Many people know that they should use a rear-facing car seat with children under age two, but most do not realize the primary theories behind this. Plenty of research has been conducted to show that rear-facing car seats are extremely effective in side impact and front impact collisions, but a new Ohio State University study identifies that they are also effective in rear-end collisions. These are safest for children up to age two and they perform well in collisions even when the car is struck from behind.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommendations in place that children up to age two travel only in rear-facing car seats. Despite that fact, only eight states around the country: Pennsylvania, Connecticut, California, Oregon, Oklahoma, New Jersey, South Carolina and Rhode Island, have laws that mandate children under age two to be in rear-facing car seats. Up to 25% of vehicle accidents are rear-end collisions, meaning this study has important repercussions for preventing rear-end collision injuries.

The study found that the rear-facing car seats work well in rear-end accidents because they give extra support to babies and help to absorb the crash’s impact. It is important for all parents to purchase a recommended car seat, to correctly install it, to ensure that it is a tight fit, and to upgrade the car seat as children get older. Verifying that a car seat has been properly installed is an extremely important part of avoiding devastating vehicle accidents and catastrophic injuries. If your child has already been injured in a preventable accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, you need to schedule a consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. This may be the only way for you to recover the compensation your child needs to get better.

A rear facing car seat may be all that’s between you and your child in a serious accident. You deserve to have the right car seat in use in order to prevent all possible injuries.