If a child is not properly restrained during a collision, the child may violently flail about and impact the interior of the vehicle or may even be completely ejected from the vehicle. The National Transportation Safety Board has outlined specific protocol to follow in order to ensure young children are properly restrained and protected in the event of a crash. Because typical restraint systems in cars are designed to accommodate adults, seat belts and other safety features may actually inflict damage on children rather than prevent it. Therefore, car and child safety experts recommended children up to age 8 or less than 4-feet 9-inches tall use a child safety seat or booster seat when riding in an automobile. However, certain design and structural defects may negate the protective features of the child seat even when it is used properly, causing severe or fatal injuries to the child during a car accident. Our attorneys have helped many Illinois residents obtain financial recovery for injuries sustained by their children due to defective child seats.
Child safety seats range in size and configurations, the design of each safety seat tailored to the specific needs and requirements of a child. Infant child safety seats are designed for small children under the age of one. These seats should always be restrained in the back seat facing the rear. It is extremely important that rear-facing child seats are positioned away from airbags as airbags may inflict serious or fatal injuries in the event of a collision. Older, larger children, weighing between 20 and 40 pounds, may be restrained safely in a front-facing child safety seat, but these front-facing seats must remain in the back seat away from the potentially fatal impact of a deployed airbag. Booster seats are generally used for older children who still do not fit properly into the adult restraints in automobiles. Booster seats should add enough height so that the adult restraints fit snugly and securely around the restrained child.
Even if you properly use a child safety seat or booster seat, your child may still be injured during a collision. Millions of child seats have been recalled over the years due to design errors or manufacturer defects. Included among the most common defects recalls are faulty harnesses, malfunctioning buckles, shell design errors, and defective seat cushions. Despite the large number of recalls that have been issued over the years, only a small percentage of child seats are ever returned.
If your child has been injured during a collision due to a defective child or booster seat, the attorneys at Healy Scanlon Law Firm are prepared to advocate for you. We are experienced attorneys qualified in the litigation of product liability cases, dedicated to obtaining just compensation for our clients’ injuries. Call 312-226-4236 to schedule a free consultation.