March, 2014 - Madalon Law

After helping thousands of families get back on their feet, our staff agrees that there is nothing worse than when one of the victims in an accident is a child. In many cases, the severity of the child’s injuries was reduced by the correct use of a car seat. Unfortunately, there are also accidents where the child’s injuries were more severe than they had to be due to the incorrect use of a car seat.

Research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that over 70% of child safety seats are not installed properly. This can lead to serious injury or death if involved in a car accident. Even though we appreciate all of our clients, we hope this information can stop a child from becoming one.

Car Seat Installation

Make sure the safety belt holds the seat tight in its place. If the car seat can be used facing either way, make sure you are putting the belt through the correct slots.
Please use the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system when installing the seat. Even though the LATCH system is not required for bigger children or a booster seat, it is a requirement on child safety seats and most manufactured vehicles since 2002. If the vehicle does not have the LATCH system, then it is ok to use the seat belt – but please do not use both at the same time.
Once installed, make sure you give your car seat the inch test. Give it a good tug where the seat belt is going though. If there is more than an inch of movement front to back or side to side, then it is too loose.
Make sure the harness is coming from the right slots and tightly buckled. Make sure there is no slack around the shoulder areas and the chest clip is at armpit level.
To be sure the car seat is installed correctly; you should go to a car seat inspection station. This is a service that is almost always free and just takes a few minutes. You can find your local inspection station here.

Did you know car seats have an expiration date?

Every car seat comes with an expiration date. You can find this date in the car seat’s user guide, molded in the seat and/or printed on the shell.
Most car seats last five to nine years after the manufactured date – not the purchase date.
The expiration date is there to make us aware the car seat may be worn out when we reach that date, as well as keeping up with the advances of safety standards as new technologies are developed.
The reason one car seat may have a longer expiration date than another is the type of materials that were used when building the seats.

In this age of social media, when most people have smart phones and accounts on multiple online social platforms, it is common for individuals involved in accidents to post status updates and photographs about what has happened to them. Our accident attorneys understand that it has become second nature for many, especially young people, to share every moment of their day online, without thought of how far their information and photographs may spread. If you are involved in a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, or any situation that results in a personal injury, this is a very bad idea; it could cause you to lose compensation you deserve for your injuries, even if someone else was at fault.

You Never Know How Far a Tweet or Status Update Will Spread

Social networks are a powerful method for disseminating information – sometimes when you don’t even realize you are doing it. For example, during the recent Academy Awards ceremony, a “selfie” posted by host Ellen Degeneres – of herself with a number of other attending celebrities – became the most shared photo ever on social media site Twitter. The record breaking “selfie” was re-tweeted so many times that Twitter crashed. See Ellen’s tweet here.

Facebook Post Results in Loss of $80,000 Settlement

While the viral spread of Ellen’s “selfie” did no damage, another post – this time on Facebook – had a much more damaging effect. Patrick Snay, former headmaster of Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami, sued his employer for age discrimination, winning an $80,000 settlement. This settlement was subject to a confidentiality clause. Following the decision, Snay breached confidentiality by telling his daughter about the award, and she then posted a status on Facebook, saying, “Mama and Papa Snay won the case against Gulliver. Gulliver is now officially paying for my vacation to Europe this summer. SUCK IT.” When lawyers for Gulliver Prep proved in court that current and former Gulliver students had viewed that damning status update, Snay lost the entire $80,000 settlement amount.
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