San Diego is home to thousands of parents and caregivers who drive each day, often bringing the children they care for along on the trip. While most parents and caregivers understand the importance of having a properly-installed child safety seat to protect kids in case of a crash, fewer realize that equipment installed in the vehicle itself can also pose a risk to curious children.
Power windows are one such piece of equipment. Although power windows can cause injuries, there are ways to protect children in vehicles that have them. About five children suffer fatal injuries related to power windows each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and nearly 1,000 people are injured by power windows each year.
While some child deaths and injuries are caused by malfunctioning or defective power windows, others occur when the window is working correctly but is used improperly. Inquisitive children who like to play with buttons and switches are at particular risk for these injuries, because they may be old enough to operate the power windows but not yet old enough to understand how these windows can cause injuries. About 68 percent of injuries suffered when a child was pinched or trapped in a power window were fractures or crush injuries, according to the NHTSA.
The skilled San Diego injury attorneys at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers can help you seek compensation if you or someone you love is injured by an unsafe or defective vehicle part. Contact us today to learn more.
