When you are a parent traveling with a child in your vehicle, you want to ensure the safety of your children. As with all states in America, Georgia has child car seat laws which are designed to protect young passengers from harm. These laws mandate the proper use of car seats and restraints based on the child’s age and weight. It is important to comply with these laws to reduce the risk of injury to your child should you be involved in a car accident. If you live in central Georgia and your child does get injured in an accident, it’s important to speak with a car accident lawyer in Atlanta about possible compensation to cover the costs for the injuries they have sustained.
What Are Georgia’s Child Car Seat Laws?
Georgia law requires children under the age of eight and whose height is less than 57 inches to sit in a car seat while traveling in a vehicle. It also states that they must ride in the backseat of the vehicle as this is a safer spot to be in should you be involved in an accident, due to the use of airbags in the front seat. There is an exception to the rule if the vehicle does not have a backseat or if all seats in the back are already taken by other children. In these instances then you may travel with a child in the front seat provided that they are still in the proper car seat and that they weight more than 40 lbs. The specific car seat that a child should ride in is based on the child’s age, weight, and height.
When To Use A Rear-Facing Car Seat
In Georgia, children that are aged newborn to 1-year-old are required to travel in a rear-facing car seat. This is because the neck, head, and spine in infants is weaker and much more susceptible to be seriously injured by the violent forces of a crash. Rear-facing car seats are designed to absorb these forces. Children who are over 1-year-old but who weigh less than 20 lbs are also required to ride in rear-facing car seats until they surpass that weight restriction. It is possible to keep a child in a rear-facing car seat who is older than one and weighs more than 20 lbs, so long as they have not exceeded the suggested weight by the car seat’s manufacturer.
When To Use Forward-Facing Car Seats
As children grow, they will need to be switched to a forward-facing five point harnessed car seat. The five-point harness buckling system provides extra protection for their small bodies in the event of a collision. In Georgia, children aged 1-3 who weigh 20-40 lbs are required to ride in forward-facing car seats. These seats should still be installed in the backseat of the vehicle for extra safety.
When To Use A Booster Seat
Once a child reaches 4-years-old, they can be moved to a booster seat provided that they are 40-80 lbs. They should use the booster seat until they are 8-years-old and are more than 4’9” tall. The booster seat raises the child up on the seat of the vehicle so that the lap and shoulder belts are better positioned to provide maximum safety to the child while they are in the vehicle. They should only move to using just the car’s safety seat belt once they are older than 8-years-old, heavier than 80 lbs, and over 4’9” tall. If they do not meet one of these criteria, they should keep using a booster seat.
Get Your Car Seat Checked By A Professional
Your child’s car seat needs to be installed properly to function the way it should in the event of an accident. It needs to be clipped into your vehicle using the proper methods laid out by the car seat’s manufacturer. If you are uncertain about how to install a car seat or if you have done it correctly, there are a number of inspection stations throughout Georgia that you can go to, to have your car seat inspected. You can visit http://www.seatcheck.org or call 1-866-SEATCHECK to find the inspection station closest to you. Once the car seat is installed properly, and you are placing your child in it you should make sure the harness or belt fits snugly across the child’s upper thighs and chest, making sure it doesn’t ride up to the neck or go across the stomach.
Car Seats Prevent Injuries And Save Lives
Georgia’s child car seat laws are in place to protect the most vulnerable passengers on the road. By understanding and adhering to these regulations, parents and guardians can help ensure the safety of their children while traveling. If your child has been injured in a car accident, it can be quite traumatic. It is recommended that you speak with an Atlanta car accident lawyer, as they will be able to give you counsel about whether you have a case for compensation to help cover the costs of your child’s injuries. Always use the appropriate car seat or restraint system based on the child’s age, weight, and height, and regularly check for updates to the laws and guidelines to stay informed.
