Statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show that car accidents are a leading cause of death for children in the US. The CDC also maintains that car seat usage can reduce the risk of death by 71 to 54 percent, depending on the child’s age. However, car seats can only prevent death or catastrophic injuries if they are safe to use.
Our attorneys know from experience that car seats with design or manufacturing defects do not provide adequate protection during a crash.
For example, if the latches are defective, the restraints do not properly hold your child in the car seat, or it lacks sufficient padding, a child may suffer catastrophic injuries or death during a collision. Defective car seats could also be made of flammable materials, which could put children at risk of suffering burn injuries.
You have a few options for staying informed on child car seat recalls. The first option is to visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) website and register the car seat with the manufacturer. By registering the car seat, you could be promptly informed of a recall. Another option is to check NHTSA’s list of recalled car seats. This option may be useful if you have borrowed a seat from a friend or family member or bought a used car seat.
Even by using the options listed above, it can still be difficult to determine whether your child’s seat contains defects. Manufacturers may not promptly report defects to NHTSA. As a result, defects can go unnoticed until they cause catastrophic injuries or deaths.
What if My Child is Injured by a Defective Car Seat or Seat Belt?
Defective car seats and seat belts can cause life-altering injuries during a car accident. Depending on the circumstances, our attorneys may be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer or other parties on your behalf.
The Philadelphia product liability lawyers at Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C., have the resources and drive to bring your case to a successful conclusion.
