette Chapman

About the Author
Peter DePaolis joined the firm in 1980 and has since represented a large number of individuals involved in automobile collisions, truck accidents, bus crashes, defective products, and medical malpractice cases. A significant portion of Mr. DePaolis’ practice is devoted to working on behalf of people suffering from asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related cancers. He has led his firm’s fight against the asbestos industry and has recovered over $30 million in damages for asbestos victims and their families.