Recognizing car crashes as a leading cause of death between ages one and thirteen, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has designated September 23rd to 29th as Child Passenger Safety Week. With this in mind, Daggett Shuler provides tips and resources to keep your youngest passengers secure on the road.
Know the Law
Under North Carolina law, children under eight and below 80 pounds require a child safety seat or booster seat. Children older than eight or over 80 pounds may use a standard seat belt, provided it properly fits across a child’s chest. Children under five and below 40 pounds must ride in the back seat of vehicles equipped with active front passenger airbags. In certain circumstances, exceptions can be made, provided:
- The vehicle does not have a front passenger airbag
- The front passenger airbag is turned off by a switch
- The vehicle does not have any rear seats installed
Other requirements call for children from birth to age one—or any under 20 pounds—to use infant-only or convertible seats in a rear-facing position. Children from one to four—or between 20 and 40 pounds—can use a convertible or forward-facing seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain rear-facing until they reach the height or weight limit for their seat.
Tips for Child Seat Usage
- Height and weight determine if a child safety seat should face front or rear.
- Never place rear-facing seats in the front seats of vehicles for risk of airbag injury.
- Secure children according to instructions provided by seat manufacturers.
Child Seat Safety Resources
A searchable database of Permanent Checking Stations (PCS) provides parents and caregivers with a list of locations by county where to find information on child passenger safety—and have certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians check for correct installation and use of child safety seats. Other child seat resources include advice on where parents can obtain free or reduced-price child safety seats—as well as a list of recommended seats and comparison tools.
We Can Help.
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident through no fault of your own, contact Daggett Shuler Law for help. An experienced Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney can handle your entire case and work to secure fair and just compensation for you.
If you have questions about a motor vehicle accident, call Daggett Shuler at 800-815-5500. When you call, you will speak with a Winston-Salem, North Carolina Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney absolutely FREE. We will investigate every detail of your situation at no cost to you—and fight hard to secure the benefits you deserve.
Daggett Shuler Law – You Can Depend on Us