Thank you once again for all of your hard work on this case, and for always keeping us updated. It has been a pleasure having you represent us.

Mrs B, Southampton

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Child Restraints and Consequences of not Adhering to the Instructions

Fri 27th Apr 2012 Personal injury

Julie Donovan Following on from my recent article on the law and child restraints, I was interested to read a recent judgment, where it was held that the use of an appropriate child car seat would have prevented the serious injuries sustained.

On the 25 April 2012, Judge Blair, sitting in the Liverpool High Court, handed down the judgment in the case of Emma Hughes, a child who sustained injuries as a result of a car accident. He held that had the child been placed in the appropriate car seat and not the booster seat which was used to restrain her on a car journey, she would not have suffered the injuries. He further held that the mother was negligent and it was appropriate to order her to contribute 25% of the damages.

Judge Blair also stated that the manufacturers' instructions should not be blindly treated and in this instant could not have been more explicit. The premature graduation of a child from a harness seat to a booster seat or seat belt could have very serious consequences, making it particularly important for the stated requirements to be followed.

Julie Donovan

Senior Legal Executive - Personal Injury team