Pennsylvania Child Car Seat Laws

A safety seat is the most effective way to protect young children from serious harm in a car crash. When used and installed properly, child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 71% in infants and 54% in toddlers. Booster seats reduce the risk of serious injuries in young kids by 45% versus using a seat belt alone. 

Except during the COVID-19 pandemic, motor vehicle accidents have been one of the leading causes of death among kids for 60 or more years.

Child car seat laws are designed to ensure the safety of young passengers in vehicles. Understanding these laws is crucial for parents and guardians. It’s a matter of safety, and there are stiff penalties for violations. This resource explains what you should know to keep your children as safe as possible on the road. 

If you or your child were injured in an auto accident in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates for a free case review at (717) 616-2954

How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help You After a Car Accident in Lancaster, PA

At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we understand the helplessness you may feel when you see your child seriously injured. After a life-changing accident, you should be by your child’s side, not fighting an insurance company for fair compensation. A Lancaster car accident attorney can help by handling your claim while you focus on more important matters.

Our attorneys have more than 120 years of combined experience. Since 2008, we have recovered tens of millions on behalf of accident victims in Lancaster, PA, and surrounding areas of the state. Our attorneys have been recognized as Super Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, and Best Lawyers of America. We are here to fight on your behalf.

When you choose our law firm to represent you, we will:

  • Offer guidance and legal advice
  • Investigate your crash to identify liable parties
  • Gather evidence to prove causation and liability
  • Work with experts to strengthen your claim and prove your damages
  • Handle communications and monitor deadlines
  • Negotiate on your behalf to pursue a fair settlement agreement
  • Take your case to court when necessary

Contact our law office today to schedule a free case review with a Lancaster personal injury lawyer. We will help you explore your legal options and how we can help you.

Pennsylvania Car Seat Laws

Pennsylvania’s child passenger protection law requires children under eight to be securely fastened in an approved child restraint or booster seat. While the safety seat can be installed in any seat with a seat belt, the back seat is preferable.

There are specific safety seat requirements based on the child’s age and weight.

Children Under Two Years Old

Children under two years old must remain in rear-facing car seats until reaching the maximum weight or height limit of the seat.

It’s safest for children to remain in a rear-facing seat for as long as possible. Rear-facing car seats should be in the back seat whenever possible. If a rear-facing seat must be installed in the front seat, the front airbag should be disabled. Never place a rear-facing car seat in front of an active air bag; airbag injuries can be fatal.

Children Aged Two To Four Years Old

After the age of two, children no longer need to be in a rear-facing car seat. Children should be restrained in an appropriate child passenger restraint system based on their age, weight, and height. Between the ages of two and four, this is usually a forward-facing safety seat with a five-point restraint system.

Children Aged Four To Eight Years Old

Children ages four to eight years old must be secured in an appropriate booster seat. Children weighing less than 40 pounds may remain in a safety seat with a five-point harness.

Children Eight and Older

Children between eight and eighteen must be secured by a properly adjusted seat belt. This is a primary law, which means motorists who violate it can be pulled over and cited as a primary offense.

Violating the Pennsylvania child seat belt law is punishable by a fine of $75.

It’s safest for children to use a booster seat until they are large enough for a seat belt to fit properly. This is usually at 4’9” or around the age of 12. A proper fit means the lap belt sits across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt sits across the shoulder and chest, not against the neck.

Proper Installation and Use of a Child Safety Seat

It isn’t enough to choose the appropriate type of restraint system for your child: it also needs to be installed and used properly.

When the restraint system is installed and used properly, it spreads the force of a crash to the child’s strongest body parts. A rear-facing seat spreads force across an infant’s back and reduces the risk of spinal cord injuries and brain injuries. Booster seats spread force across the strongest bones of the hips and chest.

Unfortunately, nearly half of car seats are not installed correctly, according to the NHTSA. About 73% of forward-facing seats inspected are not installed correctly, according to the National Digital Car Seat Check Form (NDCF). This increases the risk of serious child injuries in an accident.

 The most common installation and use errors include:

  • Loose installation
  • Loose harness
  • Incorrect harness placement over the arms, legs, or back (forward-facing)
  • Incorrect recline angle (rear-facing)
  • Incorrect lap or shoulder belt position (booster)

If you have any doubt, you can get a free car seat check at many locations in Pennsylvania.

In addition to making sure your car seat is installed properly, wait until your child reaches the seat’s weight or height limit before moving them up to the next restraint system. For children under 12 years, the back seat is the safest place in the car.

Resources For Parents and Guardians in Pennsylvania

Below are resources to help Pennsylvania parents and guardians choose and use a child safety seat properly.

  • The NHTSA car seat finder tool allows you to compare car seats and ease-of-use ratings to find the best safety seat for your family.
  • The PA Traffic Injury Prevention Project (PA TIPP) supports car seat loan programs throughout the state. The loan program ensures that families in need receive a proper child safety seat to stay in compliance with the law and keep their children safe.
  • Pennsylvania Fitting Stations are funded by PennDOT. Over 75 fitting stations throughout the state are staffed by certified child passenger safety technicians who can check if your car seat is installed correctly and teach you how to use it properly.
  • NHTSA’s guide to understanding and using the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system properly.

It’s a good idea to register your car seat with the manufacturer to be sure you are informed of any safety recalls.

Contact Our Lancaster Car Accident Lawyers For a Free Consultation

Sadly, a car seat can’t eliminate all risks, even when it’s used properly. If your child has been injured in a crash caused by a negligent driver, Marzzacco Niven & Associates is here to help you.

Our law office has represented injured children and their families since 2008. We will help you seek justice and the fair compensation your child deserves. While money can’t take back what has happened, it can ensure that your child receives the high-quality medical care they need.

Contact our law firm today for a free consultation with a Lancaster car accident attorney. We will listen to your story and help you take the next steps in your claim.