According to a new study, states with child booster-seat laws such as Michigan have experienced a substantial drop-off in serious injuries and wrongful death of children in auto accidents.
The study, conducted by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital, showed significant improvement in the survival of children ages 4 to 8 who lived in a state that required booster seats. The three states that don’t have booster seat laws – Florida, South Dakota and Arizona – did not experience a decrease in the serious injury and fatality rate of children involved in crashes.
The Boston researchers found the data encouraging, but believe that the safety of children can be further improved with relative ease. Many Michigan children are improperly restrained in their booster seats, which substantially diminishes their protective effect.
While infant car seats and child booster seats can help protect young Michigan passengers, they can still suffer serious harm at the hands of negligent drivers. If your child has been seriously injured by another driver, contact an experienced Detroit personal injury attorney to explore your legal options.
Source: medpagetoday.com, “Child Booster Seat Laws Work,” Todd Neale, Oct. 24, 2012
