Moving to the front seat is a big deal for a child, and it makes them feel “all grown up.” It is a rite of passage that most children look forward to for quite some time. However, we at Santana & Blanchard – Personal Injury Law Firm recommend that children generally remain in the back seat as long as possible because it is safer.
If your child is asking about moving up to the front seat, keep reading below to learn when a child can sit in the front seat in Louisiana.
Louisiana’s Rules for Where Children Can Sit in Vehicles
Louisiana law is clear on this question. Children should remain in the back seat until they reach age 13. Although this law is clear, some exceptions to the rule do exist.
Those exceptions include:
- When the vehicle does not have a rear seat, such as a single-cab pickup truck or sports car
- When the vehicle is an ambulance or other emergency vehicle
- When there are more children in the vehicle than the back seat can accommodate
- Situations where a life-threatening emergency endangers the child or driver
- When the child has valid medical reasons for not using the proper restraint
Children under 13 should remain in the back seat because it is typically safer in a crash. Additionally, airbag deployment during a car accident can seriously injure a child when they are sitting in the front seat of a vehicle.
Additional Child Restraint Rules
In addition to sitting in the back seat, there are some other general rules that parents and caregivers should know:
- Children under 2 years old should be restrained in a rear-facing child restraint system that meets all federal requirements.
- Children 2 and over who exceed the rear-facing weight and height requirements should be restrained in a forward-facing restraint system with an internal harness.
- A child who is at least 4 and exceeds the height and weight requirements of the forward-facing restraint system should be secured in a proper booster seat.
- A child who is at least 9 years old or who has outgrown the height and weight limits of the booster seat should be properly restrained with the vehicle’s safety belt.
These rules provide specific requirements to help parents decide where their child should sit and which restraint system to use.
What Is the Reasoning Behind Louisiana’s Car Seat Rules?
The child seat rules in Louisiana are not the result of random decisions by lawmakers—they generally align with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. These recommendations are supported by years of crash research and analysis that continues to show that children riding in the front seat are at risk of serious injury from airbag deployments.
Additionally, adult seat belts do not fit children properly, and putting them in the vehicle’s seat belt too early could result in:
- Head and neck injuries
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Chest trauma
This is why you should always keep your child in the proper restraint system in the back seat until they reach age 13.
Keeping Your Child Safe in the Back Seat
It can be difficult to keep your child in the back seat until they reach 13, especially if their friends start moving to the front seat. However, the rules are clear and designed to help prevent serious injuries or even death. Following these rules can help prevent catastrophic outcomes in the event of an accident.
For more information, please call us at (504) 323-6000 or contact the experienced Metairie Personal Injury Attorneys at Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers today. We offer an initial free consultation.
We proudly serve Louisiana and its surrounding areas, including Metairie, Gretna and Kenner.
Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers
3500 N Hullen St Suite 17K
Metairie, LA 70002
(504) 323-6000
Our law firm is located near you. Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 30.01245719602678, -90.15811234232851
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