Child safety seats easier – and safer – to use

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that child safety seats are easier to use, according to its 2006 “Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings” released in December of that year. Out of 99 child restraint systems (CRS) tested, 85 received an overall “A” ranking – a 5% increase over 2005.

This is the fifth year that the NHTSA has released its ratings. Since the 1990s, child seats have generally been much safer than preceding decades. However, confusing instructions and complicated restraint systems have led to widespread, unintentional misuse of child safety seats. In fact from 60 – 85% of car seats are improperly installed, according to statistics from police and firefighter child safety seat clinics.

The NHTSA started its program to help consumers identify which child safety seat manufacturers have the easiest-to-install products with the clearest instructions. The alphabetical rating system from A to C, evaluates five different areas: Assembly, Evaluation of Labels, Evaluation of Instructions, Installing Features, and Securing the Child. The NHTSA then gives the seat an Overall Rating based on these five scores. The only way to get an overall “A” ranking is to receive an “A” in every possible mode.

The program seems to be having an impact on child safety seat design. According to the summary report, most seats tested in 2006 for the first time received overall “A” rankings. “This demonstrates that manufacturers are being particularly mindful of Ease of Use criteria as they are introducing new systems as well as continuing to improve upon previous designs,” the NHTSA stated in the report.

One of the biggest advances in car seat design has been the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system. This system, which has been mandatory for all child safety seat and auto manufacturers since 2002, allows parents to clip the seats directly onto anchors located in the vehicle, eliminating the need to install child seats using the vehicle’s seatbelt system. This was identified as the most common source of problems leading to improper seat installation. However, a recent NHTSA study has found that many people also find the LATCH system to be confusing and underused.

If your child has been injured in a car accident due to car safety seat failure, there may be more than one company liable. Car seat and auto manufacturers all have a responsibility to keep you and your family safe under any circumstances – and especially during a car accident. Contact  a Jim S. Adler & Associates personal injury lawyer for a free case review and find out if faulty equipment may have contributed to your child’s injuries. Simply call us directly or fill out the free case review form on this page with the details of your car safety seat failure, and we will give you a comprehensive review of your case. Jim S. Adler & Associates may be able to secure compensation on your behalf to cover medical expenses, lost time from work, and mental anguish.

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