When a serious car accident involves a child, the aftermath can be overwhelming and devastating. As parents, your top priority is the safety and well-being of your child, so it’s important to do everything you can to keep them safe, including never driving drunk or distracted and ensuring that everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained.
If your child has been injured in a car accident, a car accident attorney can help you recover the compensation your family deserves to cover medical costs, lost wages, and other financial hardships. While it’s important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after a collision, Washington state law provides that children injured in accidents may have up to three years from their 18th birthday to file a claim, allowing time to pursue justice even after they’ve reached adulthood.
Washington State Laws for Child Passengers
Washington has strict laws to ensure children are properly secured while traveling in a vehicle. These laws are based on age, weight, and height to ensure maximum protection for growing children. In Washington:
- Children under 13 must ride in the back seat whenever possible.
- Children under 8 years old or shorter than 4’9” must be secured in a car seat or booster seat.
- Infants should ride rear-facing until at least two years old or until they exceed the manufacturer’s weight and height limits for their seat.
- Once a child is 8 years old or taller than 4’9”, they can switch to a seatbelt, provided it fits properly over their lap and shoulder.
Following these laws isn’t just about legal compliance—it dramatically reduces the risk of injury or death in an accident.
Statistics on Child Passenger Safety
According to Crash Stats from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the U.S. In 2021 alone, an estimated 162,298 children were injured in traffic crashes and 803 were killed. Sadly, many of these injuries and fatalities could have been prevented with the proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts. Of the 863 child passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes, restraint use was known for 769, of whom 308 (40 percent) were unrestrained.
Securing Your Child Correctly
Properly securing your child into the appropriate car seat, booster seat, or seatbelt can be lifesaving. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that using car seats correctly reduces the risk of injury by 71-82 percent for children compared to seatbelt use alone.
Unfortunately, many parents unknowingly misuse car seats, leading to reduced effectiveness. Research shows that nearly 46 percent of car seats are not installed or used correctly. Ensuring that your child’s car seat is installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and that they meet the height and weight limits for their seat can drastically lower the risk of serious injury.
Protecting your child’s safety while on the road is one of the most important responsibilities as a parent. National Child Passenger Safety Week serves as a good reminder for parents to revisit these guidelines and check that their children are as safe as possible every time they get into a vehicle. By following Washington’s child passenger safety laws and securing your child correctly, you can significantly reduce the risk of injury.
How an Attorney Can Help When the Unthinkable Happens
In the unfortunate event of a car accident, securing compensation for your child’s medical bills, future care needs, and emotional suffering is vital for their long-term well-being. A car accident attorney can guide you through the process of filing a claim, negotiating with the at-fault insurance company, and ensuring that your rights are protected. If your child has been injured in an accident, don’t wait—reach out to an attorney to discuss your legal rights, explore your options, and seek justice for your family.
Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full 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 personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
