When you ride with a child in your car, whether it’s your own kid, a younger sibling, or another family member, safety should be your biggest concern. Kids face significant risks in crashes, and it’s up to the people driving them to be as cautious and defensive on the road as possible. But it’s also important to remember that the risks kids face in cars aren’t limited to when they’re in motion.
To keep kids safe in your vehicle, keep these tips in mind:
- Ensure kids are properly secured—Infants and toddlers up to between 3 and 5 years old should ride in rear-facing car seats. Older children can ride in front-facing car seats and eventually booster seats.
- Keep kids in the back seat—Even after they’ve outgrown car seats and booster seats, experts recommend keeping children in the backseats of vehicles until they’re at least 12 years old. In fact, Tennessee law requires that kids ride back there until they’re at least 9 years old.
- Never leave kids unattended in your vehicle—Hot car deaths are tragic and 100% preventable. But they don’t always occur because adults forgot kids in their vehicles. They can also occur when kids have access to vehicles, including trunks, and become locked inside and can’t get out.
If you’re involved in a crash and your child gets hurt, you may be eligible to file a compensation claim against the other driver. At Ponce Law, our Nashville auto accident lawyers work hard to help the parents of injured children get full compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
