What Are South Carolina’s Car Seat Laws?

Families around the country trust car seats to keep their young children safe when driving. Each state has laws regarding the safe use of these seats. What are South Carolina’s car seat laws?

South Carolina requires parents or guardians to follow different rules for rear-facing and forward-facing car seats. The state also has laws for the safe use of booster seats. Typically, you must continue using safety devices until your child reaches at least eight years old. 

You can learn more about these rules with a Summerville car accident lawyer from our team. The Thumbs Up Guys can provide specific answers when you call or complete our online contact form.

Who Has to Use Car Seats in South Carolina?

Anyone transporting a child under eight or under 57 inches tall must use the appropriate safety device under South Carolina’s Child Passenger Safety (CPS) laws. These laws apply to parents, grandparents, guardians, and any other motorists with children in the car.

You must use an appropriate car seat while operating a car, truck, van, or other motor vehicle. Failure to use a car seat when appropriate can result in legal penalties. It also puts children at a higher risk of sustaining an injury in an accident. 

What Kind of Car Seats Do You Have to Use in South Carolina?

South Carolina’s car seat laws require motorists to use:

Rear-Facing Car Seats

In many cases, infants under two years old must use a rear-facing car seat. This kind of seat must be used until the infant exceeds the car seat’s weight or height limits. Each manufacturer sets different limits for its products. 

Motorists must install the seats according to manufacturer guidelines to ensure infant safety. 

Typically, motorists should keep rear-facing car seats in the backseat of a vehicle. Using these seats in the front passenger seat can result in a fatality. 

Front-Facing Car Seats

Children move up to using front-facing car seats after they outgrow rear-facing seats based on height or weight or after reaching two years of age. They continue using forward-facing seats until they exceed the manufacturer’s height or weight limits. 

Booster Seats

After a child outgrows the manufacturer’s height or weight limits on a forward-facing car seat, they can move into a booster seat. Motorists must use these booster seats in the rear seat of their vehicles. 

Children must use booster seats until they reach at least 57 inches in height or reach eight years of age. They must use the shoulder and lap belt of the car in conjunction with the booster seat for safety purposes. 

Once a child reaches the age of eight or 57 inches in height, they can use an adult seat belt while driving in a car. 

Are There Penalties for Car Seat Laws in South Carolina?

The South Carolina Code of Laws makes it clear that motorists may face fines if they do not use an appropriate car seat for children in their vehicle. These seats increase the safety of children in cars and are incredibly important. 

What are South Carolina’s car seat laws? The state requires motorists to use different seats based on the age and size of a child, facing fines if they fail to follow these rules. You can contact a lawyer if you have more questions 

Injuries Can Still Occur with Proper Car Seat Usage

A child may sustain injuries in a car accident even after individuals follow all of South Carolina’s car seat laws. If your child got hurt in a collision, you may hold the person responsible for the collision accountable and seek compensation to cover:

• Current and future medical expenses
• The time you took off work to care for your child
• Your child’s pain and emotional suffering

In this situation, you may also receive funds to cover the costs of repairing your vehicle. A personal injury law firm can help you file this kind of claim, handling all legal matters so you can focus on caring for your child. 

Your attorney can also explain what to do after a car accident. 

Does South Carolina Have Other Car Safety Laws?

South Carolina has several other laws related to motorist safety. For example, the state requires everyone driving a motor vehicle to wear a seat belt. Exceptions occur for some vehicles, such as buses, which do not have seat belts. 

Additionally, South Carolina has passed laws related to drivers’ cellphone usage. Currently, drivers cannot create, send, or read text messages while driving. Articles on texting and driving explain the dangers of this behavior. 

Speak to Us About South Carolina’s Car Seat Laws

What are South Carolina’s car seat laws? The state requires motorists to use these seats until children reach the age of eight or 57 inches in height. Using a car seat can minimize the injuries a child faces in a collision. 

If you and your children sustained injuries in a crash, you can reach out to the Thumbs Up Guys for help. You can call or complete our online contact form to learn more.