Child Car Seat Laws in Louisiana

Understanding child car seat laws in Louisiana is crucial for ensuring the safety of your children while driving. 

Car accidents are among the most traumatic events a family can experience, especially when young children are involved. The safety of your child is paramount, and Louisiana state law reflects this by enforcing comprehensive child safety seat regulations designed to protect your little ones.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), using a child safety seat can reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants under one year old and by 54% for toddlers aged one to four years. 

What type of car seat does your child need? It ultimately depends on their height, weight, and age. There are a multitude of car seat types, all of which have their uses and safety features. Watch our child passenger safety video for more information.

Louisiana Car Seat Regulations

Louisiana state law mandates that children must be secured in appropriate car seats when riding in a vehicle. The following are the current legal requirements:

• Children under 2 years old: Must be in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the manufacturer’s height or weight limits for that seat.
  
  
• Children aged 2 to 4 years: Must be in a forward-facing car seat with an internal harness until they outgrow it according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
  
  
• Children aged 4 to 9 years: Must use a belt-positioning booster seat once they have outgrown the forward-facing seat, secured with a vehicle lap-shoulder belt.
  
  
• Children aged 9 and older: Must use a standard vehicle safety belt that fits correctly, transitioning out of booster seats when they exceed the height and weight limits.
  
  
• Children under 13 years old: Must sit in the back seat of the vehicle for optimal safety.
  
  
• All children under 18 years old: Must wear a seat belt or appropriate restraint as described above, regardless of seating position.

It’s important to note that if a child is still within the limits of a more protective car seat, they must continue using it until they outgrow the seat, as per Louisiana car seat safety guidelines.

Types of Car Seats

There are three main types of car seats covered under Louisiana law:

1. Rear-Facing Car Seats: Designed for infants and small children, rear-facing seats are significantly safer and reduce the risk of severe head and neck injuries in an accident. The NHTSA recommends keeping children rear-facing as long as possible​.
   
   
2. Forward-Facing Car Seats: For children who have outgrown their rear-facing seats. These seats come with an internal harness and should be used until the child outgrows them based on the manufacturer’s height and weight limits.
   
   
3. Booster Seats: For children who have outgrown their forward-facing car seats but are not yet large enough to use a seat belt alone. Booster seats ensure that the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly over the child’s shoulder and lap

Parents should carefully follow these Louisiana child car seat law requirements to ensure their children are safely secured until they fully outgrow the seat according to the seat’s height and weight guidelines.

Car Seat Usage and Misuse

Recent reports from the NHTSA reveal that a staggering 42% of children who were tragically killed in car crashes were not restrained at all. 

However, using a car seat isn’t just about buckling up—how you install and use the seat matters just as much. Shockingly, nearly 49% of child safety seats are either improperly installed or used incorrectly, severely diminishing their ability to protect your child in the event of an accident.

So, what are the most common mistakes? 

1. For rear-facing seats, the angle is often set incorrectly, which can leave your child vulnerable. 
   
   
2. For forward-facing and booster seats, loose installation is a frequent issue, compromising the safety features that are designed to keep your child secure. 

These errors, though common, can be easily avoided with careful attention to installation guidelines and regular checks.

Proper usage of child safety seats is more than just following the law; it’s about ensuring the best possible protection for your child every time they’re in the car.

How to Keep Your Child Safe in a Car Accident

We know that keeping your child safe on every drive is your highest priority. While you might not be able to prevent every car accident, here are some steps to help your family stay safe if you are involved in one.

• Register Your Car Seat: Complete the registration card so you can be notified of any recalls or safety notices.
  
  
• Avoid Using Second-Hand Car Seats: You may not know the seat’s history or if it has been subject to a recall.
  
  
• Don’t Reuse Car Seats After a Crash: Even if they appear undamaged, their integrity might be compromised.
  
  
• Keep Children in the Back Seat: The front seat airbag can cause severe injuries to children under 13.
  
  
• Proper Installation: Ensure your car seat is installed correctly. Many local fire departments offer free car seat inspections.
  
  
• Follow Manufacturer Guidelines: Always check that your child fits within the car seat’s height and weight limits before upgrading to the next seat type.

What to Do If Your Child Was Injured in a Car Seat Accident

If your child has been injured in a car accident while in their car seat, the attorneys at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys can help. Despite taking every precaution, car wreck injuries can still happen, and you deserve compensation for your child’s medical expenses, ongoing care, and other related costs.

For assistance, contact our child injury lawyers at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys today. We offer free consultation at 888.501.7888, where a compassionate Louisiana personal injury lawyer will listen to your story and advise you on the next steps.

We understand how much you love your family, and we’re here to help you secure the funds needed for your child’s recovery. With our G Guarantee, you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case.

Areas in Louisiana We Serve