Child Seat Safety in Georgia – Personal Injury Attorney Discusses Child Seat Laws
Children are vulnerable from birth onward. Regardless of whether children are young enough to still be in a car seat, or old enough to sit as an adult passenger would, it may come as a surprise to many Georgians that the leading cause of death for children between the ages of one and twelve is injuries resulting from a car accident. Given a child’s small size, any impact resulting from a car accident can be more catastrophic for the child than it may be for an adult.
The Importance of Car Seats to Reduce the Risk of Serious Injury or Death
Georgia has certain car seat laws that parents must follow to both comply with the law and to also protect their children as much as possible. While there is no guarantee that an accident can be prevented, having the proper car seat will certainly help if a car accident does happen. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has stated that improper fitting car seats are a contributing factor to injuries and deaths suffered by children involved in car accidents.
This is a sobering statistic as many parents believe they are doing the right thing and have the proper car seat or booster seat for their child. It is not always easy to ensure you have the right car seat, so it is crucial to do as much research as possible and follow guidelines issued by the NHTSA as well as make every attempt to have the proper fitting car seat or booster seat for your child’s age and size.
Georgia Laws Governing the Use and Application of Car Seats
Georgia car seat and booster seat laws state the following:
- Children aged eight years and under with a height of fewer than fifty-seven inches must ride as a passenger in the backseat of a vehicle. By sitting in the backseat, a child is in a safer location and is furthest away from airbags. Airbags are intended to soften the blow for adults and are not intended for children. As such, airbags have the potential to cause children to suffer severe injuries or death.
- Children aged eight years and under must be in a car seat or booster seat that fits their age, height, and weight.
- If a child is in a vehicle that has no back seat (such as a truck), or if there are other children already restrained in the back seat, a child aged eight and under with a weight of at least 40 pounds is allowed to sit in the front passenger seat so long as he or she is properly restrained in a car seat or booster seat.
Because accidents involving children have the potential to lead to severe injuries, it is crucial that all parents take every possible step to ensure their children are in a properly-fitting car seat or booster seat for their size and age.
Put Our Law Firm’s Over 39 Years Of Legal Experience To Work For Your Case!
If you have been injured in any type of accident caused by someone else’s negligence, call Montlick & Associate to learn about your legal rights as well as what steps can be taken to protect those rights. Montlick & Associates has been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast for over 39 years, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. Our attorneys in Atlanta, Georgia have been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast for over 39 years.
No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED® (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.
Source: http://consumer.georgia.gov/consumer-topics/child-car-seats
Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law
17 Executive Park Dr NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
Telephone: 1 (800) LAW-NEED
Telephone: 1 (404) 529-6333