4-Year-old Boy from Utah Killed in Rear-End Accident

4-Year-old Boy from Utah Killed in Rear-End Accident

A 4-year-old boy was killed Wednesday, January 30 in a rear-end accident in South Jordan, Utah. A Dodge Neon traveling east rear-ended another vehicle that had stopped because of traffic just after 4 p.m. The initial crash caused the car hit by the Neon to rear-end the car in front of it as well. The 4-year old boy – who was sitting in the passenger seat and not in a child restraint or booster but wearing a seatbelt – was critically injured when airbags deployed from the impact of the crash. He died shortly afterward in the hospital. All other people involved in the car accident were checked by medical responders at the scene and released.

As a result of the tragic crash, South Jordan police sent out a reminder to make sure children under age eight are properly restrained in car or booster seats, and that children under age 13 ride in back seats.

Washington State’s Child Restraint Laws

• Children under 13 years old must be buckled into the back seat as long as it is “… practical to do so.” If a child is riding in a truck with only one row of seating, for example, then they are legally allowed to ride in the front.
• Children must use a booster seat (child restraint) until they are 4’9” tall or up until they turn 8 years old, whichever comes first. 4’9” is the minimum height at which a person can use a shoulder strap correctly and comfortably. The seat belt should never be placed behind the back or up across the abdomen.
  • If you can answer yes to the following five questions then your child is ready to ride in the car without a child restraint system:
    1. Can the child sit all the way back against the seat?
    2. Can the child’s knees bend comfortably over the edge of the seat without slouching forward?
    3. When buckled, does the lap belt stay on the top part of the child’s thighs? (It should not move across the abdomen.)
    4. Is the shoulder belt able to stay centered on the child’s chest and shoulder?
    5. Can the child sit in that position for the duration of a trip?
• The restraint system must be used correctly according to the car seat AND vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.
• Older vehicles with lap-only seat belts are exempt from the requirement to use a booster seat as long as the child weighs at least 40 pounds.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines for both the child restraint and the vehicle.

• The restraint system must be used correctly according to the car seat AND vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.

The fine for improperly restrained children in motor vehicles is at least $112 per child.

Kids car accident fatality statistics

• In 2004, 495 children under the age of 5 were killed in car accidents. Among these fatalities, approximately 173 (35 percent) of these children were totally unrestrained.
• An estimated 451 children’s lives were saved in 2004 because they were strapped into a child restraint system.
• Child safety seats can reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers, ages 1 to 4.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends replacing car seats that have been in a moderate or severe car crash. If you are in a car accident where airbags deploy, you will likely need to replace car seats and you may be able to get your insurance company to cover the cost. You may need to send them a photocopy of the car seat instruction booklet that shows the recommendation to replace the seat after a car accident.

If you have lost a loved one, you have enough on your plate. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the justice and fair compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring, tireless and experienced wrongful death attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County and surrounding areas since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!