On Tuesday, September 18, a crash was reported on Northwest 163rd Street and North Miami Avenue around 8:30 am. Two vehicles, a Nissan Altima and Honda CR-V, collided at the two-way stop. A 12-year-old girl, Carelle Philogene, was pronounced dead at the scene. The young girl was in the Honda CR-V with two adults. Seven others were injured: Durocher Querette, Solange Querette, Milton Vassell Jr., Martin Aristide, Ricardy Thimothee, Wendy Duperat, and an unidentified 6-year-old boy. Multiple adults were reported as being in critical condition. Others suffered minimal injuries and were treated at the scene. Young children are particularly at risk for injury and death in car accidents. If your child was hurt or killed in a collision, contact our Miami car accident lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz P.A. You can contact us online or call (877) 475-2905 to schedule a free consultation.
Children Car Accident Statistics
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 723 children ages 12 years old and younger died in car accidents in 2016. The same year, more than 128,000 young children were injured in crashes. Of the children who died in accidents, 35 percent were not buckled up. They were not wearing seat belts or secured in a proper child safety seat. Also, a CDC study found that in one year, more than 618,000 children younger than 12 years old rode in vehicles without a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt some of the time. These children face a significant risk of injury or death if their vehicle is in a collision. Another issue is when car seats are used—but used improperly. The CDC found an estimated 46 percent of car and booster seats are misused, reducing their effectiveness in protecting children during a crash.
The Appropriate Child Safety Seats for Young Kids
Car seats have been proven effective in reducing the risk of injury in crashes compared to using seat belts alone. According to the CDC, child safety seats reduce the risk of injury up to 82 percent. Booster seats lower the risk of serious injury by 45 percent on children ages 4 to 8 years old compared to only using seatbelts. However, in order for a child safety seat to be effective, parents or guardians must use the right one, install it properly, and secure their child into the car seat properly.
Parents and drivers should follow this guide for car seats:
- Infants & Toddlers: Use a rear-facing seat until the child reaches the maximum height or weight allowed by the manufacturer for that model. Children can often remain in rear-facing seats until they are 2 years old. It is best to use a rear-facing seat for as long as possible.
- Toddlers & Preschoolers: When a child has outgrown the rear-facing seat, they can switch to a forward-facing seat. They should remain in this seat for as long as possible—until they reach the maximum height or weight allowed by the manufacturer.
- School-Aged Children: Once a child outgrows a forward-facing seat, they should move to a booster seat. This ensures that the seat belt can be worn properly.
- Older Children: Once your child reaches about 4 feet 9 inches, which can occur between 9 and 12 years old, they can wear a seat belt only. Make sure the shoulder strap lays flat across their shoulder and not their neck. The lap belt should be on the tops of their thighs, not across their stomach.
Was Your Child Hurt in a Car Crash?
If your child was injured in a car accident, or passed away as a result of a collision, contact our car accident lawyers for Miami at Gerson & Schwartz P.A. We know how heartbreaking this situation is. We are here to help you however we can. If there is evidence that another person was at fault for the crash, then we can represent you in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. We will help you obtain the compensation you need to cover the expenses related to the accident. Contact us at (305) 371-6000 to schedule a consultation.