The Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division states that all children must ride in the back if they’re under the age of 8 and less than 57 inches tall. Children under the age of 8 must sit in an appropriate car seat or booster seat. These standards help keep children safe by protecting them from the force of a collision.
Let’s explore Georgia car seat laws more closely so that you can understand the rules and keep your child safe in the event of an accident.
What Are Georgia’s Car Seat Laws?
All children under 8 years old must ride in the backseat of a vehicle if they’re less than 57 inches in height. Regardless of their position in the vehicle, all children under 8 must be secured in a booster seat or car seat suited to their age and height and approved by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). Parents can use guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and car seat manufacturers to determine the appropriate car seat for their child.
These strict requirements are meant to address the threat that traffic collisions pose to the youngest Georgians. According to the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, traffic crashes are a leading cause of death and injuries for children aged 1 to 12 years old. In a single recent year, more than 600 children tragically died in car accidents nationwide and another 63,000 were injured. Almost 40 percent of children who died in crashes were not properly restrained.
Penalties
Violating car seat regulations could lead to consequences for your driving privileges and wallet:
- First offense – A first-time offense is punishable by a $50 fine for each unrestrained child. You’ll also receive one point against your driver’s license. Accumulating too many points could affect your driving privileges.
- Second offense – For subsequent offenses, the penalties increase to a $100 fine and two driver’s license points.
Keep in mind that a car seat violation is a primary offense in Georgia. Police can pull you over if they observe you violating the law and don’t need another reason.
Safety is the most critical reason to buckle up your child, regardless of the penalties. Their life and well-being are worth following the laws, considering the protection safety restraints provide.
When Can a Child Ride in the Front Seat of a Vehicle?
Your child may ride in the front passenger seat when they turn 8 years old, as long as they are at least 57 inches tall. However, the Georgia Attorney General’s Office recommends that you require your child to sit in the back until age 13.
What If the Car Has No Backseat?
If you’re traveling in a truck or other vehicle with no backseat, you may put a child under 8 years old in the front seat. However, the child must weigh at least 40 pounds and buckle up in an appropriate car or booster seat. This exception is also allowed when the back seats are taken by other properly restrained children.
Are Any Vehicles Exempt from Georgia’s Car Seat Laws?
There are certain vehicles in which a parent isn’t required to buckle up the child in a car seat. Examples include taxi cabs and public transportation, including city, local, and regional mass transit services. Standard school buses and multifunctional school activities buses are also exempt.
However, an important note is that children must be restrained in an appropriate car seat when traveling in an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare.
Do Daycare Vans Require Car Seats?
Vans used by daycare facilities for the purposes of transporting children must follow the same car seat laws as other vehicles.
Are There Any Other Exceptions to the Georgia Car Seat Laws?
Some exceptions apply in rare situations, such as when a physician provides a written statement that the child’s mental or physical condition doesn’t allow them to be properly restrained.
Contact a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer to Discuss Remedies
Unfortunately, you can choose the right car seat, buckle up your child, and drive safely, yet still be in a car crash. And while a car or booster seat serves as effective protection for your child, it cannot prevent them entirely from being injured.
It’s important to remember in these circumstances that your child has rights after a car accident – and that, as their parent, you can enforce those rights. If the other driver caused the collision, your family could be entitled to compensation for the following:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering your child endured
- Lower quality of life due to your child’s injuries
- Lost income if you have to take time off work to care for your child
- The cost of replacing your child’s car seat
Crucially, you may be entitled to this compensation even if your child was not properly restrained at the time. However, you should expect that the other driver’s insurance company will try to undermine your case, arguing that you share blame for your child’s injuries. This is why it’s so important to work with a personal injury attorney who knows how to fight back against these attempts to minimize your child’s suffering and reduce the compensation you deserve.
At Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., our team has extensive experience delivering solid legal support to injured victims of all ages. We’re prepared to:
- Thoroughly investigate the accident to determine what happened and who’s to blame
- Accurately calculate the financial and personal costs associated with your child’s injuries
- Carefully explore all avenues for compensation available to you, including applicable insurance policies
- Aggressively negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, seeking the recovery your family deserves without the time and expense of litigation
- Comprehensively preparing for trial in the event that the insurance company won’t make a fair offer
Please contact Sherrod & Bernard, P.C. today for a free consultation. A Georgia car accident attorney can listen to your story and explain your rights.
