Is Your Child’s Car Seat Properly Installed?

You certainly don’t want to wait for a New Haven auto accident to find out that you have accidentally installed your child’s car seat incorrectly.  Any first time parent knows that a car seat is not the easiest thing in the world to install and there is a chance that despite your best efforts you don’t have it in the car the right way which could put your child at risk in the event of an accident.

According to a study done by AAA and the National Safety Council more than half of all car seats are incorrectly installed.  This is a really serious issue that could have far reaching ramifications on the health and well-being of children.  So what does it mean to have improper installation of your child’s car seat?  The study found that there were a number of reasons why car seats were not installed correctly.  The following list identifies some of these reasons, but if you are unsure about your child’s car seat you should have it inspected by a Child Passenger Safety Technician.

1.) One of the most common reasons for a car seat to be considered incorrectly installed is that it is too loose.  When you install a car seat properly it should not move much at all and should be tightly secured to the vehicle.

2.) When you are installing a car seat that is forward facing you should always use the tether if it is being secured using the seat belt or the lower anchors.

3.) Once your car seat is installed you should make sure that the harness is not too loose around the child.  This can especially occur in winter months when parents sometimes have their kids get into their car seats without taking off their bulky winter coats.  A child should always remove their coat when being buckled safely into a car seat.

Another area of concern that the study raised is that children who are not at the appropriate age, height or weight are often moved into the next level of car seat before they are ready to do so.  The study found that nearly 90% of all kids who should still be in a forward facing car seat have been transitioned into a lap and shoulder seat belt.

This post is meant as being informational only and should not be used as advice for your particular situation.  If you are not sure if your car seat is installed properly you should have it inspected at your local police station or by a Child Passenger Safety Technician.  Having an expert look at the restraints and the installation of the car seat is one way to minimize the effects of a New Haven auto accident on the safety of your child.

If you are involved in an accident and your child is injured you may need an attorney who is experienced in many types of auto accident situations.  Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will speak with you about the details of your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.