A tragic crash in West Broward resulted in the death of a 1-year-old boy. Six other people in the vehicle sustained injuries because of the crash.
Officers from the Broward Sheriff’s Office were the first to arrive at the accident scene. The vehicle had rolled over several times and ended upside down, according to a spokesperson for the Florida Highway Patrol. The single-vehicle accident occurred along Alligator Alley on Interstate 75.
Seven people were in the Nissan Frontier when it crashed. The crash resulted in the ejection of a one-year-old boy from the vehicle.
The other six passengers were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The passengers alerted the police that the boy had been thrown from the vehicle.
After a search, officers discovered the little boy under the water in the nearby canal. He was pronounced dead at the accident scene. It is unclear if the little boy was in a car seat at the time of the accident.
The accident is still under investigation. A tire blowout may have been the cause of the single-vehicle rollover accident. Police are also investigating whether seven passengers were too many passengers for the Nissan Frontier pickup truck.
Car Seats Prevent Death and Injury in Accidents
Tragically, children not secured in a car seat or child safety seat can be ejected from a vehicle in a car accident. Car seats are specially designed to protect a child in the event of a car accident. However, many parents fail to use safety seats, or they fail to use car seats correctly.
According to Florida car seat laws, children under five years of age must use a federally approved child restraint device.
Children under the age of three years must be secured in a car seat or safety seat that is separate from a vehicle’s integrated child seat. Children who are four and five years old may use a separate carrier, booster seat, or the vehicle’s integrated child seat.
Florida has child safety seat fitting stations throughout the state. A list of the fitting stations by county is available online. Using a child safety seat is only effective when the safety seat is correctly installed in the vehicle.
Recommendations for Child Safety Seats
The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) revised the recommendations for child safety seats in 2018. The significant change in the recommendations related to rear-facing car seats.
Instead of keeping a child in a rear-facing car seat until the age of two, the AAP recommends that children remain in rear-facing car seats until they outgrow the seats. Children should use a rear-facing car seat until their weight or height exceeds the car seat’s specifications for maximum weight and height restrictions.
When children exceed the height and weight restrictions for rear-facing safety seats, they should use a front-facing car seat with a harness. It is recommended that children remain in a front-facing car seat with a harness until they reach the maximum height and weight restrictions for the car seat.
After that, a belt-positioning booster seat should be used to secure children in a motor vehicle. Typically, children outgrow a booster seat between the ages of eight to 12 years or when they reach a height of four feet and nine inches.
Even when a child is old enough to use the vehicle’s seat belts, it is recommended that all children under the age of 13 continue to ride in the rear seats of the vehicle.
Car Accident Claims Involving Children
Children injured in a car accident can sustain life-altering conditions. A child who sustains a traumatic brain injury, broken bones, spinal cord injury, or other catastrophic injuries could have permanent impairments that impact their development and quality of life. Immediate medical attention can help reduce the chance of permanent damage.
Children are entitled to compensation for injuries and damages caused by an automobile accident. They are also entitled to compensation for future damages if they sustain a disability or permanent impairment because of the accident. The money does not undo the damage that was done, but it can help provide for the child’s future medical and personal needs.
Parents should contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss their child’s legal rights. Personal injury claims involving children can be more complicated than other types of injury cases.
Medical experts are often needed to assess a child’s injuries to determine if the child may suffer future damages because of the injuries. An attorney can ensure that parents take all necessary steps to protect their children’s best interests after a car crash.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Miami, FL
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Miami, FL and need legal help, contact our Miami car accident lawyers at Lavent Law Personal Injury Lawyer to schedule a free consultation.
Lavent Law Personal Injury Lawyer
17295 NE 19th Ave
North Miami Beach, FL 33162
(305) 257-9464
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