Our Wisconsin car accident attorneys ask, “Is your car seat correctly installed?”

Last September 2011, Safe Kids USA released the results of a study that found 80% of car seats are not correctly installed. A new study by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) finds that parents may not be to blame, finding that most auto manufacturers are ignoring federal standards that would make car seats easier to install.

These federal standards have been in place since 1999. The Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) Restraint System is supposed to make car seat installation easier for parents by providing two anchors for latches at the base of the car seat and another for tethering the top of the car seat—three clicks and you are done. When properly installed, the car seat doesn’t move.

IIHS tested 98 vehicles; only 21 passed. Thirty-six volunteers installed three different types of car seats into each vehicle. Car seats were correctly installed only 13 percent of the time. The main reason for incorrect installation? The volunteer could not find the LATCH anchors.

IIHS believed that making the LATCH system easier to use will encourage more parents to use properly installed car seats. Car seats are a child’s best protection from injury and death in car accidents

Hupy and Abraham urge all parents to familiarize themselves with Wisconsin's car seat laws and have their car seat installation inspected at a child passenger safety seat inspection location. You can find a car seat check station near you at SeatCheck.org or calling your local fire department.

If your child is injured in a Wisconsin car crash, it is important that you are informed about your family’s rights. To learn more, order a free copy of our book, The Ultimate Guide For Automobile Accident Victims, and contact Hupy and Abraham today.

 

Have You Been Injured In A Wisconsin, Illinois or Iowa Car Accident?

If you've been injured in a car accident you should speak to an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. You can contact us online or call our office directly at 800.800.5678 to schedule your free consultation with one of our car accident lawyers. We have been helping car accident victims since 1964 and service clients throughout Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa

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