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What is the best way to protect my child from a Maryland car accident?

It is no secret that every parent wants to keep their child safe, from the moment they are born to well into adulthood. Over the years, technology has made not only our cars safer for our children, but their safety restraint seats, as well.

Unfortunately, many parents do not know how to use or install the systems properly, and children and babies are still needlessly injured in traffic accidents as a result. More children die from traffic accident injuries than any other type of injury, and using the right type of child safety restraint can mean the difference between an easily treatable injury and death.

Child safety restraints, including car seats and booster seats, are fit based on a child’s weight, height or age. For children up to age two, a rear-facing child seat in the back seat of your car is the safest option. These seats best support smaller babies and children, so be sure to check the weight or height limits on the seat as your child grows.

When your child becomes too big for the rear-facing child seat, switch to one that faces forward. Placed properly in the back seat, this type of restraint system will keep your little one safe until they are about 4 years old — remember, however, that most seats are based on a weight or height estimate, not age.

Following a child seat, your child can graduate to a booster seat in the back of your car. These booster seats help the seat belts in the back of the car best protect your child. The seat belts in most cars are designed to keep only adults safe and can injure a child if the correct adjustments are not made. The added height of a booster seat will position the seat belt to protect your child properly if you are involved in a Maryland auto accident.

Remember — the back seat is always the safest place for your children who are under the age of 13.

If your child was injured in a Maryland car crash, call the Maryland auto injury attorneys of Lewis & Tompkins now at 202-296-0666 for a free consultation.