Last week, three people were hospitalized after a two-vehicle crash in Lawton. The crash happened on Wednesday, the 19th, just before noon. This two-car collision occurred at the intersection of 67th and Gore. KSWO News Channel Seven reports that traffic was held up for a while. Witness reports indicate that a car was t-boned when a Cadillac ran a red light. A 9-year-old child was in the front seat of the automobile that was struck. Both drivers and the child were immediately taken to the hospital. There is no word on their current conditions.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that during 2009, in the United States 1,314 children aged 14 years and younger died in motor vehicle crashes. They also report that approximately 179,000 children sustained injuries in automobile crashes.
Proactive parents can make sure their children are always buckled up before driving. The CDC found that seatbelt use among children is often dependent upon seatbelt use of the driver. Parents are encouraged buckle up for every drive, no matter how quick the trip is. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends parents and caregivers follow a few guidelines to keep children safe in automobiles.
Keeping Children Safe in Automobiles
- Use seatbelts on every trip.
- Make sure belts, booster seats and car seats are properly adjusted, buckled and age or height and weight-appropriate.
- Birth through Age 2- rear-facing child safety seats
- Children should be moved to larger seats only when they reach upper height and weight limits for their current seats.
- Ages 2-4/Up to 40 lbs- forward facing child safety seats
- Between ages 4-8 or Until 4’9” Tall- Booster seat
- After age 8 and/or 4’9” Tall- Seat belts
- The CDC recommends that all children ride in the backseat of automobiles. Airbags in the front passenger area can kill or injure small children who may be riding in the front seat.
- When possible, the CDC also recommends that children sit in the back middle seat, which is the safest area in the car.
It’s vital to contact an experienced car accident attorney after a collision occurs. If you’ve been injured in a car wreck, contact the Altman Legal Group at 800-772-0828 for a free consultation. The team at the Altman Legal Group wishes speedy and full recoveries to everybody who was hurt in this crash.