How Do I Know If My Child Is Ready To Graduate From The Booster Seat?

When you have a child, you do anything and everything in your power to keep them safe. While you are driving putting them in a car seat while you drive is one of the best ways to do that. Then, once they are too big for the car seat, a booster seat is your next line of defense against serious car accident injuries. The question is, how do you know when your child is ready to graduate from a booster seat and ride in a normal seatbelt? Let’s find out!

Booster Seats

Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that booster seats reduce a child’s risk of serious injury or death during a car crash by 45 percent.

New guidelines suggest children under 4 feet 9 inches who have outgrown the child harness car seat should sit in a booster seat. 

• Shorter than 4’9 needs a booster due to the placement of the seatbelt across the chest.

• Under 13, continue to sit in the back seat even if no booster is needed due to the spine's development.

Child passenger safety laws vary by state. Be sure to check YOUR state’s requirements and the laws in the states you visit.  

Understanding New Hampshire Car Seat Laws

NH RSA 265:107-a

New Hampshire law requires that any child under eighteen riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle be secured by either a seat belt or a child safety seat and that any child under the age of seven is secured by an approved child restraint (RSA 265:107-a). It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that all child passengers are properly restrained. There are only four exceptions to this requirement. Children do not have to be restrained: (1) in taxis and buses, (2) in vehicles manufactured before 1968, (3) when they have physical conditions that prevent the use of seat belts or child safety seats, and (4) under certain special-education conditions.

If you fail to have a child passenger "buckle up," you face a first-offense fine of $50 and a second-offense fine of $100.

The best way to determine whether or not your child is ready to ride in a regular seat belt is to understand New Hampshire car seat laws. The law outlines what type of seat your child should ride in based on age and weight. Current car seat and booster seat laws are:

• Children under two years of age should ride in a rear-facing car seat.

• From 2-5 years, your child should ride in a forward-facing car seat with a chest harness. Once they are four, they can ride in a high-back booster seat.

• Children 5+ years should ride in a booster seat with a seat belt.

There is no set age for a child to move from a booster seat to a regular seat belt. However, there is a checklist you can use to determine if it’s safe to switch.

THE BOOSTER SEAT CHECKLIST

One of the first signs that your child is ready to move from the booster seat to the regular seatbelt is when the booster seat becomes uncomfortable to ride in. Before you move them, however, here are a few items you should check off:

• Do your child’s feet touch the floor comfortably?

• Does your child’s back touch the back of the seat?

• Does the seatbelt sit naturally between your child’s arm and neck?

• Does the lap belt touch your child’s thighs?

• Will your child sit in the seat without removing the belt?

If you can answer yes to these questions, you can safely move your child to a regular seat if they are over five years of age.

THE DANGERS OF NOT FOLLOWING CAR SEAT GUIDELINES

Following car seat laws is extremely important to your child’s safety. If they are not buckled in properly, they can suffer severe injuries and even death in a car accident. Some risks of not being buckled in properly include being thrown from the car, broken bones, head injuries, neck injuries, and back injuries. Here are some links to additional resources from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association:

·      Car Seat Glossary of Terms: Learn about vehicle and car seat parts and more.

·      Training Contacts by State for Child Passenger Safety: Find your state's Child Passenger Safety Training Contacts.

·      Car Seat Use After a Crash: Make sure you know the difference between a minor crash and a moderate to major one before deciding to use a car seat after a crash.

·      NHTSA’s Car Seat Recommendations for Children: Use these recommendations to help you choose the best meets your child’s needs.

·      Keeping Kids Safe - A Parent’s Guide to protecting children in and around cars: This booklet will help you better understand today’s vehicle safety features, car seats, and how to keep kids safe in and around vehicles.

·      Used Car Seat Safety Checklist: Consider using a second-hand car seat. If you can check off each of these statements, then it may be okay to use one.

Patch & FitzGerald Car Accident Attorneys In New Hampshire

If you are involved in a car accident in New Hampshire, you can rely on the attorneys at Patch & FitzGerald to be there for you. They have decades of experience winning cases for thousands of people throughout the state. For a free consultation call 603-647-2600 or contact us online today.

Common Causes of Winter Car Accidents

Poor Visibility

Driving in a snowstorm is no easy task. High winds, big snowflakes, and blowing snow all make it difficult to see. In the worst snowstorms, visibility on the highway can be as little as 3ft. When conditions are not safe for driving, local and national weather services will issue warnings to drivers. To stay safe and prevent accidents, it is in your best interest to stay home whenever a blizzard warning is issued or little to no travel is advised.

Snow and Ice Covered Roads

Not only do snow and ice cause poor visibility, but they also make it very difficult to drive properly. When snowplows and other maintenance vehicles are unable to completely clear the roadways, slowing down, stopping, and turning are all challenging. Therefore, rear-end collisions, cars missing stop signs, and cars going off the road are common occurrences in the winter. If you must drive when conditions are poor, be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to get where you need to go and put space between you and other vehicles.

Improper Tire Maintenance

Taking care of your vehicle in the winter is of the utmost importance. One of the most beneficial maintenance tasks to prevent accidents is making sure your tires are in working condition. During the winter, tires should have at least 6/32” of tread to safely handle snow and ice. Furthermore, if you live in an area where the roads are not plowed quickly or there is a lot of drifting, snow tires are a smart option.

Distracted Driving

Throughout the country, distracted driving is an issue all year round. In the winter, however, it becomes even more prevalent when more attention is required to drive. Looking away from the road for as little as two seconds to read a text message is enough to cause a deadly accident. This winter, put your phone away and focus on the road to ensure everyone makes it home for the holidays.

Completely Clean Your Car To Avoid Accidents & Tickets

No matter what steps you take to deice your vehicle, the most important thing is that you get it completely cleared of all ice and snow. This means there should be no ice remaining on your windshield, car windows, or mirrors. Likewise, there should be no snow on the hood, roof, or sides of your vehicle. It is also essential to check the area around your tires for ice and snow and clear any away before driving.

Since 2002, New Hampshire drivers are legally required to clear snow and ice off their cars before getting on the road. Driver’s who violate the law face fines of $250 to $500 for a first offense and $500 to $1,000 for subsequent offenses.

Contact The Trusted Attorneys At Patch & FitzGerald 

If you or someone you know is injured in a car accident, the legal team at Patch & FitzGerald is here to fight for you. 

At Patch & FitzGerald, we care about all of our clients and want to help you get back on your feet as soon as possible after an accident. We specialize in personal injury and workers’ compensation cases.  Our team can help you win the settlement you deserve. To schedule your free case evaluation call 603-647-2600 or contact us online today. 

Daylight Savings Time Means Danger On The Roads And At Work

Fall back, spring ahead! Twice per year, residents on the east coast experience a shift in daily schedules as a result of daylight savings time. Daylight savings time is the manipulation of time to extend sunlight into the evening hours during the summer. This fall, as daylight savings time comes to an end, there are potential hazards you should be aware of.

Disrupted Schedules Leads To Distraction That Causes Car Accidents

According to research, there is an increase in accidents that result in injuries and death immediately following daylight savings time. One factor that contributes to the rise in accidents is the change in people’s schedules. When the time changes, people have a difficult time adapting to new daylight hours, which causes them to rush from one place to another. Likewise, changing daylight hours means visibility changes during typical commute times, which can lead to distraction.

Change in Sleep Habits Creates Difficulty For Workers

Although you get an extra hour of sleep on the first night of daylight savings in the fall, setting your clock back by an hour creates adverse changes in your sleeping habits. Many people find it difficult to fall asleep at their usual bedtime, resulting in less sleep overall. A loss of sleep means tired workers showing up on the job, which creates an increase in injuries. According to multiple studies, there is a 5.7% increase in workplace injuries after daylight savings time.

Prepare For Daylight Savings Time To Prevent Accidents & Injuries

The time change in the fall is inevitable. Therefore, it is important to address measures individuals can take to increase their safety in dangerous situations.

Here are a few recommendations for a safer daylight savings time this fall.

● Give yourself extra time to wake up in the morning.

● Gradually adjust your bedtime before the time change.

● Adjust your car headlights according to the sunlight.

● Take your time with typical daily tasks if you feel tired.

● Allow yourself time to rest.

In addition to these safety tips, it is also important to be aware of others’ actions. Just because you’ve taken the time to prepare for the time change doesn’t mean that others have. If you are aware of what’s going on around you, you can help prevent accidents of all kinds.

Trust Patch & FitzGerald With Your Personal Injury Case

If you’re involved in a car accident or work accident this fall, be sure to call upon a trusted personal injury attorney for assistance. In New Hampshire, the attorneys at Patch & FitzGerald are experienced in workers’ compensation, car accident, and other personal injury cases. At Patch & Fitzgerald, we are committed to serving you and understand what it takes to win you the settlement you deserve for your injuries and pain and suffering.

To schedule a free consultation for your case, call our office at 603-647-2600 or contact us online today. There’s no better time than now to earn the compensation you deserve, and we’re here to help.

Driving with Technology: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe Behind the Wheel

There’s a lot that can go wrong when you’re driving a vehicle.

From missing a road hazard sign to choosing the wrong action when needing to drive defensively, there are plenty of errors a driver can make. Of course, the biggest mistakes are rarely accidents. Instead, they’re choices drivers make, including driving distracted or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Choosing to drive tired is also a common driver error, one that can have disastrous and sometimes fatal results.

According to reports, thousands of people die each year in the United States because of crashes caused by distracted driving. And, while many people believe that hands-free devices, as well as dashboard entertainment, are the answer, the truth is that this kind of technology doesn’t eliminate the problem, which is being distracted from driving.

Unfortunately, that’s only the beginning of the problem. With more than one in eight drivers in the United States admitting to getting behind the wheel when they were over the legal blood-alcohol limit and half of all adult drivers admitting to regularly operating a vehicle when they feel tired or drowsy, the addition of technology only adds to the crisis. Most adults underestimate how influenced they are by fatigue or substances, choosing to drive even though their instincts tell them it’s not a good idea. Remember, adults need at least seven hours of sleep each day to function properly. (Even losing two hours of sleep can have the same effect as driving after drinking three beers.)

And, when teens get involved, the statistics become even worse, with half of all teenagers being involved in an auto accident before they even graduate from high school.

There is, however, some help when it comes to reducing accidents on the road – and it comes from an unlikely source: technology.

Yes, technology is a big part of the problem, but it’s also working to become part of the solution. While there’s no replacement for drivers being focused, the hundreds of millions of cars on the roads today with advanced safety technologies are helping to reduce the risk of car crashes and auto fatalities.

The website MyCarDoesWhat.org is a great resource for drivers wanting to learn more about how their car’s safety features actually work. Offering videos and graphics, the website is informative for everyone who drives. Whether you’re looking to learn about what a specific icon means or which features are helping to reduce the risk of crashes, MyCarDoesWhat.org is likely to have the answers.

On the website, you’ll learn more about:

• Adaptive Cruise Control

• Adaptive Headlights

• Anti-Lock Braking System

• Automatic Emergency Braking

• Automatic Parallel Parking

• Automatic Reverse Braking

• Back-Up Cameras

• Back-Up Warnings

• Bicycle Detection

• Blind Spot Warnings

• Brake Assist

• Curve Speed Warning

• Drowsiness Alert

• Electronic Stability Control

• Forward Collision Warning

• High-Speed Alert

• Hill Descent Assist

• Hill Start Assist

• Lane Departure Warning

• Lane Keeping Assist

• Left Turn Crash Avoidance

• Obstacle Detection

• Parking Sensors

• Pedestrian Detection

• Push Button Start

• Rear Cross-Traffic Alerts

• Sideview Cameras

• Temperature Warning

• Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems

• Traction Control

The Top 4 Most Dangerous Driving Distractions

As much as we like to think we’re excellent multitaskers, the truth is that none of us are as good as we imagine. In fact, according to nearly every study done over the past decade, humans actually have a hard time doing a lot of different things simultaneously. Instead, “we switch our attention from task to task extremely quickly,” making it feel like we’re “multitasking” when really we are just distracted.

That means, trying to “multitask” when you’re driving isn’t just a bad idea – it’s dangerous, too.

According to Earl Miller, a neuroscientist at MIT, when switching from task to task  “you think you’re paying attention to everything around you at the same time. But you’re actually not”. While it might feel like you’re doing two things at once, Miller emphasizes that the brain really can’t process both at the same time without interference. That means that, while you can switch from one thing to the next, you really can’t be doing both at the same time, especially if they are similar tasks, like looking at the road while looking at the screen on your phone.

So, the next time you get behind the wheel, check for these driving distractions and do your best to eliminate or avoid them as much as possible to help prevent accidents and injuries.

1. Daydreaming. Allowing your brain to drift away while driving is incredibly dangerous. Staying focused on your surroundings, rather than allowing your mind to wander, is key to staying safe when you’re behind the wheel.

• Using Your Phone. It’s no surprise that your phone is a major distraction when driving. Not only does it captivate your attention, but it often takes your eyes away from the road, too. Whether you’re talking to someone (even hands-free) or texting, using your phone while driving always increases your odds of getting in an accident.

• Passengers. No, you can’t avoid having passengers in your car, especially if you’re a parent. But, you can recognize that passengers are a distraction, which will help you keep your priorities (driving) straight. Do your best to let your passengers know that your primary focus is on the road. And, even when they try to demand your attention, remember that it’s your job to keep everyone safe. When you do need to address the needs of your passengers, always pull over safely before giving them your full attention.

• Eating and Drinking. Most drivers don’t think twice about trying to eat or drink while driving, underestimating how much of a distraction it really is. Even if it takes just a second to put a straw in your drink or unwrap a sandwich, that’s enough time for an accident to happen. Plus, eating and drinking also has the potential of causing other distractions, like spills and choking, which only add to the increased risk of an incident. If you must eat or drink while driving, do your best to have everything ready to go before you put your foot on the gas.

What You Need to Know About Distracted Driving Laws

Distracted driving is a serious issue in the United States. To paint a picture of the severity, you should know that 1.6 million accidents per year are caused by distracted driving, and 11 teens die every day as a result of it.

In recent years, both law enforcement and the government have identified the issues of distracted driving and put laws in place to reduce it. Although this is a step in the right direction, many people are still unaware of how these laws affect them. So, before the next time you hit the road, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with what distracted driving is the laws regarding it.

Distracted Driving is More Than Just Texting
Most people associate distracted driving with texting. While texting causes the most accidents and casualties, other forms can get you into trouble as well. Eating, applying makeup/driving, moving about the car, reading, watching videos, and using the GPS while driving are all considered distracted driving.

To protect yourself and other drivers, anytime you need to do something that would take your eyes off the road, hands off the steering wheel or mind off of driving, pull to the side of the road.

Laws Vary By State
Texting and other forms of distracted driving are always dangerous, but the laws pertaining to them are not the same across all 50 states. Currently, 47 states have a ban on texting and driving. However, using a handheld device (cell phone) to talk on the phone while driving is only illegal in 14 states.

Know the laws regarding cell phone usage and texting while driving in your state. If you are in a state that bans the usage of a handheld device or texting while driving, you could receive a citation without committing any other offense.

Different Laws Apply to Different Age Groups
The largest group of distracted driving offenders is teenagers. New drivers are more likely to use their cell phone or become distracted by other passengers in the car. In certain states, some laws apply only to “novice drivers” (someone who has had their license for less than two years). For example, in most states, it is illegal for new drivers to have more than one passenger in the car that is not a blood relative because it is thought to be more of a distraction.

If you have a new driver in your household, educate them on distracted driving laws and the consequences both lawful and moral.

Then, next time you drive, remember that your life and the life of others is more important than a text message, fixing your hair, or making a phone call. Those things can wait. Just enjoy the drive.