My four children have been grown and out of the house for some time now. Yet car seats fill our back seats, the pantry has apple sauce and pudding, and our cabinets are stocked with diapers.
My wife and I aren’t just desperately hanging on to the past. We’re living the glorious stage that’s worth all the hype: grandkids.
Having seven wonderful grandchildren running around our house has got me thinking about how important car seat safety is—and what Alabama car seat law says.
Alabama Car Seat Laws
- Children must be in an infant-only seat or a rear-facing convertible car seat until at least 1 year old or 20 pounds.
- Once they outgrow the rear-facing limits, children must ride in a forward-facing car seat until at least 5 years old or 40 pounds.
- Children must use a booster seat until they are 6 years old.
- Once children are old enough (age 6 and up), they must use a properly fastened seat belt until age 15.
Child safety seats reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by 71% for infants, and by 54% for toddlers ages one to four years.
Want a closer look at age, height, and weight requirements plus common car seat mistakes parents should avoid? Check out this guide from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Did you know? If you feel uncertain about properly installing your car seat, contact your local fire station. Many fire stations have certified technicians who install or check your installation for free. The process takes no more than 15 minutes.
As a personal injury attorney with 30 years of experience behind me, you can only imagine all the things I’ve seen and stories I’ve heard regarding car crashes. I can get on my soap box about uninsured motorist coverage, not driving distracted, and please please, wear your seatbelt.
But if there’s one thing we can agree on, it’s this: we all want our children to be safe.
If you have questions or have been involved in a car crash, contact Alabama Personal Injury Lawyers today. We’re here to help.
– Attorney Tracy W. Cary