When is it Safe to Stop Using a Booster Seat in a Car?

When is it Safe to Stop Using a Booster Seat in a Car?

There is no underestimating the importance of wearing a seatbelt and securing children in proper child safety seats. It does not matter how short the trip is, car accidents do not discriminate based on distance. Car accidents can take place on long road trips or just heading down to the street and going to the store. Just about any type of collision has the potential to be deadly.

Concerning car seats for children, it may take time to get a child situated, but it is a necessary task to keep them safe. When children get older and may complain about sitting in a booster seat unless they are big enough for a car’s seatbelt, these grumblings should not move parents to let them out of their booster seat too early.

If you or your child were injured in a Florida car accident, it may be possible to recover financial compensation for losses. A Tampa car accident attorney at Fulgencio Law can help you with a claim.

When Can a Child Sit in a Car Without a Booster Seat?

When is it Safe to Stop Using a Booster Seat in a CarIn 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that as high as 38% of children who lost their lives in car accidents were not buckled in with the right safety restraint system. When using a booster seat for children ages four to eight, the risk of suffering serious injuries in a crash is decreased by 45%.

Below are some general guidelines about car and booster seats, but it should be noted that they may not fit every child due to specific height and weight considerations. Typically, however, the following provides basic recommendations for child safety seats in automobiles.

  • Babies through four years old may stay in a rear-facing car seat. The rear-facing seat should never be placed in the front seat of a car.
  • A forward-facing car seat can be used until a child is five years old.
  • A booster seat must be used once they have grown out of their car seat. Here, a booster seat does not have specific age guidelines, but instead, when a child can sit in a seat of a car, and the seatbelt fits them is when it is ok to get rid of the booster seat. A seatbelt should have a lap belt fit over the upper part of the thighs, and the shoulder belt should come across the center of the chest. If the lap belt is over a child’s stomach, they should still use a booster seat. Likewise, if a shoulder strap crosses a child’s neck then they should still use a booster seat.

Keeping your child in their booster seat for as long as it takes until they are big enough to fit properly in your car’s seatbelt can keep them far safer in the event of a crash.

Speak with an Attorney at Fulgncio Law Today

Medical expenses, missed wages, property damages, pain and suffering, and more can all be damages you suffered after a Florida car accident. Let the Tampa car accident attorneys at Fulgencio Law help you recover.

Call Fulgencio Law today to schedule a free consultation to go over your case at (813) 463-0123.

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