A Comprehensive Guide to Pennsylvania Child Seat Laws

Every parent’s top priority is keeping their children safe on our roadways. Understanding and complying with Pennsylvania car seat laws is vital to protecting your children and avoiding legal penalties.

Over the past few years, Pennsylvania has changed the laws on using child seats to protect our children. In June 2016, legislation was signed into law requiring all children under the age of 8, less than 57 inches tall, or less than 80 pounds, are required to be placed in a car or booster seat as approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation‘s standards. When a child is between the ages of 8 and 13, they do not need to ride in a car seat; however, they are required to sit in the back seat and wear a seat belt across their shoulders, chest, and upper thighs.

At Munley Law, we want everyone to stay safe. We’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to Pennsylvania’s car seat laws to help you understand everything you need to know about the law, from rear-facing infant seats to booster seat regulations.

Whether you’re a new parent or updating your knowledge of current requirements, we’ll help you understand exactly when and how to transition between different types of car seats to keep your children safe and secure on every journey.

Know That Your Child is in the Right Seat

A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 46 percent of car and booster seats (59 percent of car seats and 20 percent of booster seats) are misused in a way that could reduce their effectiveness in a car accident. Yet most parents believe that they are using the right seat and that they’re using it properly.

Children are the most vulnerable passengers and our most precious cargo, so parents and caregivers must know how to keep them as safe as possible in the car. The best way to do this is to make sure that you are using a car seat that is:

• Right for your child’s age and size
• Right for your vehicle
• Installed and used correctly, according to manufacturer instructions

According to Pennsylvania law,

• Children ages 8 until 13 must be restrained in all seating positions in the back seat in a properly adjusted and fastened safety seat belt system.
• Children ages 4 until 8 must be securely fastened in a booster seat.
• Children under age 4 must be securely fastened in a child passenger restraint system.
• Children under age 2 must be securely fastened in a rear-facing child safety seat.
• Violation of the child restraint law is a standard offense.

Installation of car seats can be confusing but your first step is to make sure you’re using the right seat for your child. The majority of car seats do come with certain restrictions and recommendations on how to install the seat and there may be a few methods available on how to install the seat.

Remember to take your time when installing the seat. Read the instructions and check out tutorials online to install it properly. Remember, installing the car seat properly is important to keep your child safe.

How Car Seats Can Protect Children

Car and booster seats are designed for the size and age of the child they’re trying to protect. For example, if you have your toddler in a rear-facing seat and you get into a truck accident in Scranton, the heavily padded walls of the seat will secure your child into the seat so they won’t be tossed about. In addition, the seat is designed to prevent the child’s head from whipping around, preventing a neck or head injury. Our Pennslyvania car accident attorneys suggest that a properly installed car seat may help reduce the chance of injury in a collision.

You may be more likely to forgo the car seat if your child is older. But that would be a mistake. Car seats for older children can provide greater protection than just a seat belt. The restraints on the car seat are made specifically for your child as opposed to a seat belt designed for an adult. If you get into an accident with your child using a seat belt, the child can easily slip out of the harness and get thrown about.

Child Passenger Safety by the Numbers

Car accidents are a leading cause of death for children under the age of 13, but car seats can save lives.

A total of 859 children under the age of 13 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2022. However, NHTSA found that 325 children under the age of 5 were saved by car seats in one year.

Studies show that car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers.

Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics found that 83% of children under age 4 sustained no injury during a crash where they were restrained in a car seat.

Car Seat Defects: What Can Be Done?

Even if you have everything installed properly, sometimes the car seat fails to protect your child following an accident. Unfortunately, this can happen — manufacturers may fail to catch a defect in the car seat during either the designing phase or the production process. When this occurs, and your child becomes injured as a result, what can be done?

When a defective car seat injures a child, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer to recover damages and make sure no other child gets hurt by a defective product. Your first step is to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to begin the legal process as you focus on your child’s well-being during this time.

How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help After a Child is Injured in a Auto Crash?

An auto accident attorney will work with you to ensure you get the compensation your family deserves following an accident. These damages could include, but are not limited to:

• Present and future medical costs
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment

As you can imagine, medical bills following a truck accident can be extremely costly. And when it involves your child, these injuries may last for years, affecting their future. But speaking with an experienced attorney from Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help ease the burden, knowing that your child’s financial future is secure and they will get the medical care they need to recover from this accident.

If a defective car seat injured your child, now is the time to pursue a lawsuit. Contact the personal injury lawyers at Munley Law  to schedule your free consultation today.