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• Auto Accidents in Georgia
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Legal Library

Auto Accidents in Georgia

• Insurance Company Contact Information
• Low Ball Settlements are Now Automated
• The Safest Cars of 2007: Not Made in America
• Your Claim Has Been Denied: Now What?
• Lack of Sleep in Big Rig Drivers can be Deadly
• A summary of Georgia's Child Seatbelt Laws
• How to Prevent Airbag Injuries in Children and Infants
• Subprime Crisis Could Lead to Higher Insurance Rates
• Safety is Sometimes "Optional"
• Texting While Driving is Not Safe
• Distraction is Officially More Dangerous Than Drinking
• International Paper Learns Cell Phones and Cars Don't Mix
• Insurance Company Secrets Laid Bare
• Don't Leave Your Settlement Up to the Adjuster
• Truck Accidents: What You Need to Know
• Knowledge is Power: Insurance Policy Glossary
• Federal Legislation is Calling for All Vehicles to Have Electronic Stability Control
• How to Read Your Car Insurance Policy
• Auto Accidents: An Overview
• Factors that help Determine a Driver's Negligence
• The Dangers of Impaired Driving
• The Dover Law Firm Aggressively Pursues Your Case
• What to do After a Car Crash
• Car Accident Checklist: Ten Steps to Take Should You Have an Accident
• Games Insurers Play: Insurance Company Methods That Cost You Money

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A summary of Georgia's Child Seatbelt Laws

Protecting your children in the car is something that all parents think about. When we shop for cars, we look for all the safety features: anti-lock brakes, airbags, side airbags, front and rear crash sensors, electronic stability control, etc. But if your child isn’t safely belted into their seats, it doesn’t matter how safe the rest of your car is.

35 children under the age of 5 will die each year in Georgia. But car seats will save the lives of another 280 children a year.

Many people believe that it is safe to hold young children in the car and that safety seats are not necessary. This is a myth. In a 30 mph crash, a 10 pound baby can fly forward with a 300 pound force. The child can be impossible to hold onto in head-on collisions, resulting in tragic deaths.

Georgia child safety seat laws categorize children in three ways: infant, toddler, and young children.

Infants up to one year old or 20 lbs must be in a rear-facing safety seat. Infants may be placed in convertible seats or infant only seats.

Toddlers weighing 21-39 pounds should be in forward facing seats.

Young children weighing 40-80 pounds must be in a forward facing booster seat. The lap belt must fit low and tight across the child’s lap or upper thigh area and the shoulder belt should fit snuggly across the chest and shoulder. This positioning avoids abdominal injuries in the case of a crash.

Children aged 7-16 are required to be restrained in a traditional seatbelt. But, all children under the age of 12 should ride in the back seat. Front seats with passenger airbags can be deadly for young children because of the force with which the airbag deploys. The force of the airbag can be enough to break a young child’s neck.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers this “One-Minute Car Safety Seat Check-up.” The Georgia Department of Health website has a list of child safety seat fitting stations. If you have any questions about car seat safety or installation, you can call your local Health Department office to ask if car seat installation classes are available.

Just Ask Jeff!