Georgia Car Seat Laws
Following Georgia car seat laws and seatbelt laws is critical for your child’s safety when riding in an automobile.
Get the facts from the expert personal injury attorneys at The Orlando Firm.
Georgia Car Seat Laws
More than 2,600 children under the age of thirteen are involved in car crashes every day. That is one child every thirty-three seconds. So, parents and guardians should take extra precautions to ensure their children are safe.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly sixty percent of car seats are not installed or adjusted properly. This simple yet common mistake can lead to disastrous injuries in a car accident, and in a personal injury case, it may impact the amount in damages that you can recover. Here, the Atlanta personal injury lawyers at The Orlando Firm explain Georgia car seat laws so you’re armed with the knowledge you need to keep your child safe.
Car Seat Laws in Georgia
The lack of or improper use of a car seat is a major contributor to injury or death during an accident. According to the NHTSA, four out of ten children under six years old who are seriously injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents were either unrestrained or improperly restrained. When car seats are used correctly, they are seventy-one percent effective in preventing injury. Further, they are fifty-four percent effective for children between the ages of one and four. Children who are in booster seats are fifty-nine percent less likely to be injured in a car crash than those using a seat belt alone.
Realizing the crucial role car seats play in the safety of children, Georgia lawmakers passed legislation according to their use. When it comes to car seats, the law has the following to say:
- All children, without exceptions, who are under the age of eight and less than fifty-seven inches tall must ride in the backseat. A child is safest in the backseat, farthest away from the airbag. While airbags are designed to save adults, the force can be fatal for children.
- Children under eight are required to be in either a car seat or a booster seat suited for their age and height.
- If there is no backseat like in a truck or there are other restrained children in the back, Georgia law permits a child under the age of eight to be in the front if in the proper car seat or booster seat and the child weighs 40 pounds or more.
Under this legislation, failure to properly restrain a child under eight years old means you could be fined up to $50. Any more violations will carry a fine of $100.
Georgia Booster Seat Law
Booster seats are often the most overlooked part of car seat safety. The goal of a booster seat lessens the risk of injury by helping the seat belt fit properly. But at what age booster seat use is required in Georgia? The age requirement for booster seat use is four through seven for children who are less than four feet and nine inches tall.
When using a booster seat, our firm recommends following Georgia’s booster seat laws:
Use a high back model if your vehicle has low seats and no headrest. You can use a backless model for your child if your vehicle has a headrest.
Use the booster seat until your child exceeds the weight limit or properly fits into a seat belt, even if the child has already passed the age booster seats are required for.
The vehicle must have a lap and shoulder belt if your child is riding in a booster seat.
OBTAINING
FULL COMPENSATION
We go beyond calculating damages to ensure you receive all rightful compensation, including for intangible losses like pain and suffering. Many are unaware of their full rights, and we help maximize your claims.
(404) 373-1800
Georgia Seat Belt Laws
Georgia seat belt laws must be followed by all drivers or they may be subject to fines. All drivers and front-seat passengers are required to wear a seat belt equipped with both a lap belt and a shoulder belt. Georgia is among the best in the nation when it comes to compliance in this area. In fact, ninety-two percent of drivers and front-seat passengers use their seat belts. However, non-compliance is a prevailing issue, even when it comes to children.
Hiring The Orlando Firm can provide several benefits:
ACCURATELY ACCOUNTING
FOR DAMAGES
We ensure all damages, including bodily injuries, current and future medical expenses, and property damage, are thoroughly accounted for, preventing unnecessary additional costs due to someone else’s negligence.
STANDING FOR
YOU IN COURT
Representing yourself in court can be risky. We recommend professional legal representation for car accident cases to secure the best outcomes.
OBTAINING FULL
COMPENSATION
We go beyond calculating damages to ensure you receive all rightful compensation, including for intangible losses like pain and suffering. Many are unaware of their full rights, and we help maximize your claims.
PROVIDING COMPETENT
LEGAL ADVICE
Our professional legal advice helps avoid costly mistakes such as missing filing deadlines, ensuring you receive potential compensation.
Seatbelt Laws in Georgia
Georgia law states that, in addition to the driver and front-seat passenger, all passengers between the ages of eight and seventeen must wear a seat belt. Failure to comply could result in a ticket and a $25 fine for the driver.
Of course, there are exceptions to this according to the Georgia statute. However, most of these exceptions do not apply to children. One of the most notable exceptions is when traveling in a taxi, riding on a bus, or if the passenger has a medical condition that prevents them from being secured. Other exceptions include:
- Drivers or passengers making frequent stops and exits of the vehicle while making deliveries. This vehicle must not travel more than fifteen mph between stops.
- Drivers operating a vehicle in reverse
- Drivers with a vehicle made prior to 1965
- Rural letter carriers employed by USPS
- Drivers delivering newspapers
- Emergency medical technicians
Over 11,300 people were killed in Georgia auto accidents between 2003-2012. This is an average of 1,000 people per year. In some cases, death could have been avoided if seat belts were worn. Not only is wearing a seat belt safer, but it is also the law in Georgia. Additionally, if you or your child was injured in a car accident that was caused by another person’s negligence and you failed to adhere to Georgia’s seatbelt laws, you may be deemed partially at fault for your or your child’s personal injuries, which may impact the monetary outcome of any legal action you choose to take.
Tips for Following GA Car Seat Laws
In Georgia, automobile accidents are a leading cause of death and injuries for children who are ages one through twelve. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 723 children were killed and more than 128,000 were injured in accidents in 2016. At The Orlando Firm, the safety of Georgia’s children is of the utmost importance to us, so we always advise the proper use of car seats by following GA car seat laws and staying vigilant.
Car Seat Laws Georgia
Experts suggest several tips to ensure child safety while riding in a motor vehicle:
- Children under the age of thirteen should ride in the backseat.
- Holding a child in your lap instead of putting them in the back could put their life in serious danger.
- Do not use a car seat that has been in an accident.
- Always buckle up – even if you are going around the corner. Fifty-two percent of accidents within the US occur within a five-mile radius from one’s home. Sixty-nine percent of accidents occur within ten miles from home.
Georgia Car Seat Law
It is important that parents and caregivers know the law and the best car seat to use for their child. Here are the best practices in finding and using a car seat:
- Find a Child Safety Seat Fitting Location in Georgia.
- Use a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible. Only use a forward-facing car seat when your child becomes too tall for a rear-facing car seat.
- Select a car seat based on the child’s age and size.
- Always refer to the manufacturer’s guide when installing the car seat.
- Keep your child in a car seat for as long as possible.
- Keep your child in the back seat through age twelve.
Our Proven Process for Winning Personal Injury Cases
Step 1
Initial Consultation
& Case Review
We begin by reviewing your case and gathering key information. This includes collecting records related to property damage, medical expenses, and insurance coverage. This allows us to fully assess the extent of your injuries and understand the impact on your life.
Step 2
Evidence Collection
& Investigation
Next, we conduct a thorough investigation of the accident. We gather critical evidence, including dash-cam footage, security videos, eyewitness testimonies, and police reports, to build a strong case. This process helps us prove fault, whether it involves distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding, or other traffic violations.
Step 3
Dealing with
Insurance Companies
We handle all communications with the at-fault driver’s insurance company to protect you from adjusters who may attempt to undervalue your claim. Our experienced team knows their tactics and ensures they don’t compel you into accepting a low settlement offer that doesn’t cover your losses.
Step 4
Settlement
Negotiations
Once the evidence is gathered and reviewed, we engage in aggressive settlement negotiations. Our goal is to secure compensation that covers your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. We fight to ensure you receive fair compensation, not just what the insurance company wants to pay.
Step 5
Trial-Ready
Advocacy
Next, we conduct a thorough investigation of the accident. We gather critical evidence, including dash-cam footage, security videos, eyewitness testimonies, and police reports, to build a strong case. This process helps us prove fault, whether it involves distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding, or other traffic violations.
Step 6
Continuous
Client Support
Throughout the entire process, we provide ongoing support and communication, keeping you informed at every stage. We handle the legal complexities so you can focus on recovery.
Georgia Child Seat Laws & Your Personal Injury Case
If your child was in your vehicle during a car accident and was injured, there are likely damages that apply to them as well as to you. As the child’s parent or guardian, you can likely recover monetary damages to help deal with your child’s medical costs and other losses. However, the amount that you can recuperate might be impacted by how you had your child restrained in the vehicle at the time of the accident. This can apply to both a violation of Georgia’s car seat laws and seat belt laws. In a lawsuit, the defendant can argue that the use of these safety seat measures could have limited your damages, so you were partly “at fault” for your child’s injuries.
This basic guideline can still apply even when the parent makes every effort to ensure that their child was safely restrained in a car seat. If you used the improper restraint system for your child’s height and weight, it might have the same impact in your legal case as if your child wasn’t using any type of restraint at all. However, this is a cheap trick utilized by insurers to decrease just how much they pay, and it can be stopped. A skilled Atlanta auto accident lawyer can fight back and help you obtain the full and fair compensation you deserve.
Regardless of whether your child was properly restrained in a car accident, you may still have a legal case. While improper safety seat use can lower your potential compensation, you should not let that prevent you from exploring your legal options after a motor vehicle accident. Contact The Orlando Firm today to schedule a free consultation.
Atlanta Car Seatbelt Attorneys Can Help
Your Atlanta car seatbelt attorney will try to prove the opposing party’s negligent behavior. Throughout this process, your lawyer may investigate if the seatbelt was maintained properly and review the company’s logbooks to make sure federal and Georgia car seat laws were followed.
Your legal representative may also review the drivers’ credentials.
INJURED? DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS.
GET THE COMPENSATION YOU DESERVE.
Retain the best car seatbelt accident lawyers in Atlanta to ensure maximum compensation.
Our attorneys use their extensive experience to represent individuals suffering catastrophic injuries from careless drivers.
The Experience To Get Results
With over 650+ 5 stars Reviews to Prove It!
Roger Orlando, my personal injury attorney at Orlando Law Firm P.C., was not only highly skilled and knowledgeable but also incredibly personable and supportive, making the legal process smooth and stress-free.
Their team demonstrated unparalleled professionalism, expertise, and dedication throughout my legal matter. From initial consultation to resolution, they provided clear communication and strategic guidance, ensuring my best interests were always prioritized.
I highly recommend Orlando Law Firm P.C. for anyone seeking top-notch legal representation.
WHATS THE LATEST?
CALL A Car seatbelt ATTORNEY, ATLANTA
Please call us for a free consultation at 404-373-1800 or toll-free at 1-866-373-1800. While we cannot guarantee the outcome of your car seatbelt case, we promise to provide you with legal representation aimed at helping you through a difficult and painful time of your life. We will do our best to make sure that you make the recovery to which you are entitled. Keep in mind that there may be time limits on filing your claim, so it is important to seek legal counsel as soon as you are able.
Always remember, if we don’t win your case, you pay us nothing. Contact The ORLANDO Firm today to determine if you have a viable case.
CONTACT US
Thank you for your interest in The ORLANDO Firm.
Please get in touch with us with any questions or concerns that you may have. Our attorneys and staff are available 24/7 by phone or chat for your convenience.