It goes without saying that a car accident can be an incredibly stressful experience, but there's often one particular element that is overlooked: damage to the child safety seat and injuries to the related child. It can no longer be unseen that over twenty-five thousand children are injured in car crashes every year. The problem is clearly immense and important to the next generation.
While the child safety seat is specifically made to shield children from infancy to around 8 years of age, it can not do its job effectively if it is hindered by improper installation or an improper fit for the occupant of the seat, or if re-used after a crash or intensive deterioration.
Nationwide, the misuse rate for child safety seats is over eighty percent and as high as ninety-five percent in some regions. And with child safety seats placed in an estimated one out of every ten vehicles on the road, the risk of one being in an accident is undoubtedly a great concern. Child safety seats and booster seats do in fact save lives, but only when they're installed and utilized correctly.
CARSTAR, the country’s biggest family of auto body repair pros, and their franchise owners such as those at Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois have dealings with a variety of safety organizations to help coach parents in the proper installation techniques and usage of child safety seats, and to ensure that car seats are replaced after accidents before further use to fully protect the child.
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Like with the rest of the car or truck, accidents take a toll on child safety seats. However, replacement need isn’t always so clear. Insurance company and vehicle repair standards often determine what parts and systems have to be replaced under what conditions, and at what cost. That, however, is not the truth when it comes to child safety seats. In most cases, the child seat should be changed out after an accident takes place, whether or not damage to the seat is immediately visible, based on NHTSA guidelines. But the standards for replacement and the compensation vary greatly - from not being included to only a stipend that covers an entry level child safety seat.
When the unfortunate accident does occur, the physics of the collision put extreme strain on the frame, harness and structure of the child safety seat. This can cause the child safety seat to not perform to standards in other crashes and greatly diminish the amount of protection provided. But identifying the impact on the child safety seat is considerably confusing considering the range of manufacturers and models on the market today.
That’s why Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR is getting involved to ensure parents remember the child safety seat when having their vehicle fixed. It is crucial to examine the child safety seat for any potentially damaged parts, cracked frame or structure, broken hinges or inflated airbags. These are possible signs that the child seat has to be replaced.
NHTSA suggests that the performance of the child safety seat be examined after any crash and possibly replaced in any and all accidents that deploy the air bags, compresses the front bumper, rear bumper or side panels or causes injuries to the people in the vehicle.
Installation, Proper Fitting is Key
The most critical factors when it comes to child safety seat performance are the installation and the proper fit. Any parent will readily tell you that installation can be challenging and that keeping up with a growing child is not easy. In fact, four out of every five child safety seats are installed into vehicles improperly.
It is of the utmost importance that you have your child safety seat examined for proper installation at any child safety seat inspection station or event. The key is simply to make sure that the seat is installed correctly so that it will work right in the unfortunate event of a crash. Another thing that you need to remember is to always pay attention throughout the installation process. Be an active participant in the installation. Don’t just let the technician do all the work. It is important for the owner of the vehicle to know exactly how to install the seat properly.
Prior to now, local law enforcement and fire departments have carried out child safety seat checks, but municipal budget cuts across the board have eliminated many of these. To help fill the gap presented, this CARSTAR location is proudly stepping forward to certify our store's team members on child safety seat installation and holding clinics at their local store.
At Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois, they're conducting regular child safety seat installation inspections at their location. This draws in hundreds of parents to the store for this free service.
While the child safety seat is specifically made to shield children from infancy to around 8 years of age, it can not do its job effectively if it is hindered by improper installation or an improper fit for the occupant of the seat, or if re-used after a crash or intensive deterioration.
Nationwide, the misuse rate for child safety seats is over eighty percent and as high as ninety-five percent in some regions. And with child safety seats placed in an estimated one out of every ten vehicles on the road, the risk of one being in an accident is undoubtedly a great concern. Child safety seats and booster seats do in fact save lives, but only when they're installed and utilized correctly.
CARSTAR, the country’s biggest family of auto body repair pros, and their franchise owners such as those at Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois have dealings with a variety of safety organizations to help coach parents in the proper installation techniques and usage of child safety seats, and to ensure that car seats are replaced after accidents before further use to fully protect the child.
Like with the rest of the car or truck, accidents take a toll on child safety seats. However, replacement need isn’t always so clear. Insurance company and vehicle repair standards often determine what parts and systems have to be replaced under what conditions, and at what cost. That, however, is not the truth when it comes to child safety seats. In most cases, the child seat should be changed out after an accident takes place, whether or not damage to the seat is immediately visible, based on NHTSA guidelines. But the standards for replacement and the compensation vary greatly - from not being included to only a stipend that covers an entry level child safety seat.When the unfortunate accident does occur, the physics of the collision put extreme strain on the frame, harness and structure of the child safety seat. This can cause the child safety seat to not perform to standards in other crashes and greatly diminish the amount of protection provided. But identifying the impact on the child safety seat is considerably confusing considering the range of manufacturers and models on the market today.
That’s why Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR is getting involved to ensure parents remember the child safety seat when having their vehicle fixed. It is crucial to examine the child safety seat for any potentially damaged parts, cracked frame or structure, broken hinges or inflated airbags. These are possible signs that the child seat has to be replaced.
NHTSA suggests that the performance of the child safety seat be examined after any crash and possibly replaced in any and all accidents that deploy the air bags, compresses the front bumper, rear bumper or side panels or causes injuries to the people in the vehicle.
Installation, Proper Fitting is Key
The most critical factors when it comes to child safety seat performance are the installation and the proper fit. Any parent will readily tell you that installation can be challenging and that keeping up with a growing child is not easy. In fact, four out of every five child safety seats are installed into vehicles improperly.
It is of the utmost importance that you have your child safety seat examined for proper installation at any child safety seat inspection station or event. The key is simply to make sure that the seat is installed correctly so that it will work right in the unfortunate event of a crash. Another thing that you need to remember is to always pay attention throughout the installation process. Be an active participant in the installation. Don’t just let the technician do all the work. It is important for the owner of the vehicle to know exactly how to install the seat properly.
Prior to now, local law enforcement and fire departments have carried out child safety seat checks, but municipal budget cuts across the board have eliminated many of these. To help fill the gap presented, this CARSTAR location is proudly stepping forward to certify our store's team members on child safety seat installation and holding clinics at their local store.
At Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois, they're conducting regular child safety seat installation inspections at their location. This draws in hundreds of parents to the store for this free service.