Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury on September 27, 2016
Sumner County Sheriff’s Office Holds Safety Event for Children
Officers with the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office were on hand for the department’s second annual Child Safety Day on Saturday.
The event took place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Triple Creek Park in Gallatin. While there were plenty of food and games on hand, officers made sure the focus remained on safety.
Deputies worked to help parents better understand how to install child safety seats and properly secure their children, as statistics show that around 70 percent of child safety seats aren’t installed properly or don’t fit the children who use them.
In addition to having techs on hand to help parents install car seats or check already installed car seats, participants could also check out driving simulators, a bicycle safety course, and an armored truck.
Children learned about fires, the dangers of distracted driving, and the benefits of wearing seat belts. The Tennessee Highway Patrol also took part in the event by providing a rollover car and helicopter for participants to inspect and view up close.
Around 700 people attended the Safety Day event.
4 Important Car Safety Tips to Teach Children
From the time they come home from the hospital, children grow up with cars playing a daily role in their lives. And while your car is essential for getting your children to and from school and other activities, it can also represent serious risks when it’s in motion and even when it’s in your own driveway.
To help protect your children around your family’s vehicles, make sure they understand these car safety tips:
It can sometimes be difficult to convince older children to sit in booster seats or remain in the back seat until they’re old enough to ride up front. However, statistics show that children who ride in age and size-appropriate seats and locations in cars are much safer. In addition, teaching your children about seat belt usage can help instill good safety habits for life.
Children getting bored in cars, whether it’s a short trip through town or a long vacation road trip, is a common experience for families. It’s important for parents to make sure their children know that creating distractions by playing loud music, climbing from the back seat to the front seat, or fighting with siblings can significantly increase the risk of accidents—especially when parents have to take their eyes and focus off the road.
Whether it’s in a parking lot or even your own driveway, make sure your children understand the dangers of vehicles that are backing up or moving forward at slow speeds. Tragedies occur every year where children are seriously injured or even killed by vehicles due to drivers being unable to see them as they back up or pull into parking spaces or through driveways. Keep your children close by when walking through parking lots and make sure they stay a safe distance from vehicles that are in motion.
While adults take automatic locks for granted, small children may not understand how to operate vehicle locks. That means cars can become potentially deadly when children get inside without parental supervision. Trunks can also pose significant dangers to children, as children are unable to see once they’re closed. In addition to teaching your children to never play inside your car unsupervised, make sure they understand how to operate the locks and open the trunk from the inside just in case.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville auto accident attorneys know that children aren’t just at risk due to car accidents when it comes to riding in or being near automobiles. Cars pose several unique dangers to children of all ages, and it’s vital for parents to make sure they understand those dangers and how best to avoid them.
If your child was injured in an auto accident that was caused by a negligent driver, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. To find out how our legal team can help you during this time, just dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online consultation form. It’s our goal to help parents get the compensation they need for their children’s medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related expenses.
