Most new Texas parents have heard that a rear-facing car seat is the safest option for small children, and many have purchased rear-facing car seats specifically so their child can ride safely in their vehicle. But why are rear-facing car seats the best option – and what is the best way to use them to protect a child’s safety in a car accident?
With help from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), your experienced Texas car accident attorneys can explain:
- The rear-facing seat protects the child’s head, neck, and spine in a crash. During a crash, the momentum of the moving vehicle throws everyone and everything forward. A rear-facing seat “catches” the child’s delicate head, neck, and spine, protecting them from impacts and reducing the risk of long-term brain and spinal cord injuries.
- Rear-facing seats must be placed in the back seat. They cannot be used in any seat with an air bag. The back seat is the safest place for any child in a car, since it is better protected from the glass of the windshield and from the dashboard. A rear-facing seat, placed correctly, also guarantees that a child won’t accidentally be injured by an air bag not designed to accommodate their small bodies.
- They’re convenient – so there is no excuse not to use one. Smaller, infant-only rear-facing seats are lightweight and portable, making it easy to transport even a sleeping baby once you arrive at your destination. Larger rear-facing seats are often designed to grow with your child, converting to front-facing seats and eventually to booster seats as the child grows.
If you believe your child has been injured in a traffic accident due to a defective child car seat, please contact Brown Trial Firm, PLLC as soon as possible for high-quality legal assistance.