What You Need to Know About Virginia Car Seat Laws
Was your child injured in a crash someone else caused? You could be entitled to compensation for your child’s injuries and other costs associated with their injury and the crash. At the Kendall Law Firm, we are compassionate lawyers who fight for the money and justice injured people deserve.
When you call our Charlottesville car accident lawyers, we can discuss Virginia car seat laws and whether they will affect your claim. We can also advise you on all your legal options and help you decide on your next steps.
Don’t try to handle your car accident claim on your own. Call our office or contact us online today for your free, no-obligation consultation.
How Kendall Law Firm Helps Families After Child Injury Car Accidents in Virginia
When your child was injured in a car accident caused by someone else, you need a law firm you can trust to handle your case for you. You need the Kendall Law Firm. We have over 30 years of experience helping injured people obtain the compensation they deserve, and we represent only injured people. We never represent insurance companies or big corporations.
Our clients are important to us, and their needs come first. We’ll keep you informed about the progress of your case, and we’ll answer your questions promptly. One of our clients wrote:
“I felt very listened to and considered with every decision! Responses to questions were always timely and understandable!” – Leslie C.
We can help you with your child injury car accident case in the following ways:
- Investigating the accident
- Gathering evidence
- Identifying the liable party
- Handling all communication with the at-fault party’s insurance company
- Sending a demand letter to the insurer
- Negotiating for a full and fair settlement
- Taking your case to trial if no settlement is possible
An Overview of Virginia Car Seat Laws and Child Passenger Safety Requirements
When it comes to child passenger safety, Virginia law is thorough. The statute outlines the standards for the child safety seat that you must use, as well as the ages at which you can use different restraint systems.
Safety seats are either front- or rear-facing, and their use depends on the child’s age and weight. You can use booster seats after the child turns 8 until the vehicle’s seatbelts fit them properly. All child seats must be properly anchored in the vehicle, and you should use five-point safety harnesses for as long as possible.
Children cannot ride unrestrained in a vehicle, nor can they ride unrestrained in any vehicle’s rear cargo area. Child passenger safety requirements apply to the vehicles of anyone who transports a child in any vehicle made after January 1, 1968. Uber and Lyft vehicles are not exempt, but public transportation, taxis, regulation school buses, executive sedans, limos, and farm vehicles are.
Injuries and Risks Linked to Improper or Defective Child Car Seats
Just having a car seat doesn’t prevent a child’s injuries. Defective car seats can fail, causing injuries like head trauma, spinal injury, and broken bones. Installation errors can leave a seat too loose in the vehicle, which can allow the child to be thrown about the vehicle in a crash. If children are moved prematurely to less protective seats, ill-fitting lap and shoulder belts can leave them vulnerable to injury if they are not secured correctly.
Children who are unsecured in a collision can suffer the same types of injuries as adults, such as the following:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury/paralysis
- Fractures
- Internal injuries to the chest and heart
- Lacerations
- Contusions
Frequently Asked Questions
We’re familiar with Virginia child restraint laws, and we’ve answered some questions you have about them here.
What are the current Virginia car seat laws by age and weight?
Child car seat requirements by age in Virginia are as follows: Until the age of two or until they reach the minimum weight stated by the manufacturer for front-facing seats, children must ride in rear-facing child safety seats in the back seat of the vehicle. Children must thereafter ride in front-facing child safety seats until they are 8 years old.
Do Virginia car seat laws apply to rideshares and taxis?
Car seat laws in Virginia apply to rideshares, but not to taxis.
Does insurance cover the cost to replace a car seat after an accident?
Usually. Your insurance will usually cover replacement car seats, but check your policy to verify. Most policies cover car seat replacement under collision coverage.
What should parents do if a child is injured despite using a car seat?
Contact a car accident lawyer right after the accident. They can investigate the accident to determine whether the car seat was defective and contributed to it. Even if that’s not the case, a lawyer can pursue compensation for your child’s medical expenses and other accident-related costs from the party that caused the crash.
Why Car Seats Should Be Replaced After a Car Accident
Even after a minor collision, you should replace your child’s car seat. The forces in the accident can weaken the seat’s structure, even if you can’t see the damage. That compromises the car seat’s ability to protect your child in a future crash.
When Does Insurance Cover the Cost to Replace a Child Safety Seat?
Usually, the insurer will cover the cost of a replacement child car seat or booster seat if they accept your car accident claim. You may have to cut the straps on the car seat and submit pictures so the insurer knows you can’t reuse the car seat.
Contact a Charlottesville Car Accident Child Injury Lawyer
If your child was injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you need a Charlottesville car accident lawyer. The attorneys of Kendall Law Firm are prepared to take your case. Don’t worry if you think you can’t afford a lawyer. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you’ll pay nothing up front; instead, we’ll take our fee as an agreed-upon percentage of your settlement or court award. This means our lawyers are as invested in the outcome of your case as you are.
Call our office for your free, fully confidential consultation, and let’s talk about how we can help you get accountability for your child’s injuries.