July 22, 2017

Car Seat Law Updated

A new law signed in May replaces a previous car seat law regarding young children in rear-facing car seats. With the new law, young children must be rear-facing in their car seat until they turn two-years-old, matching the American Academy of Pediatrics’ current guidelines.

A previous law only required children to rear face until age one or when they weighed at least 20 pounds. The new measure, House bill 3404, makes it illegal to turn a child under two around. The new measure was signed into law May 25.

Recent studies have shown that rear-facing a young child can help to more evenly distribute the force of a crash on a child’s head and neck and helps keep their heads and necks even with their spine because the force from a crash pushes a child against the seat instead of propelling them forward.

Car crashes are the leading cause of death in children. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, restraining children in rear seats reduces fatal injuries by nearly 75 percent for children up to 3 and nearly half for those aged 4 to 8.

In Oregon, those seven or younger or 40 pounds or less must be in a child restraint. Any child 4 foot 9 inches or less must be in a booster seat.

To sit with an adult seat belt, a child must be at least between 8 years old and 15 years old and taller than 4-foot-9 inches.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries in any type of motor vehicle crash, it is crucial to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. We can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

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