Kentucky State officials have enacted a new law that will heighten child-safety in automobiles. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed the legislation intended to improve passenger safety in motor vehicles on June 15, 2015, and on June 24, 2105 House Bill 315 went into effect.
House Bill 315 requires that children who are younger than eight years old and are between 40 and 57 inches tall, to be secured in a booster seat. This new law is enacted along with 31 other states, including seven neighboring states. The previous state law only required children who were younger than seven years old and between 40 and 50 inches tall to be secured in a booster seat.
Passage of this bill will increase the safety and protection of children in motor vehicles. According to the Kentucky State Police, there were over 600 fatalities in 2014 from highway motor vehicle accidents. According to theNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a booster seat lowers the risk of injury to children by nearly 60%, compared with seat belts alone.
If a driver is caught breaking the law, the individual will face a $30 fine. A driver who faces a ticket for this violation has the option waive the $30 fine with no court costs if they buy a booster seat instead of paying the ticket, but is required to present proof of purchase of the booster seat to a police official.
Common Injuries Children Suffer in Motor Vehicle Accidents
Even with the heightened safety of booster seats for children, car accidents still occur. Automobile accidents can cause serious injuries, and some of the most common injuries include, but are not limited to:
Neck and Head Injuries: The most well-known head and neck injury is whiplash. Whiplash is a quick movement of the head and neck, typically caused from a rear-end collision, which can cause severe neck muscle and ligament damage.
Chest Injuries: Blunt force to the chest can cause broken ribs and collapsed lungs. Damage to internal organs can also occur.
Back and Spinal Injury: The most common back injury from car accidents can be a herniated disk which will irritate the spinal nerves and trigger back pain, numbness, or weakness in your arm or leg.
Goeing Goeing and McQuinn PLLC: Helping Car Accident Victims throughout Kentucky
If you or a loved one has been a car accident, one of the first things you should do is see a doctor. When a child gets into a car accident and suffers severe injuries, it is important to reach out to an experienced car accident attorney to help guide you through the legal process to pursue compensation for damages or losses. Reach out to aLexington Kentucky Car Accident Attorney. The Kentucky Personal Injury Attorneys at Goeing Goeing and McQuinn PLLC support this new law and are willing to help families recover from devastating motor vehicle accidents and ensure the safety of our children. Contact us for a free consultation today, at 1-888-595-2943, or visit our website to learn more.