As a parent, one of your main responsibilities is to keep your child safe when they’re in the car.
Every year, many young children are hurt or killed in car accidents.
Using the right car safety seat can protect them, but with so many options available, it can feel confusing. Don’t worry—help is here!
Keep reading for tips on how to choose the best car seat for your child.
Florida Car Seat Laws
Did you know that children under five years old must be in a car seat approved by the government? If you don’t follow this rule, you could be fined $60 and get three points on your driver’s license.
- Children aged five and under must be in a car seat that’s approved by the government.
- Children aged three and under must be in a separate car seat or use the vehicle’s built-in car seat.
- Children aged four to five who are shorter than 4’9″ must use either a car seat, a built-in seat, or a seat belt, depending on their size.
Follow these car seat guidelines from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department when driving with a child:
- Use a rear-facing car seat in the back seat of the car until your child reaches the seat’s height and weight limits.
- Typically, when your child is over one year old and weighs more than 20 pounds, you can switch to a car seat, facing forward in the back seat.
- Keep using a car seat – facing forward until your child outgrows the seat’s limits as per the manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Then, switch to a booster seat, which is the back seat. Use the booster seat until your child is big enough to use the car’s seat belt properly.
- When your child turns 13, they can sit in the front seat of your car.
Why Are Child Car Seat Laws Important?
Child car seats are important for keeping kids safe in car accidents. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says car seats save the lives of 325 children under five every year.
Car seats and booster seats help spread out the force of a crash, protecting a child’s delicate body and preventing serious injuries or even death.
According to the NHTSA, car seats help reduce the risk of death in a crash by 71% for babies and 54% for toddlers.
Without Florida’s law on car seats, some people might not use them, putting their children in danger.
Florida’s car seat laws make sure kids have a better chance of surviving car accidents on the road.
Safety Belts and Child Restraints
Children should always be in the right car seat or seat belt for their safety, and everyone in the car should wear a seat belt.
Here’s what you need to know about Florida’s safety belt laws and tips to keep kids safe at any age.
Seat Belt Safety:
Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death for children in the U.S. Using the right car seat or seat belt can greatly lower the risk of death or serious injury in a crash.
In 2022, 85 children died in car crashes, and nearly 50% of them weren’t wearing any kind of restraint.
It’s important to keep in mind that car seats aren’t just for small babies. Florida law says children aged 4 to 5 must be in a car seat, booster seat, or a built-in child seat.
Many kids starting kindergarten this year are five years old, and even though they may seem grown up, it’s important to use the right car seat for their size and age.
The best car seat is one that fits Florida car seat laws for height and weight, is perfectly installed, fits accurately in your car, and is used every time you drive.
Always read your vehicle’s owner’s manual and car seat’s instruction manual when installing it.
Types of Child Car Seats:
A child should stay in a booster seat until they are big enough for a seat belt to fit correctly and perfectly.
For a good fit, the lap belt should sit snugly across the upper thighs. It should not include the stomach. Further, the shoulder belt should go around your shoulder and chest, not the neck or face.
1. Booster Seat:
The age limit for booster seats is 4 to 5, and they must use a booster seat, separate carrier, or built-in child seat in Florida.
When a child outgrows a car seat facing forward, they can use a booster seat, which should always be placed in the back seat.
If there is no back seat, the booster seat should be used with the airbag turned off.
2. Forward-Facing Seat of a Car:
Children should stay in a rear-facing car seat – till they reach the required or the maximum weight or height limit set by the manufacturer.
This usually happens around age 2 or 3. If using a forward-facing seat in a car with no back seat, make sure to turn off the airbag.
3. Rear-Facing Car Seat:
This is the safest seat for children under 2.
Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. However, if we talk about convertible and 3-in-1 seats, these have higher height and weight limits, allowing children to stay rear-facing for longer.
If your car doesn’t have a back seat, turn off the airbag when using a rear-facing seat in the front seat.
When Your Child’s Car Seat is Defective?
Even if you take all the right steps and install your child’s car seat correctly, a design flaw in the seat could still put your child at risk.
Problems like ripped straps, faulty adjusters, or broken frames can increase the chances of serious injuries in a car accident.
Car seat manufacturers must make sure their products are safe and free from defects.
If they sell a car seat that has a defect and it causes harm, they can be held responsible for the injuries.
If you think a car seat defect caused your child’s injuries, you may be able to seek compensation from the manufacturer. However, filing this type of claim can be complicated, so having an attorney on your side can help you get the compensation you deserve.
The amount of compensation depends on several factors, such as medical care, long-term disability, and pain and suffering.
An experienced lawyer can look at your case and provide you with the needed help to pursue the damages you are entitled to.
How a Florida Car Accident Lawyer Can Help?
If your child is hurt in a car accident, you need someone to stand up for their future.
At Nationwide Disability Representatives, our Florida car accident lawyers are ready to support you and your child during this tough time.
We’ll take care of the legal work so you can focus on helping your child heal. We help families across the state of Florida.
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