Every state has its child restraint laws. Some states require children to wear seatbelts, while others have no such requirement. But all states require children under a certain age to be properly restrained in a child safety seat. This includes being secured to a proper seat by a lap and shoulder belt.
YouYou’veard about the dangers of car accidents and injuries, but what about child restraint laws? It’It’ssy to consider your chichild’sfety and keep them safe when in their car seat. But what happens when they are not? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says an estimated 800 children die in car accidents yearly. And that number only includes fatalities.
Child restraint laws exist to protect your child and other passengers in a vehicle. NHTSA says an estimated 2,200 children sustain ss injuries in car accidents yearly. So while your child is buckled yearly may be in danger. We will cover how to stay safe with child restraint laws and what you need to know before filing a child restraint lawsuit.
What is a child restraint law?
A child restraint law is a law that requires drivers and passengers under a certain age to be in a child restraint system.
The law does not apply to children who are not passengers in a vehicle. It applies to both front- and back-seat occupants.
It is a misdemeanor to knowingly or intentionally violate the law. A person can be charged with a felony if they have a prior conviction.
You may have seen “no”child-restraint” s” guns on v muscles. Those are actually “No”Child-Restraint-Required” s” guns. “No”Child-Restraint-Required” s”gn is not a law. It is a request.
How to be safe with a child restraint law
Every parent should know how to secure a child in a vehicle properly. But do you?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1.3 million children die in car accidents yearly.
And in addition to the death toll, there are hundreds of thousands of injuries by children.
It is important to rare remember that a chichild’sfe is very fragile. They are still developing and learning and have little experience and understanding of the world around them.
Hence, it’it’sperative that parents teach their children the importance of staying in the car seat and practicing good restraint.
How to be safe with a child restraint law
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly one in every four children dies in car accidents before the age of 18. diese reason is that c results—such as car seats and booster seats—are vital for keeping children safe, but they arearen’tways used properly.
A recent study found that the percentage of children under age five who were properly restrained in a crash decreased from 63% to 55% between 2006 and 2016.
Even worse, the percentage of children under age five who were buckled in a crash increased from 47% to 52% during the same period.
In other words, we are making progress, but we still have a long way to go.
Whil tissue e that car seats and booster seats are lifesaving, they can be difficult to install. For example, installing a car seat correctly can be tricky.
It’It’ssy to forget things such as seat belts and straps. And sometimes, even if you do everything right, your child might still die in a crash.
What happens if I dondon’tve a child restraint law?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 4,400 children die from car crashes yearly. That number doedoesn’tclude the injuries and deaths that occur after a collision.
Car seats can fail even when a child is properly secured in a child restraint. For instance, an improper fit or a loose harness can cause a child to become unsecured during a crash.
Car seats are designed to work with the vehvehicle’sfety belts and airbags. If your chichild’sat is not coincompatibleyour vehicle, then yed to find a suitable alternative.
You can also check if your state has a child restraint law.
What is the penalty for not having a child restraint law?
It’It’smple. If you dondon’tve a child restraint law, your vehicle could be towed away, impounded, or you could even face a fine.
You may have seen a child restraint law being enforced in your state. ThaThat’scause most states have passed laws requiring that all light trucks be equipped with a car seat or booster seat.
Some states are still debating the law, but if you’re, you’re straight, notice signs that a child restraint law has been implemented.
And the penalties for breaking this law? In most states, it’it’smisdemeanor charge. This means you can be fined up to $1,000 and lose your license.
Frequently Asked Questions Child Restraint
Q: Is there a law in North Carolina against child restraints?
A: Yes. The stastate’sild restraint law says you cannot use a car seat if it is not installed correctly or if t harkeharkenstch. You also cancan’tave a baby in a car unattended with the windows down.
Q: Do you think child restraint laws are really necessary?
A: I do. I want my children to ride in a car safely. If they are not necessary, why would we pass them?
Q: Why is it important to have a child restraint?
A: Children who are involved in crashes are more likely to die than adults.
Top 3 Myths About Child Restraint
1.That it will just hurt your car.
2. That a child restraint law does not protect you.
3. That you will be arrested for driving without restraint law.
Conclusion
The thu to be safe is to keep your car seat properly sexual keep your car seatt to err on the side of caution. dondon’tt your kids play around with the buckles of their car seats. T? e clips can be easily snapped off, especially when kids pull on them.
If your state doedoesn’tve a child restraint law, you can still follow the above guidelines to stay safe. If you have a child restraint law in your state, I recommend reading the fine print. In many states, these laws can be very complex and vague. If your state has a child restraint law, you may need to meet certain requirements. You might also need an approved car seat installed in your vehicle.
