Moms carry a lot of stuff when they travel, and there is a good reason for this. Children need to be fed, entertained, cleaned, and kept happy – even when on the go. A typical mom-mobile may have a diaper bag, extra wipes, sports equipment, dance shoes, overdue library books, snacks, bottles, extra clothes, toys, etc.
Being prepared is great. But, the loose objects in your car have the potential to become dangerous projectiles if you and your children are involved in a Salt Lake City car crash.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), everyday objects like cell phones, books, loose change, and toys are responsible for about 13,000 car accident injuries each year. Suppose your child’s backpack is sitting on the back seat. The average sixth-grader’s backpack weighs around 20 pounds. You are traveling at about 55 miles an hour when you crash. The backpack travels through the car with more than 1000 pounds of force. That is enough force to crush bones.
Even a lightweight object, like your spare change, can do significant damage at high speeds.
Obviously, you can’t store everything in the trunk. You need toys, snacks, and your cell phone handy.Salt Lake City car accident lawyer James Esparza offers these tips to help you and your children stay safe in the car:
- Keep heavy items stowed in the trunk or under a cargo net.
- Don’t forget that unsecured booster seats can also go flying. Keep the seat buckled in, even if your child isn’t in the car. Or, put it in the trunk.
- When you choose items for your car, look for lightweight options. For example, instead of using wipes in a plastic case, use a soft, refill pack.
- Give young children soft, light-weight toys like small stuffed animals and puppets to play with while you are driving.
- If you use snack containers, attach them to the seat with short straps.
- Any items that are not being used should be stowed away. Even your cell phone should be put in a storage compartment.
Keeping your family safe is important, but it’s hard to protect against reckless and irresponsible drivers. If you or your child is injured because of the negligence of another driver, you deserve justice and compensation. Contact the James Esparza Law Firm at 800-745-4050 to learn about Utah car accident lawsuits and your rights.