Cowen Cares! Seven common mistakes could cost your child’s life in a South Texas accident.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for American children. Every year, over 1,000 children under the age of 8 are killed in car wrecks. An additional 90,000 are injured and many of them suffer lifelong disability as a result. The sad fact is that many of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented. Parents unintentionally risk their children’s lives by not following safety rules. We’ve listed seven mistakes that Brownsville parents make that may compromise their child’s safety.

1. Not using a car seat every time

Safety seats greatly reduce a child’s chances of being seriously injured or killed in a car accident. In Texas, all children under the age of 8 and under 4’9” tall are required to be buckled up in an appropriate car seat or booster seat. Children should be buckled in every time they get in a car. Fifty-two percent of accidents occur less than five miles from home. Never hold your child in your lap. Even if your child is sick or unhappy, it is better to let her scream than to risk her life.

2. Using a secondhand/expired car seat

Secondhand seats may not meet current safety standards. The plastic on car seats becomes brittle after about 5 years and can shatter in an accident. This makes it unsafe. If you must use a second hand car seat, check the expiration date on the bottom of the seat and download the installation instructions from the manufacturer’s website.

3. Turning your child forward-facing too early

Babies have large heads and weak necks. This puts their spines at risk. In a head-on collision, a forward-facing child’s head can jerk suddenly and violently causing severe and possibly deadly spinal injury. Twelve months and twenty pounds is the minimum legal requirement for forward facing a car seat, but the longer your child faces the back of the car, the better. Try to keep your child rear-facing until he reaches the height and weight limits for that position of his seat.

4. Moving your child out of a car seat or booster seat too soon

Children in Texas must ride in a booster seat until age 8. Children over 40 pounds are safest in a booster seat until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall and at least 8 years old.

5. Not installing the car seat correctly

A car seat can only do its job if it is installed correctly. A properly installed seat should fit tightly against the rear seat and not move from side to side. If your car was manufactured before 1996, you will need to use a locking clip to keep the seatbelt attaching the car seat tight. If your car was manufactured after 2002, you should have a LATCH system that will work with your car seat. This can be confusing, so feel free to make an appointment with our child seat professional to get your car seat installation checked.

6. Not buckling your child in the seat

The car seat won’t work if your child isn’t buckled in. Make sure the straps are not twisted and then tighten the straps until you can’t pinch any harness fabric between your fingers. Slide the plastic clip to armpit level. If it is too low, your child could be ejected from his seat in a crash.

7. Letting a child ride in the front seat

The backseat is the safest place for all children under 13. Air bags can cause fatal injuries to children.

The Cowen Law Group represents victims of car crashes in San Antonio, Brownsville, Laredo and throughout South Texas. If your child has been injured in a car crash and you need help, contact an attorney at The Cowen Law Group. The initial consultation is free and a lawyer will tell you if you have a case.