Latest Blogs

In a press release on August 12, 2016, the NSC called for, “uniform child passenger safety practices across multiple modes of transportation, including school buses, airplanes and personal vehicles. Among these recommendations, the Council urged the installation of lap and shoulder belts on new school buses with proper restraints for children with special needs, and called for all children ages 2 and younger to be properly restrained in their own seat on airplanes using an FAA-approved child restraint device.” Ambulances, police vehicles and recreational vehicles should also be equipped to accommodate the unique needs of child passengers whenever possible, including those children with special needs.

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) in its 2013 crash statistics report said motor vehicle injuries were the leading cause of death among children in the United States. Of the 32,719 traffic fatalities in the United States, 1,149 (4 percent) were children. Teenagers and children represented 12 percent of the 2,336 fatal motor vehicle crashes in Florida in 2014.

Child restraints in vehicles reduce the risk of death up to 71 percent among infants, 54 percent among toddlers, and 45 percent of children between the ages of 4 and 8, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Experts agree that child restraints are important in reducing child deaths in vehicle accidents. The NSC has addition recommendations:

• Use a dynamically tested child restraint device appropriate for each child’s weight, height, age and developmental level.
• Require the use of rear-facing child restraint devices at least through age 2.
• Use a belt-positioning booster seat until the seat belt fits correctly across the child, and at least until the child is 8 years old and 4 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 80 pounds.
• Require children younger than 13 to ride in the back seat of vehicles.
• Pass primary enforcement seat belt legislation in all states for all seating positions. 

Child restraint laws 

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have child safety seat laws. Child safety seat laws require children to travel in approved child restraints or booster seats and some permit or require older children to use adult safety belts. The age at which belts can be used instead of child safety seats differs among the states. Young children are usually covered by child safety seat laws, while safety belt laws cover older children and adults, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 

Specifically, Florida law requires that children 6 years old and younger be in a crash-tested, federally- approved child restraint device. Those found in violation of the law can be fined $60 for the 1^st offense. 

“Having a child in the correct restraint when in any vehicle, may save the child from injury or death should there be an accident,” said Fort Myers Child Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. “Should you be in a vehicle accident, after seeking medical attention, contact our experienced attorneys.” 

Fort Myers Child Injury Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.