The booster seat requirements and laws in Georgia are very clear: if your child is under 57 inches tall and/or less than eight years old, they must be secured in a booster seat for their own protection.
If you have more questions about these laws than this article can provide, or if you want to know your rights if your child was injured in a collision, an Atlanta car accident lawyer can provide further guidance.
What Georgia Law Says About Booster Seats
You can find information about Georgia’s booster seat law from the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. They provide important details about when a child has to be placed in a booster seat and what penalties you may face for not using a booster seat when required.
When Do Children Need Booster Seats in Georgia?
As stated, any child under the age of eight years and less than 57 inches tall is required by law to use a booster seat. Children that small cannot be properly restrained and protected by a regular seatbelt. The booster keeps them securely in place, especially during a collision.
Where Should You Put Your Child’s Car Seat?
If your car has a backseat that can accommodate the child safety seat, you should always put it there. The front seat is less safe because, among other reasons, airbags can do severe, fatal harm to a child.
Only children who meet the minimum weight limit of 40 pounds can ride in the front seat.
What if You Do Not Use a Booster Seat?
If your child is small enough and/or young enough to require a booster seat, they must use one. If you are caught not using a booster, you may be fined $50 for a first offense and $100 for a subsequent offense.
Additionally, not using a proper car seat puts your child at risk. They are too small for a seat belt to provide adequate protection, so they could end up suffering severe injuries in a crash.
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Booster Seats Protect Georgia Kids
To get the most out of your child’s booster seat, make sure:
- The seat manufacturer has not recalled the product.
- The child fits well in the seat. The shoulder belt and the lap belt should keep them secure without being too loose or too tight.
- You install the seat correctly. The seat packaging should tell you whether it is a rear-facing seat or a forward-facing seat and provide installation instructions.
Why Booster Seats Are So Important
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the proper use of a booster seat can make a critical difference in an accident: without an age-appropriate child restraint, a child is much more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries.
The CDC also reports that correct restraint usage decreases as the child gets older. Teach your child about the importance of consistent seat belt usage, and model this behavior by always wearing your own seat belt.
The Limits of Booster Seat Protections
If you get in a car accident, booster seat requirements and laws in Georgia should reduce your child’s risk of injury. Nothing can entirely eliminate this risk, however. Even parents who follow every legal requirement can still fall victim to:
- A faulty booster seat that should have been recalled but was not
- A reckless driver who hits their car in such a way that the child is still injured
- An especially violent collision that does extreme damage to the car and/or the booster seat
Helping Your Child After a Georgia Car Accident
After an accident, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself, your child, and anyone else who was in the car. These are:
- Getting your car out of the flow of traffic to avoid being hit again
- Calling 911 to bring the police and the EMTs to your location quickly
- Moving your child as little as you can if they are injured (unnecessary movement can make things worse)
- Getting your child away from the car if you have to (e.g., the car is on fire)
- Answering the police’s questions to the best of your ability, either at the scene or after getting medical help for your child and anyone else who needs it
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Georgia Law and Your Right to Car Accident Compensation
You do have the right to sue someone whose negligence hurt your family, but only for a limited time. For most people, their right to file a case expires after two years, per O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. This statute of limitations means you must act quickly to pursue the money your child may need for:
- Accident-related medical bills
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Injuries that cause physical or intellectual disabilities
- Their inability to play, socialize, and enjoy life like they did before
- Long-term effects on their ability to learn and work
- The cost of special care or support (e.g., after-school programs)
You could also be eligible for compensation for your own losses, such as the income you sacrificed when you decided to stay at the hospital or your home with your child.
Taking Care of Your Child While Filing a Georgia Legal Case
You do not have to choose between looking after your family and filing a legal action for the money your family needs. By hiring a Georgia car accident attorney, you can do both. While your personal injury lawyer fights to protect your rights, you can:
- Spend as much time with your child as necessary
- Stay focused on helping your entire family recover and adjust to their new normal
- Receive regular updates on your accident claim and advice on how you should proceed from an auto accident attorney
- Have the peace of mind of knowing that a legal professional is on your side and will work hard to secure your family’s future
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Our Legal Team Is Familiar With Georgia’s Booster Seat Laws
At Kaine Law, our personal injury attorneys do all of the legal legwork and other tasks so that you can focus on your family. We even refuse to charge attorney’s fees unless and until we win money for you.
Get a free case review and learn how the booster seat requirements and laws in Georgia may affect your case by calling our office today.
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