There are changes in effect for the New Hampshire child restraint law.  The current law requires that a child must be in a car seat until the child reaches the age of 6 or is 55 inches tall.  Starting January 1, 2014, children will be required to use a car seat until the age of 7 or until the child reaches 57 inches in height.  This is a minimum guideline. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends not switching your child to a seat belt until the child is able to sit with his/her back against the seat and without slouching, and able to keep his/her knees naturally bent over the edge of the vehicle seat with her/his feet flat on the floor.  Further, seat belt readiness requires that the lap belt must lie snugly across the thighs and not the stomach and the shoulder belt must lie snugly across the shoulder and chest.

These guidelines are to help keep your child safe should you get into an accident.  Remember that a child seat may no longer be safe after it has been in accident even if it protected your child at the time.  If you have been injured in an accident and require further assistance, our lawyers at Welts, White and Fontaine, P.C. may be able to help you.

For more information, contact Attorney Michael J. Fontaine.

Author: Davi M. Peters, Esq.