The long Thanksgiving weekend is the perfect time to visit family and friends. According to Travel + Leisure, more than 89 percent of the 47 million people who travel on Thanksgiving will commute by car.

Unfortunately, combining long hours behind the wheel with unfamiliar roads and restless kids can be a recipe for disaster. Even if you drive safely, nobody can control the actions of other motorists. If you are planning a Thanksgiving road trip, you can reduce your children’s risk of sustaining crash-related injuries by:

Making sure they are buckled up;
Using an appropriate child safety seat; and
Bringing entertainment to keep your kids occupied.

If you or your children sustain an injury due to a negligent motorist, contact Morris Bart, LLC. A Lake Charles accident attorney will help you pursue justice and compensation from the at-fault driver. Call 800-537-8185 to schedule a free consultation. Let’s take a closer look at three ways to protect your kids on long road trips:

Make Sure Your Kids Are Buckled Up

In 2013, the total cost of crash-related deaths in Louisiana reached $1.01 billion, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Louisiana law requires that most drivers and front-seat passengers wear safety belts.

For a free legal consultation, call 800-537-8185

Use an Appropriate Child Safety Seat

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infants who ride in car seats have a 71-percent lower risk of dying, and toddlers aged 1 to 4 years old have a 54-percent lower risk of dying. Children aged 4 to 8 years old have a 45-percent lower risk of suffering severe injuries when they ride in booster seats.

The Louisiana Child Passenger Safety Law went into effect on Jan. 1, 2004. It stipulates the following requirements for child passengers:

Infants who are younger than 1 year old and lighter than 20 pounds must ride in a rear-facing infant or convertible seat.
Toddlers who are at least 1 year old and weigh at least 20 pounds, but less than 40 pounds, must ride in a forward-facing convertible or combination seat;
Children who weigh 40 to 60 pounds or are aged 4 to 6 years old must ride in a belt-positioning booster seat; and
Children who weigh at least 60 pounds or are at least 6 years old must wear a shoulder-lap belt or sit in a belt-positioning booster seat.

Bring Entertainment to Keep Your Kids Occupied

As any experienced parent knows, young children have short attention spans, and kids who are bored can quickly become driver distractions. Here are a few ideas to keep your children entertained on your Thanksgiving road trip:

Let your kids bring their favorite toys;
Play music and encourage them to sing along; or
Buy a portable DVD player.

Unfortunately, even the safest drivers can fall victim to negligent motorists. If you or your child sustains an injury on your Thanksgiving road trip, contact Morris Bart, LLC. An injury lawyer in Lake Charles will help you claim compensation for medical bills and non-economic damages. Call 800-537-8185 to schedule a free consultation.

Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.