Texas seat belt law states that all children under age of five (5) must be restrained in a child safety seat and that all infants must ride in rear-facing safety seats until they are at least 20 pounds and are at least 1 year old. These laws will likely be changed in 2009, if it is up to the Texas Legislature.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is important to know that all child safety seats are NOT created equal. Your child’s age and weight should dictate which type of child safety seat you choose for him or her. Here are the facts for 3 types of child car safety seats.
Rear Facing Seats:
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Texas seat belt law, infants should be kept in a rear-facing seat until they reach the age of 1 and are at least 20 pounds. Many families receive hand-me-down child safety seats from friends and family members. If this is the case, before using the seat, you should consult the NHTSA’s Child Restraint Recall Website at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/childseat.cfm. This site has the details of every child safety seat recall since January 1990 and can prevent you from putting your child at risk.
Forward Facing Seats:
When your child has outgrown his rear-facing seat, you should upgrade to a forward-facing child safety seat. This seat should be placed in the car’s backseat whenever possible to prevent the seat from being struck by an airbag in the case of a car crash. Your child should ride in a forward-facing seat until he is around 4 years old and 40 lbs.
Booster Seats:
When the child outgrows his forward-facing seat, you should purchase a booster seat. The child should ride in a booster seat in the back seat until the vehicle seat belt fits him properly without the booster. Booster seats are designed to prevent injury from the seat belt in the event of an auto accident. When the lap belt lays across his upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across his chest (usually when he turns 8 and is 4’9″), he can ride without the booster seat.
In conclusion, one of the most important things about your child’s safety seat is that it is properly installed. To do this, you have to be able to understand the instructions. The NHTSA puts out an annual report on the “ease-of-use” of every safety seat on the market. That list is available on the Internet at http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.9f8c7d6359e0e9bbbf30811060008a0c.
If you still have questions about the installation of your car seat after you read the manual, many local police and fire stations will check the car seat installation for you.
Attorney Scott Edgett is a civil trial attorney with the Humphreys & Peterson Law Firm in Garland, Texas. Mr. Edgett is licensed to practice law in Texas and Florida. Over the last decade, Mr. Edgett has emphasized on providing superior client representation in a professional and ethical manner, while experiencing high job satisfaction and trying to make the world a safer place for all. Mr. Edgett has been representing families and consumers whose lives have been devastated by reckless drivers, dangerous products, and other negligent tortfeasors. When a tragedy occurs because of the irresponsible behavior of a tortfeasor, an insurance company, or a corporation, Mr. Edgett and the firm of Humphreys & Peterson are advocates for the people and will help pursue justice for all. To speak directly to Attorney Scott Edgett, please feel free to contact him at (866) 259-0661, via email at Scott@TexasJusticeForAll.com, or visit our website at www.TexasJusticeForAll.com for further information regarding our law firm.
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