Arizona Car Seat Laws
Car seat laws were made for important reasons, to save lives and protect young children. Often individuals think their children don’t need to sit in a car seat so they make their own decision to not utilize them. This is putting your child in harm’s way because, in the event of an accident, they won’t be protected from a strong impact. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 35% of children who were involved in a fatal car accident in 2017 were not in car seats or utilizing seat belts. Every parent should be aware of the state laws on seat belts and car seats to ensure their kids are safe in cars. Those types of situations are preventable by utilizing car seats and seat belts.
Arizona Car Seat Law
The Arizona law states that drivers need to properly restrain all children under five years old. This law was created to ensure these kids stay safe while riding in the car. Passengers who are between the ages of five to eight years old and are shorter than four feet nine inches must also utilize a car seat or child restraint system. These regulations are formulated to keep kids safe and should be taken seriously. It is against the law to not abide by these regulations.
If a parent does not follow these laws, in Arizona they are fined $50 on the first offense. If the parent gets into a car accident without the child being restrained, they will face more severe penalties such as potential criminal charges for reckless endangerment. This is all depended on the type of injuries sustained at the time of the accident. Adults need to take these laws seriously. They are implemented to keep children safe in the event of an accident.
Restraint Systems
There are different types of restraint systems that parents can utilize to keep their children safe in the car. Some of the more common ones are listed below:
- Forward-facing car seat: This is a car seat that children two years or older will utilize to make sure they stay safe when riding in the car. The child should use this car seat until they are five years old or taller than the seat’s maximum height requirement.
- Seat belt: After a child outgrows a booster seat, they must wear a seat belt. The child should wear the seatbelt until they are at least 16 years old.
- Booster seat: This type of seat helps the seatbelt fit a child better. A child should use a booster seat from ages five to nine or until they are four feet nine inches tall.
Finding An Arizona Personal Injury Attorney
Personal injury accidents can be a very stressful experience. It can be very difficult to understand all of the legal aspects surrounding them. The personal injury attorneys at ELG want to help better understand all of your legal options. Our job is to help you recover the maximum amount of compensation. Contact our knowledgeable Phoenix attorneys at ELG to set up a consultation today. Call us at either Phoenix or Mesa Arizona law offices at (623) 877-3600.