Skip to Content
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Seats Reduce Injuries and Deaths
December 5, 2012 | Category: Child Injuries | Share
When a car hit an animal in northern Collier County on State Road 29 Saturday night, December 1, 2012, an infant who was not in a child seat or wearing a seat belt was seriously injured. The chain reaction crash started when a southbound SUV, after hitting the animal, was hit head-on by a car going in the opposite direction. Another vehicle, a minivan, also going northbound, struck the second car. (News-Press 12-01-12)
The Florida Highway Patrol report states that the two youngest children in this three-vehicle crash were not wearing seat belts, nor were they in child seats. Charges are pending against the drivers.
The NHTSA reports that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children under thirteen years old.
Fort Myers, Florida Attorney Randall Spivey, Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. said, "Drivers need to protect children in vehicles not only by obeying Florida laws but by following the guidelines created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Here's a link to a conveniently organized website Safercar.gov At this site you will also find a link to NHTSA's Ease of Use Rankings for age appropriate car seats and boosters."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC reports that, "Child safety seats reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by 71% for infants, and by 54% for toddlers ages 1 to 4 years."
Attorney Spivey also suggests, "Even though there is no law, drivers should follow the Safe Kids USA’s suggestion that children under 13 ride in a back seat with properly fitted restraints appropriate for their weight and height as they might have more protection in crashes, including frontal crashes, such as what sadly happened on State Road 29."
Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by less than 2 percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 1,500 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.