Was your child injured in a car accident in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina? Are you wondering whether South Carolina’s car seat laws come into play? Call (843) 390-9111 to speak with a North Myrtle Beach car accident lawyer at Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers. We offer free consultations.
Read on to learn more about South Carolina laws and how our legal team can help if your child does get injured. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to learn more. We work on a contingency fee basis in all car accident cases.
Why Choose Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers to Help with Your Car Accident?
Did your child suffer an injury in a car accident in North Myrtle Beach, SC? Your family may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills and other damages. You deserve representation from an experienced North Myrtle Beach car accident attorney.
Here’s what sets Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers apart:
- 58 years of combined experience handling car accident cases
- Extensive knowledge of South Carolina law, including car seat laws
- Tens of millions recovered for injured clients
- Personalized case strategies that are sensitive to issues involving child injuries
- Contingency fees offered in all personal injury cases.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a North Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyer to learn more about your rights after a car accident. We’re standing by to advocate for your family.
Overview of South Carolina Car Seat Requirements
Car seat laws are designed to keep children safe throughout all stages of development. South Carolina’s car seat requirements are set out in South Carolina Code § 56-5-6410.
The law makes distinctions based on the child’s age, size (height/weight), and appropriate restraint system:
- Infants and children under 2 years old — must ride in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system positioned in a rear seat of the vehicle. The child should stay in this system until they outgrow the seat’s height or weight limits under the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Children aged 2 (or under 2 who have outgrown a rear‑facing seat) — must ride in a forward-facing child safety seat with a harness located in the rear seat.
- Children aged 4 and up (who have outgrown forward-facing seats) — must use a belt‑positioning booster seat with both lap and shoulder belts, while riding in the rear seat. Adults cannot rely on just a lap belt with a booster.
- Children age 8 or children at least 57 inches tall — may transition to using a standard adult seat belt (lap and shoulder) if the belt fits properly lap belt across thighs/hips (not the abdomen), shoulder belt across chest (not the neck), and the child is in a proper seating posture (back straight, knees bent over seat edge, no slouching).
The rear seat is the recommended (and legally required) spot for children under 8 or those not yet properly fitting a seat belt.
South Carolina Front Seat Laws
Under South Carolina law, a child may ride in the front seat once they are at least 8 years old and properly secured in an adult seat belt or booster seat, depending on their height and weight. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all children remain in the rear seat until at least age 12, as it is significantly safer in the event of a collision.
What if All Rear Seats Are Occupied?
If all rear seats are already occupied by other children under the age of 8, one additional child under 8 may ride in the front seat. However, they must be properly secured in the appropriate child restraint system. South Carolina law encourages an older child or adult to sit in the front seat so that the younger child can remain in the rear.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Car Accident Involving a Child?
If your child is injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your economic and non-economic damages.
These include:
- Medical costs
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Parental lost wages
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Future lost earning capacity
- Wrongful death damages
At Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers, we help families pursue the full compensation they deserve to support their child’s recovery and future.
Contact Our North Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation
If your child was injured in a car accident, you have rights. An experienced North Myrtle Beach car accident attorney can help you recover compensation for your child’s medical bills and other damages.
Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers has decades of experience helping families recover compensation after car accidents and other personal injuries. We’ve recovered tens of millions to date.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your rights after a crash. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you only pay attorney fees if we win.