At some point, your child will outgrow his or her car seat. Once this happens, it doesn't mean they are ready for a seat belt just yet. Instead, this is when a booster seat comes into play.
While you may think a booster seat is a waste of money, remember this: It will keep your child safe in the event of an accident.
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, children seated in a booster seat are 45 percent less likely to be injured in a motor vehicle accident than children only wearing a seat belt.
If booster seat safety is on your mind, these tips will come in handy:
- Make sure the lap and shoulder belts fit your child.
- The shoulder belt should never be placed under your child's arm.
- Weigh and measure your child often, as this will help you determine when he or she can move on from the booster seat. Generally speaking, your child should stay in a booster until he or she weighs between 80 and 100 pounds and is a minimum of 4 feet 9 inches tall.
These are the types of details that can help you not only install and use a booster seat, but also ensure that your child moves on from this at the appropriate time.
It is easy to think that a booster seat provides no benefits, but nothing could be further from the truth. Remember, you never know when you could be involved in a car accident. If your child should be in a booster seat but isn't, an accident could result in serious injury.
Questions? Discuss your potential case with a Reno car accident lawyer at Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P. when you call (775) 227-2280.
Source: Safe Kids, "Booster Seats," accessed Dec. 21, 2015