5 Seatbelt Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe

Children are the most precious cargo you can carry, and you should take every safety precaution possible when you are transporting them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preventable car crash injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States.

Seat belts serve as the single most effective piece of safety equipment in your vehicle, and it is important to make sure your children buckle up every time they get in the car. Each state has its own laws regarding seat belts and child seats, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and you should be well versed in Iowa’s traffic laws before you get behind the wheel. 

If you wear a seat belt, you can drastically reduce the risk of sustaining serious injuries in the event of a collision. Unfortunately, there are still some injuries that even seat belts can’t prevent. 

If you sustained injuries in an accident, Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC may be able to help you recover damages. A Cedar Rapids accident attorney from our firm can assess your case to determine if filing a lawsuit would be in your best interests. Call us today at 319-393-1020, and read on for five seat belt safety tips for your children:

1. Make sure they’re ready.

Make sure your children are ready to use a regular seat belt before you take away their car seats. According to SafeKids.org, there is a simple test that you can conduct to establish this: Make sure your children’s knees bend at the edge of the seat when they sit with their backs against the seat. 

The lap belt should run across their upper thighs, and the shoulder belt should stretch across their chest and shoulder. Most children between the ages of 8 and 12 are ready to wear standard seat belts.

2. Make it a habit.

It is important to enforce wearing seat belts as a non-negotiable habit in your car. You should also teach your children to wear seatbelts whenever they are in someone else’s vehicle. If children learn this habit at an early age, they are more likely to continue it later in life.

3. Make young kids ride in the back. 

Children younger than 13 should never ride in the front seat. Young children who ride in the front seat are at risk of sustaining serious injuries if the airbags deploy.

4. Make sure you lead by example. 

Lead by example, and always make a point of buckling up. Children who see their parents wearing seat belts are far more likely to follow the example.

5. Make sure you wear seat belts properly.

Teach your children to wear seat belts properly. A child who slouches in the seat or leans against the window is still susceptible to injuries in a crash. Your children should sit upright in the car at all times, and the straps should secure their waist, chest and shoulder.

If you would like a Cedar Rapids personal-injury lawyer to look through your accident and determine if you may have a valid claim, contact Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC today. Call us at 319-393-1020 to schedule an appointment.