Protecting Young Lives From Dangers Lurking On The Road
Georgia Wrongful Death Lawyers Offer Insights to Help Protect Young Lives From Dangers Lurking On The Road
One of the most horrific experiences a parent could face is the death of a child. Parents will do whatever they can to protect their young from harm, but at some point they have to let their children enter the world and experience life for themselves. For most teenagers, that means learning to drive and getting their driver's license. Teenage drivers are at a tremendous risk for dying – or killing someone else – in a motor vehicle crash. Similarly, child passengers are also in peril when they ride in a car. If you or a family member is the victim of a young driver or your child was injured or killed, contact the Georgia wrongful death attorneys from Montlick & Associates to learn about your legal rights as well as what steps can be taken to protect those rights.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), child passengers are susceptible to death and serious injury while riding in a car. The statistics are heartbreaking. The numbers suggest that two children under thirteen years of age died in car crashes every single day in 2014 in the United States. Additionally, another 308 children within the same age group were injured every day. The numbers are staggering.
The NSC wants to stem the tide of carnage on our roads. The NSC advises parents to make absolutely certain small children are secured in their car seats as well as for younger and older children to use seatbelts correctly. Many parents and guardians do not understand how a car seat should fit in a car. Additionally, parents and guardians should learn how to secure child safety seats in other modes of transportation, such as planes and trains. Doing so can go a long way toward eliminating unnecessary risks to your child's health and well-being.
The NSC suggests other actions you could take as well to reduce the chances your child is killed or injured in a motor vehicle crash. The NSC recommends that parents seek the advice of a certified car seat technician if you are pregnant so that you can learn how to install a car seat correctly. You can also visit your local law enforcement department and ask for an officer to check your child's car seat.
Your behavior as a parent plays a significant role in your children's car safety. You should always wear your seatbelt, and you should refuse to begin driving until all passengers have buckled their safety belts as well. Also, children twelve years old and under should sit in the backseat. One of the reasons relates to airbag deployment, which are an added layer of protection for older children and adults. However, younger children cannot withstand the forces applied to their bodies from an airbag.
Another factor parents should be mindful of is the age of car seats. A seat’s life span is about six to eight years. After that, the manufacturer cannot guarantee that the seat is safe. Therefore, handing down safety seats from one child to another over that time frame could endanger your children and is discouraged by the NSC. On a related note, parents should make themselves aware of the child safety seat recalls issued by the manufacturers and other consumer safety organizations.
Once you safely navigate the child's pre-teen and early teenage years, you face the daunting reality that your child will want to drive. The NSC recommends that you play an active role in making sure your child is a safe driver. If more parents were involved in their young driver's education, then the national trend could reverse itself. Teenage drivers have the highest mortality rate of any demographic, and the numbers are rising. In 2015, teenager operators died in 1,886 crashes nationally. Additionally, 975 passengers of young drivers died, 1,320 people died who were in other cars, and another 521 people died in accidents involving a teenage driver. Parents have an opportunity to protect their children and others by getting involved in their children's driving education and behaviors. We at Montlick & Associates are involved in many public safety initiatives, including those relating to teen driving safety.
Put Our Law Firm's Over 39 Years Of Legal Experience To Work For Your Case!
If you have been involved in any type of accident caused by someone else's negligence, contact Montlick & Associates today for your free consultation. Montlick & Associates has been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast for over 39 years, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. Our car accident lawyers have been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast for over 39 years.
No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.
Source:
http://www.nsc.org/NSCDocuments_Advocacy/State-of-Safety/State-Report.pdf
Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law
17 Executive Park Dr NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
Telephone: 1 (800) LAW-NEED
Telephone: 1 (404) 529-6333