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Car seats work. When used properly, they reduce the risk of injury by up to 82% and the risk of serious injury by up to 47%. As a result, every state in the U.S., including Oregon, has a law that requires car seat use by kids up to a certain age. These laws differ in terms of details, but they all help save the lives of hundreds of children involved in car accidents.
If someone hits your vehicle in Portland, OR, your child’s injuries could depend on your compliance with child car seat laws. A lawyer from Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help you pursue a personal injury claim on behalf of your child.
Contact our Portland law office at (503) 773-3333 for a free consultation today.
How Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You and Your Child After a Car Accident in Portland, OR
Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers represents injured victims in Portland, OR, against the people and businesses responsible for hurting them. Our Portland car accident lawyer has recovered millions of dollars in financial compensation for the firm’s clients.
If you or your child suffer an injury caused by someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions, our attorney will provide the following:
- Legal advice and counsel so you can make informed decisions about your case
- Representation against insurers to try to negotiate a fair settlement of your claim
- Responsive and aggressive litigation if your case does not settle
Your child may require a lifetime of treatment and therapy after suffering a car accident injury. Contact our Portland personal injury attorney for a free consultation to learn how we will fight for your child’s future.
How Many Children Get Injured in Traffic Crashes in Oregon?
Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of injury and death for children. According to the Oregon Traffic Crash Summary, traffic accidents in 2021 killed 599 people and injured 35,945 others. Of these, six children under nine years old suffered fatal injuries, while 1,190 children suffered non-fatal injuries.
These numbers covered injuries and deaths suffered in all modes of road transportation, including the following:
- Two children killed and 25 injured in pedestrian accidents
- 11 children injured in bicycle accidents
- Four children killed and 1,154 injured in car collisions
Of the children injured in vehicle collisions in 2021, 16% were not secured in child car seats or booster seats appropriate for their age and size. This means that as many as 185 children might have avoided or experienced less severe injuries if drivers had buckled them in the appropriate car seats or boosters.
Child Car Seat Laws in Oregon
Car seat laws generally fall into two categories. Some state laws require child safety systems but do not describe the exact system a parent must use. In these states, parents can use any restraint system if it fits their child properly.
Oregon’s child car seat law falls into the second category. In states with these types of laws, the legislature spells out exactly which type of car seat system parents must use based on the child’s age, height, and weight. Oregon’s car seat law has the following four stages:
Children Under Two Years
From birth to two years old, drivers must secure children in rear-facing child car seats. A rear-facing seat has the child resting on their back with the top of their head pointed toward the front of the car and their feet pointed toward the rear. In this position, the child rides backward compared to the other occupants in the vehicle.
A rear-facing seat supports the child’s head and neck. A five-point harness holds the child to the car seat, preventing ejection.
Children Under 40 Pounds
When a child turns two, they can graduate to a front-facing car seat. This seat does not support the child’s head and neck as well as a rear-facing seat would. But when the child reaches their second birthday, they usually have the neck strength to support their head enough to face forward.
A front-facing car seat still has a five-point harness to prevent ejection. Most manufacturers instruct parents to remove bulky coats so the child does not slip out.
Children Under Four Feet, Nine Inches
After the child weighs more than 40 pounds, they can move up to a booster seat. Under Oregon law, the booster must lift the child high enough that the seat belt crosses the child’s collarbone instead of their neck.
Children Over Eight Years or 40 Pounds and Four Feet, Nine Inches
When a child turns eight years old or grows beyond 40 pounds in weight and four feet, nine inches in height, they no longer need to ride in a child car seat. Instead, they can use the vehicle’s seat belt. Oregon recommends, but does not require, that children ride in the back seat until they are 13 years old.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Portland Car Accident Attorney
A car accident can injure children, threatening their health and financial future. Contact Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your child’s injuries and the compensation we can seek for them.
We’re standing by to provide you with top-rated legal services. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our car accident attorney in Portland. Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Portland at 101 SW Main St #1905, Portland, OR 97204. Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 45.51612408324096, -122.6754185
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