A pilot program being instituted by the state of Maryland aims to help parents protect their children from harm in the event of a motor vehicle collision.
Kids in Safety Seats, otherwise known as KISS, has created a program wherein parents will be able to get assistance with installing a child safety seat via Skype. To sign up, parents can simply call a phone number, make an appointment, and get a free Skype account. Then, starting on April 30 and depending on the time that the appointment was made, technicians will call the parents through Skype to assist them.
The parents can then position their video chat device, be it a smart phone or a laptop or a tablet, in a way that shows technicians the specific car seats and automobiles they are working with. Participants can expect to receive instruction on recalls, how to follow the instruction manual, usage of the harness, and the actual installation.
At first, the program will only be available Monday mornings. If its popularity grows, it might expand from there. Officials with KISS are hoping that this will be an easy alternative for parents that don’t necessarily have the time to make it all the way out to a car seat inspection event.
I’m glad to see programs like this as a car accident attorney in San Diego. In this age of constantly evolving technology, it’s vital that we figure out ways to use that technology to help people. There’s no word on if this program will expand to other states, but as a San Diego personal injury lawyer, I have my fingers crossed that it or something like it will become more prevalent across the country.
Britax Child Safety Incorporated has issued a voluntary recall for its Chaperone Infant Car Seat due to a potentially defective harness adjuster. This recall affects Chaperone Infant Car Seats units manufactured from September 2010 to April 2011. The car seat units affected bear model numbers E9L692L, E9L692K, E9L692J, and E9L692M in the United States.
The Chaperone’s harness adjuster is attached to the infant car seat shell, and it assures that the car seat’s harness straps can be securely adjusted over the infant’s shoulders. The harness adjuster may have been improperly riveted to the infant car seat shell. The harness adjuster may become detached from the infant car seat shell, compromising the safety seat’s capacity for protecting the infant, and putting the child in greater danger of incurring injury in the event of an auto collision.
Britax will be supplying to consumers affected by this recall a repair kit that includes a harness adjuster clip and an installation manual. Owners of Chaperone Infant Car Seats that may be affected by this recall should verify the model number and manufacturing dates of their units and discontinue use if the harness adjuster becomes detached from the shell.
As a San Diego personal injury lawyer I hope this recall is effective at preventing the injuries that could result from this manufacturing defect. If you or someone you care about has been injured by a malfunctioning product, please consider discussing your legal options with a San Jose personal injury attorney.
According to news sources, a newly created car seat monitor device called Cars-N-Kids Seat Monitor made by two engineers promises to deliver an inexpensive solution to ensure that parents are alerted if their children get out of their car seats while the vehicle is in motion. The device is also created to alert parents if the vehicle stops and the child is still in the car seat 5 minutes afterwards.
About 38 children die annually due to heatstrokes caused by being left unattended in a vehicle, a safety advocacy group said. The device will allow parents to be notified if the child is left in the car seat through a combination of Bluetooth technology and a smart phone app. The device itself is small, pressure-sensitive and can be easily carried around and installed.
It will reportedly have a retail price of about $60.
The two engineers are reportedly working with car-seat makers to integrate the new device into some models of their car seats.
As a personal injury lawyer Los Angeles, I’m glad to see that research is continually being conducted to provide additional safety for children in motor vehicles. I hope consumers find the conclusions of this research useful. If you or someone you care about has been injured or suffered from the use of an unsafe product, I recommend you contact a product liability lawyer Los Angeles as soon as possible.
Parents who have multiple children know how expensive kids’ products can be, so often they try to cut costs when it comes to buying new things for their children. While this may be a good idea when it comes to some things, car seats are definitely something that should be purchased new in most cases, hefty though the price tag may be.
Child safety seats come with an expiration date that many parents don’t know about, according to recent news sources. Different brands vary on the expiration date. The expiration date can be found in the manual of the car seat, or on the seat itself.
According to safety experts, car seats have a shelf life for a reason. The shell of the seat car wear out, or the harness strap can become frayed. The seat may also have been recalled without the knowledge of the parent.
Most counties offer a free inspection of your child’s safety seat. As a product defect lawyer, I recommend that parents buy a new seat and register it with the company they bought it from, as they can be sure to be notified of a recall if one happens. If you or someone you love has been injured by a defective product, I recommend contacting a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
According to news sources, almost 30 of 45 children who were in fatal car crashes were restrained improperly. A correctly installed car seat could have saved that child 34 percent of the time. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that a restraint that is properly installed can decrease the chance of death by 71 percent.
It’s National Child Passenger Safety Week, and the following tips are some advice to help you protect your child in the event of a crash.
-Make sure your child’s seat is installed tightly. If a simple tug can move the seat around more than an inch in any direction, it’s too loose. Push your weight into the seat to get it as close to the seat belt as possible. Make sure the seat belt locks into place.
-The harness shouldn’t be too loose, or too high or low. If the webbing can be pinched between your fingers when the seat is occupied, it’s too loose. The harness straps should be at or below the shoulders when the seat is rear-facing, and at or above the shoulders when the seat is forward-facing.
-The rear-facing position is recommended for children under the age of two.
-Booster seats should be used for children who are under 4’9”, as seat belts are designed for that height and taller.
-Make sure your car’s seat belt has not be recalled and hasn’t expired. Car seats themselves usually expire after six years.
As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, I hope these tips are useful in the event of a crash. In my experience as a product liability lawyer, the equipment you use to restrain your child can make a huge difference in the event of a crash.
