Child Safety Seat Defects and Failures
Occupant Restraint Devices - more commonly referred to as child car seats and seat belts - were designed to save lives, and they do. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), child safety seats reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by 71 percent for infants, and by 54 percent for toddlers ages 1 to 4 years (2006). The NHTSA also reports that lap/shoulder safety belts, when used properly, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent.
But, say Chicago personal injury attorneys, these life-saving devices sometimes fail. In the event of failure or defect, occupant restraint devices can cause severe injury to babies, children and adults. In some tragic instances, fatalities have occurred.
Statistics show motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. (CDC Department of Health and Human Services 2006). Fortunately, placing children in age- and size-appropriate restraint systems can reduce serious and fatal injuries by more than half (NHTSA 2006d).
But what happens when these restraint systems fail?
Illinois personal injury lawyers have found children are seriously injured or killed in auto accidents because of defective child safety seats all too often. Most vehicles are not properly equipped for child safety seats, and combined with defective manufacturing and designs, many consumers are unknowingly putting their children at risk for deadly injuries every day.
If your child was injured due to a defective car seat or seat belt in Illinois, personal injury lawyers who specialize in these types of claims can help you seek compensation.
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