Hipmonkey.com

Posted on September 26, 2008 by Law Office of D. Hardison Wood

We have often discussed the need to utilize five point harnesses booster seats. Far too many children have been killed in car crashes when their child seat has failed them. The Kyle David Miller foundation, was set up in memory of such a young boy. His courageous family has gone on to start a website called www.hipmonkey. com where you can find 5 point harness car seat for your child, while supporting their foundation.

No matter where you purchase your next car seat, please do your research. And if you have a child getting ready to go into a booster, before automatically putting them in one of those booster seats that uses the car's seatbelt and no tether, please check out the five point harness boosters. We have heard over and over again, how easy it is once your child in in a booster seat that uses the car's seat belt - because then he/she has the ability to buckle and unbuckle themselves...Except there is of course the other end of the story that we hear, when after a car crash, a child who was utilizing the car's seat belt in conjuction with one of those booster seats, was ejected form the vehicle. Why? Because the car's seat belt could not restrain the child during the crash. Car seat belts are not made for small children. 

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Kyle David Miller Foundation - Car Seat Safety

Posted on March 10, 2008 by Law Office of D. Hardison Wood
Our children and their  safety is something about which we care deeply. That is why our law firm involves itself in various types of litigation involving child safety. Awhile back we were touched by a video we saw on youtube about a young boy, Kyle David Miller (see here). He unfortunately was killed in a car crash. He was not in a five point harness, but rather a booster seat which utilized the car's seat belt. When we personally saw the video, our family was driven to find a booster seat for our children that had a five point harness. We realized that the booster seat we were using, which used our car's seat belt, was not securing our children the way they needed. We have since learned that there has been a foundation set up in  memory of Kyle which collects money in order to buy 5 point harness seats for children up to 80 lbs. who otherwise would not have access to them. Check  out the video and website to learn more  about the foundation. 
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Dorel Juvenile Group- Car Seat Recall

Posted on September 4, 2007 by Law Office of D. Hardison Wood
On August 30, 2007 some Dorel Juvenile Group  (DJG) issued a recall which may affect a potential 1,267,978 units.
Here is a summary as reported:

COSCO: ALPHA OMEGA, ALPHA OMEGA ELITE, MODELS 22150, 22155, 22180, 22269; EDDIE BAUER: 3-IN-1, DELUXE 3-IN-1, DELUXE CONVERTIBLE, MODELS 22450, 22451, 22452, 22453, 22740, 22750, 22755, 22756, 22757, 22770; SAFETY 1ST: ALPHA ELITE, ALPHA OMEGA, ALPHA OMEGA ELITE, INTERA, ENSPIRA, MODELS 22151, 22450, 22451, 22452, 22453, 22455, 22460, 22470, 22480, 22740, 22481, CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS MANUFACTURED DURING NOVEMBER 2003 THROUGH DECEMBER 2005. THE HARNESS ADJUSTMENT STRAP CAN LOOSEN WHILE IN USE.
Consequence:  
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE CHILD MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy:  
DJG WILL NOTIFY ALL REGISTERED OWNERS AND OFFER THEM A FREE REPAIR KIT TO REPLACE THE HARNESS ADJUSTMENT STRAP. OWNERS WHO HAVE NOT REGISTERED THEIR CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM SHOULD VISIT DJG'S WEBSITE AT WWW.DJGUSA.COM OR CALL TOLL-FREE AT 800-219-0509. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2007.
Notes:  
CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
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