Articles Posted in Car Accidents

Published on: June 7, 2011

New Program Aims to Help Those Severely Injured in Tennessee Vehicle Accidents

A runaway truck rolled down a hill, took a fence down and crossed over two interstate ramps before striking a guard rail. The Tennessee trucking accident ended with the truck coming to rest underneath the Interstate 26 underpass last Wednesday evening, according to Volunteer TV.

Tennessee Highway Patrol and police are still investigating what caused the truck to venture off without supervision.

Fortunately, no one was injured in this accident, but that’s not usually the case in accidents involving these large tractor-trailers. Our Tennessee truck accident attorneys understand that accidents involving these large trucks oftentimes result in serious injury — or death. Because of their large size and heavy weight, these vehicles come with a lot of force and power and have the ability to cause a lot of damage.

There’s a new program to help the victims of these accidents that involve large trucks. According to USA Today, there’s a new national program that will allow emergency responders to get much needed information from seriously injured victims in the event of an accident. This new program is fueled by the growing number of maturing Baby Boomers.

This program is referred to as the Yellow Dot Program. Here’s how it works: Participating drivers will place a yellow dot sticker on the rear windshield of their window. This is to notify emergency responders of a folder that is located in the glove box of the vehicle. This folder is to be marked with the same yellow sticker and is to contain vital information including medical conditions, emergency contacts, a photograph of the driver, prescription information and other vital information.

“It’s a promising approach,” says Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association. “Actually, this is one of the goals of automated crash notification systems. Eventually, when there is a crash, these key data such as medication needed will automatically be available to EMTs, etc. The Yellow Dot program may be a system that can be helpful in the meantime.”

The chances of survival are greatly increased when this information is readily available within the “golden hour,” or the first 60 minutes after an accident.

“The residents of the state … realize the importance of it, particularly someone with a lot of medical issues. The second group is the first responders, because they know when they arrive, if the person is unable to communicate, they know they can go to the glove compartment and get the information they need, and they can do it immediately without wasting a lot of time,” says Lora Weaver, program coordinator for the Northeast Alabama Traffic Safety Office.

The nation’s first Yellow Dot program started in 2002 in Connecticut. Yellow Dot programs are in effect in counties scattered across at least eight states.

“It is very nice to see innovative programs to address the unique risks associated with older Americans and car crashes,” says Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Since older individuals tend to have more medical conditions, are on more medications and are generally more fragile, this sounds like a well-justified program, especially in light of the growing number of older Americans.”
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Published on: June 6, 2011

Teen Driver Dies in Tennessee Car Accident

By Mark Hartsoe

A 16-year-old girl lost her life this past weekend after she reportedly lost control of her vehicle and was struck by two oncoming vehicles. The crash happened when she went though the median and through the cable-wire barrier of the Interstate. State police are still investigating the accident. They have concluded that the teen driver was not wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash.

These accidents are not uncommon among our teen drivers. Teens are more vulnerable for a car accident in Tennessee and elsewhere because of their lack of driving experience. They’re also more likely to participate in distracted driving behaviors and to ignore roadway rules and regulations.

Our Maryville personal injury attorneys would like to warn teens and parents about the increased risk of motor-vehicle accidents during the summer months. With prom, graduation and summer break approaching, teen drivers will be hitting our roadways in full force. It is no surprise that these months provide the 100 most dangerous days for teen drivers on our roadways.

An autopsy on the teen driver indicated the she died “as the result of neck and chest trauma,” according to the coroner’s office. Routine toxicology testing will be conducted in order to determine if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash,

The father of the teen driver is responding to reports and articles that claim that his daughter was on the phone right before the accident.

“She was not texting and talking on her phone,” said Barry Budwell, the teen’s father. “That’s the first thing I have to hear about, and that’s wrong.”

After analyzing crash data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Allstate Foundation discovered that May 20 is the deadliest day for teens on our roadways. This day took the lives of 63 percent more teen lives than average over the past five years.

Because of the increased traffic of teen drivers in the summer, May through August prove to be most deadly. There are 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day that have bee coined as the deadliest for teen drivers.

Data from the IIHS also concludes that roughly 60 percent of teen passenger deaths occur in vehicles that are driven by another teen. Other studies concluded that more than 75 percent of teens confess that they feel unsafe while riding with another teen driver.

Motor-vehicle accidents continue to be the number one cause of death for teens in the United States. These accidents take more lives than cancer, heart disease and AIDS altogether. Every year, roughly 6,000 teens die in traffic accidents. This means about 16 teens die because of car accidents every day. More than 300,000 teens suffer injuries from these accidents every year. Overall, teens are involved in three times are more fatal accidents than any other age group of drivers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 158 teens died in Tennessee traffic accidents in 2009 alone.
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Published on: May 25, 2011

Tennessee Car Accidents, Bicycle Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents a Memorial Day Concern

By Mark Hartsoe

Local law enforcement agencies have big plans for motorists over this Memorial Day holiday weekend, and a motorcycle or car accident in Tennessee is not one of them.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will once again be running their “Click It or Ticket” campaign over the weekend. The campaign officially begins before Memorial Day and runs well into the month of June. The “Click It or Ticket” campaign has been proven to be one of the most successful seat belt enforcement campaigns ever. It currently holds the highest national seat belt usage rates – nearly 90 percent. Law enforcement will be practicing their zero-tolerance enforcement efforts of all seat belt laws across the country throughout the campaign.

Our Maryville injury lawyers urge all motorists to be extra careful on the road this Memorial Day holiday weekend as the number of fatal accidents continue to spike during this time of the year, every year. The National Safety Council estimates that the United States will see more than 400 traffic accident fatalities and another 39,400 injuries requiring medical attention over the upcoming holiday weekend.

The NSC also put out estimates predicting that more than 300 people may survive the Memorial Day holiday weekend because of wearing their seat belts. They also estimate that another 103 lives could be saved if everyone wore their seat belts.

Every Memorial Day holiday weekend over the last six years has seen an increase of more than 12 percent in fatal traffic accidents in comparison to other non-holiday periods.

Tennessee will be taking a different, but equally effective, route to improve roadway safety. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security sought to raise awareness of motorcycle riders and bicyclists though the “Share the Road” campaign, which takes place through the entire month of May.

“As the weather improves, more motorcyclists and bicyclists are traveling on local and state roadways,” said Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons. “This festival is essential in educating motorists on the how-to’s of sharing the road and reminding motorcyclists to become properly trained before hitting the highway. Our collective goal is to keep all cyclists safe.”

Earlier this week, riders from all over the state descended on Nashville to join together to enjoy the annual rider festival. This festival offered a bike show, the Police Rodeo Riders, a Tennessee Highway Patrol Motor Unit demo and a Stunt Riders demonstration.

“While motorists are cautioned to look out for motorcyclists or bicyclists, the riders should also help make themselves visible by wearing bright colors and using reflective tape,” stated GHSO Director Kendell Poole. “Our priority is to increase safe riding between all road users and motorcyclists in an effort to reduce the number of fatalities on Tennessee highways.”

The United States saw a decrease in motorcycle fatalities for the first time since 1997. Tennessee was not so fortunate as we saw an increase of 16 motorcycle rider fatalities from 2009 to 2010.

“It is imperative that motorcyclists educate themselves by taking an accredited training course and never ride beyond their skill ability,” said John Milliken, Program Coordinator for the Motorcycle Rider Education Program (MREP). “They are much more vulnerable than passenger vehicle occupants. The proper knowledge, training and protective wear will help make motorcyclists safer and more effective on the roads.”

The TDOS offers these tips to motorcycle rider to help preserve their safety when traveling our roadways:

-Be sure you’re always wearing your protective gear. This includes your boots, pants, helmet, headlight and your eye wear.

-Always ride within your limits. Don’t attempt riding conditions that are above your level of riding. Adjust to weather conditions.

-Make sure you’re properly trained. It is encouraged that motorcyclists complete an annual training course. This will also help to keep a motorist up to date with current laws.

-Watch your lane position and avoid tailgating other vehicles. Always be ready for the expected. Avoid sharing lanes, especially when riding in groups.

-Stay out of blind spots. These areas make motorcyclists the most vulnerable to an accident and serious injury.

-Never drink and drive. Riding your motorcycle requires great skill and attention. Consuming alcohol and jumping on your bike greatly slows your reaction time and ability.

-Remember, Tennessee law requires that the more than 300,000 Tennessee riders and their passengers to wear approved helmets and protective eyewear.
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Published on: May 20, 2011

Three High School Teens Die in Tennessee Traffic Accident

By Mark Hartsoe

Three freshmen of Trousdale County High School were killed in a Tennessee traffic accident, according to The Tennessean. Their pickup truck collided with a semi-tractor trailer between Hartsville and Lebanon on Highway 141.

Tennessee Highway Patrol office in Cookeville reports that the teen driver and his two passengers were heading northbound in 141 in a pickup truck when he lost control of the vehicle and went off the road and onto the shoulder. He overcorrected and crossed the center line and headed into the southbound lane. That is where a southbound tractor-trailer struck the passenger side of the pickup. The accident occurred right before 1:00 p.m. and closed the highway for quite some time.

Knoxville accident attorneys understand that teen drivers have less experience and more distractions, making them especially vulnerable to serious accidents. With the end of the school year approaching, prom, graduation and summer break will increase the risk of car accidents involving young drivers.

Two of the teen occupants in the truck were killed immediately. A third teen was ejected from the truck and later pronounced dead at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

According to Tennessee Highway Patrol, the semi-truck driver was not injured. Alcohol and drugs tests are being done on both drivers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, there were more than 208 million licensed drivers in 2008 on the roads of the United States. It is estimated that young drivers, between the ages of 15 and 20-year-old, made up more than 6 percent, or more than 13 million, of the total number of drivers. The number of teen drivers increased more than 5 percent since 1999.

Nearly 2,500 15- to 20-year-old drivers were killed, and 196,000 were injured in traffic accidents in 2009. Nearly 200 teens were killed in traffic accidents that involved a teen driver in Tennessee in 2009.

We encourage parents to talk with your teen about the responsibilities of driving and the consequences of making poor decisions behind the wheel. To help you establish some safe driving ground rules, the AAA Foundation offers this parent-teen driving agreement.
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Published on: May 17, 2011

New Proposals Aim to Reduce Risk of Tennessee Tractor-Trailer Accidents

By Mark Hartsoe

A tractor-trailer accident in Tennessee sent a driver to the Huntsville Hospital earlier this month, according to the Times Daily. Police report that the driver was airlifted from the scene of the accident to the hospital. The other driver was treated and released from the Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield.

Both of the tractor-trailers were heading west when the accident occurred. One truck, hauling plastics for a Memphis company, left the Sprint Mart truck stop when the accident occurred. A second truck, hauling grain for a Ripley company collided into the other truck. The accident took place shortly after 11:00 a.m. on U.S. 72 near Old Lee Highway.

A Knoxville trucking accident attorney should always be contacted in the wake of an accident involving a tractor-trailer or semi-truck as injuries and damages can be severe because of the size and weight of these massive vehicles.

“For some reason he didn’t see her,” Tuscumbia police Sgt. Mike Smallwood said. “A witness who passed (Jefferson’s truck) said he saw (Willis’ truck) just run into the back of the first one.”

Emergency responders from the fire departments of from Tuscumbia and Locust Shores worked at the accident for more than 25 minutes trying to cut the wreckage away from the one driver.

Debris from the two vehicles involved in the accident covered the two westbound lanes of the Interstate. The impact of the accident was so severe that it knocked the entire engine out of one of the trucks and dislodged the rear axle from the other truck.

Colbert County HazMat team members were called to the scene to help cleanup any fuel and oil that may have spilled during the accident. The Tuscumbia police are still investigating the accident.

A second accident, on interstate highway in Oklahoma, occurred when a tractor-trailer truck struck a dozen cars and killed ten people. The cars were stopped because of an earlier fender-bender. Instead of slowing down and traveling around the clutter, the truck traveled right through the congestion at nearly 70 mph, according to the Associated Press. The truck rolled over three vehicles and dragged them along until it smashed into the others and finally came to a halt.

Investigators report that the truck driver was driving with less than five hours of sleep from the previous night. He had been driving for a total of ten hours at the time.

“Even if you don’t necessarily have more crashes, when there is a crash, there is more damage,” said Henry Jasny, general counsel for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

Because of these, and other serious trucking accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board administered a two-day forum last week to gather the thoughts of safety experts, federal regulators and the truck and bus industries to help create ideas and action plans to help prevent these types of fatal accidents and to discuss why previous safety recommendations have yet to be enacted.

“We must remind ourselves that each data point in these statistics represents a family member that will never come home to loved ones,” said NTSB member Robert Sumwalt.

The NTSB has approximately 100 bus safety recommendations that have yet to be filed. In 1968, the board first recommended that buses be required to come with seat belts for all passengers, but it wasn’t until last year these seat belt recommendations were proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That rule, which has not been finalized, does not apply to buses that are already on the road.

“From an economic standpoint, it would do a great deal of harm to this industry and wouldn’t improve safety,” said Dave Osiecki, senior vice president at the American Trucking Associations.

While the industry is concerned about profits, motorists need to be concerned about their own safety when around these big rigs.
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Published on: May 12, 2011

Awareness Month Aims for Fewer Motorcycle Accidents in Tennessee

By Mark Hartsoe

Earlier this month, a Tennessee motorcycle accident took the life of a local Highway Patrolman, according to The Tennessean. Two officers were escorting U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds pilots to the Smyrna air show during the time of the fatal accident. One died and one was injured in the accident in Sam Ridley Parkway.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol reports that the wreck involved another motor vehicle and no civilians were injured. A 36-year-old officer was escorted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and died shortly thereafter. The second offer was taken to Stonecrest Hospital where he was treated for injuries and later released.

Our Knoxville motorcycle accident attorneys would like to remind motorists that spring is the deadliest time of year for motorcycle accidents caused by other drivers.

“I am saddened by the loss of Trooper Wall. He was a fine state trooper who was dedicated to serving and protecting others. Tonight, the entire THP family mourns his loss,” said Colonel Tracy Trott of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. “We hold a deep respect and appreciation for local law enforcement professionals, and our thoughts and prayers are with Trooper Wall’s family and his fellow state troopers.”

National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in Tennessee is dedicated to raising awareness about the presence of motorcyclists on our roadways. The Tennessee Department of Safety, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Governor’s Highway Safety Office and the Motorcycle Awareness Foundation of Tennessee proudly support the “Share the Road” campaign that aims to encourage motorcyclists and other motorists to share the road safely with one another. The month-long awareness event kicked off with a Motorcycle Awareness Day event that was held at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Nashville, according to TexDOT.

“With the warmer weather here, more motorcycles are on the road, and that means drivers need to be more alert,” stated Department of Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “We have done a good job in reducing the number of vehicle fatalities in recent years, but the same can’t be said about crashes involving motorcycles. The number of motorcycle fatalities in Tennessee has more than doubled in the last 7 years. We want all riders and drivers to share the road and help reduce that trend.”

Tennessee experienced nearly 150 motorcycle traffic fatalities in 2007, a number that has steadily increased over the last nine years — from 42 in 1998 to 148 in 2007. With approximately 275,000 Tennesseans licensed to operate motorcycles it is important to educate all drivers and remind them of the spring and summer presence of our riding friends.

“Motorcycles are becoming more popular, but cyclists must understand that riding a motorcycle is different than driving a car,” said John Milliken, the state coordinator of Tennessee’s Motorcycle Rider Education Program. “It’s imperative that motorcyclists educate themselves by taking an accredited training course and never ride beyond their skill ability.”

The Texas Department of Safety offers these tips to help keep motorcyclists safe on our roadways:

-Avoid tailgating. Motorcycles are not always able to stop easily, especially on wet pavement.

-Watch out for blind sports. Because a motorcycle is so small, it can often be caught in a car’s blind spot.

-Be careful at intersections as this is where most motorcycle-vehicle accidents occur.

-Allow a motorcyclist to have the entire lane. They have the same rights on the road as all other motorists.

-As it’s easy to misjudge distance and speed because of the size of a motorcycle, be sure to practice extra caution when you see one. Assume they are closer than they appear.

-Remember that motorcycles adjust often in their lane to avoid winds and road debris.

-Blinkers of motorcycles are not always self-canceling as they are on passenger vehicles. Make sure that a rider’s signal is for real before passing.
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Published on: April 12, 2011

Distracted Driving a Common Cause of Tennessee Trucking Accidents

By Mark Hartsoe

FocusDriven and the National Safety Council (NSC) are combining forces for the first ever National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Our Knoxville personal injury lawyers realize the horrific toll a distracted driving accident can have on a family. For over a decade we have represented clients who were involved in Tennessee trucking accidents, caused by distracted driving. Federal law now prohibits truckers from texting while driving — a law prohibiting them from using all hand-held cell phones has been proposed. Seeking the advice of an experienced attorney to help determine whether a trucking accident was caused by driver distraction or other violations of state and federal rules is the best course of action to protect your rights and the financial well-being of you and your family.

During the month of April, FocusDriven (advocates for cell-free driving) and NSC will urge Americans to put away their cell phones while driving. It is estimated that roughly 1.6 million crashes annually are caused by drivers using their hands-free or handheld cell phones and texting while driving. This is the number one reason for crashes caused by distractions.

These two nonprofit organizations want drivers, starting this month, to never use cell phones again while driving. They urge drivers to change their voicemail message to something like, “I can’t take your call right now because I am driving, but I will get back to you as soon as I can.” They want drivers to either turn off or silence their phones while driving, thus eliminating the distraction of an incoming call or text message.

“If drivers can go one month without using their phones while driving, they will find out – as many of us have – work still gets done. Many drivers realize most of the calls they thought were so important, really aren’t. It is our hope drivers will decide to make the change permanently. Doing so will make our roadways safer for everyone,” said Jennifer Smith, FocusDriven president and founding board member.

Employers should not encourage their employees to mix work and driving.

“National Distracted Driving Awareness Month also is the perfect opportunity for businesses to implement cell phone policies to protect employees. When businesses allow employees to conduct business on cell phones while driving, they are putting their employees at a 4 times greater risk of a crash,” said Janet Froetscher, NSC president and CEO. “NSC provides many resources, including a free Cell Phone Policy Kit, to help businesses protect employees.”

In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that over 295,000 large trucks were involved in crashes and 3,215 were involved in fatal crashes. Sadly 3,380 lose their lives in accidents involving large trucks and more than 70,000 people sustained injuries. In Tennessee out of 1,307 vehicles involved in deadly crashes, 6.7% were large trucks.
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Published on: April 9, 2011

Improving Economy will Increase Risk for Car Accidents in Maryville, Knoxville

By Mark Hartsoe

It was recently announced by Ray LaHood, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary that the number of traffic related deaths fell in 2010.

Our Knoxville car accident lawyers know our regional area saw a 3% drop in fatalities but the northeast area of the country saw double digit increases.

“Too many of our friends and neighbors are killed in preventable roadway tragedies every day. We will continue doing everything possible to make cars safer, increase seat belt use, put a stop to drunk driving and distracted driving and encourage drivers to put safety first,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Highlights of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) early projections include:

-There were 1,020 fewer traffic-related fatalities in 2010 than in 2009.

-The rate of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled went from 1.13 to 1.09.

-There were 10,722 fewer traffic-related fatalities in 2010 when compared to 2005 data.

Though these numbers look promising, a regional breakdown illustrated that the states of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island saw an 18% increase in traffic deaths. The most improved area was in the Pacific Northwest states of Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho and Alaska, these states reported a 12% decrease.

“NHTSA will continue pressing forward on all of our safety initiatives to make sure our roads are as safe as they can possibly be,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.

An all-inclusive approach has been the undertaking of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to decrease roadway fatalities including public awareness campaigns, promoting strong traffic safety laws and strict vehicle safety programs.

In 2009, campaigns like “Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” and “Click It Or Ticket” were aimed at preventing drunk driving and increasing seat belt use. Also, a website was launched dedicated to distracted driving.

NHTSA continues to improve vehicle safety by urging automakers to announce safety defects as soon as possible. They embrace technology such as forward collision warning, electronic stability control and lane departure warning systems to reduce crashes.

In 2010, the revised 5-star rating system for crash test standards was released.
The use of cable median barriers and rumble strips encouraged by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has help reduced crossover head-on collisions. On new roadway projects Safety Edge technology (re-shaping pavement edges) is being used to help keep drivers on the road.

Still, we expect to see a significant increase in the number of fatalities as the economy recovers. Individual driving behavior that puts safety first is still the best way to keep the roads save for everyone.
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Published on: April 7, 2011

Tennessee Hopes to Reduce Car Accidents, Trucking Accidents in Work Zones

By Mark Hartsoe

Governor Phil Bredesen is teaming up with various states across the nation to help kick off National Work Zone Awareness Week. Bredesen hopes this campaign will help reduce the risk of Knoxville trucking accidents and car accidents in congested work zones.

Government officials will be teaming up with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to organize events throughout the state in an attempt to emphasize the importance of safe driving throughout the construction and maintenance zones on our interstates and highways, according to the Tennessee Government.

Our Knoxville personal injury lawyers urge you to be extra cautious when traveling through these work zones as safe, alert driving may be your greatest defense against a potentially fatal work zone accident. As spring dawns, we can expect to see more and more orange barrels and safety cones on the state’s highway and byways. With these projects in full swing and lanes being altered and narrowed, , truckers and other motorists will be at increased risk of accidents.

“As we head into the busy construction season, motorists will encounter more maintenance workers, utility personnel, and construction workers on Tennessee’s roadways,” said Governor Haslam. “I want to remind all drivers to stay alert and focused and exercise caution and patience when driving through work zones across the state. Doing so will help ensure everyone stays safe.”

According to Tennessee’s Department of Safety and Homeland and Security, Tennessee lost the l100 lives because of highway work zone crashes in the last 3 years. These statistics have prompted TDOT officials to launch a new “Merge Left” project, excepted to get underway in the next few months. Nearly 20 fatalities resulted from work zone accidents in Tennessee alone in 2009, according to The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. The United States saw almost 700 work zone crash fatalities.

“It is a simple concept for drivers, but one that we hope will save lives and help relieve construction related backups on our highways and interstates,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “We will be designing the entrance of many new work zones to flow to the left. This will create consistency throughout the state. Drivers will know which way to go, and what to expect. Merge left and merge early.”
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Published on: March 28, 2011

New Car Seat Rules Aim to Protect Kids from Injury in Knoxville Car Accidents

By Mark Hartsoe

Our Knoxville car accident lawyers want you to be aware of the recent announcement by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding new recommendations for car seats. The most significant change is to keep children in rear facing seats for as long as possible to prevent serious injuries in a Tennessee car accident.

Research conducted by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) found that, up until the age of 2, children riding in rear-facing car seats are more than five-times safer than in any other seat. They recommended children stay in rear-facing car seats until they outgrow them.

The NHTSA recommends looking for a car seat that fits well in your vehicle and one that is based on your child’s age and size. Proper installation of the seat should follow the safety seat manufacturer instructions and the vehicle’s owner manual. Children, until at least the age of 12, should ride in the back seat.

“The ‘best’ car seat is the one that fits your child, fits your vehicle and one you will use every time your child is in the car,” says Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Guidelines to follow by age from the NHTSA include:

Newborn to 12 Months: Should always be in a rear-facing car seat. They can be in an infant-only car seat, a convertible seat or 3-in-1 seat. It is advisable to have either a convertible or 3-in-1 seat that has higher size limits so they can be used longer.

1 to 3 years: Keep your child in a rear-facing seat until he reaches the limits for height or weight according to the car seat manufacturer. This is the best method to keep the child safe.

4 to 7 years: Keep your child harnessed in a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer.

8 to 12 years: Keep your child in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit properly in a seat belt. The lap belt should be snug across the hips, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should be snug across the shoulder and chest, never across the neck or face. Children should stay in the back seat until they are at least age 12.

“Selecting the right seat for your child can be a challenge for many parents. NHTSA’s new revised guidelines will help consumers pick the appropriate seat for their child,” says David Strickland, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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