Know about Florida Car Seat Belt Law
The benefits of seat belt use are widely recognized, and seat belts are one of the most important vehicle safety features ever invented. They cannot be replaced by airbags, crash avoidance technology, or any other vehicle safety feature. Knowing and understanding important seat belt usage rules and their related safety laws are important aspects of safe and responsible driving.
Seat belt use is required in Florida, and there are special rules for using child restraint devices and booster seats for children.
If you were hurt in a car accident in South Florida caused by another party’s negligence, the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato may be able to help you. For a free case review with a member of our team, call us today at (954) 633-8270 and contact our Florida car accident attorney.
FloridaCar Seat Belt Laws
Your seat belt can help prevent you from being ejected from the vehicle you are riding in the event of an accident or striking other passengers, the steering wheel, or the windshield of your vehicle. You should wear your seat belt around your hips, and you must wear your shoulder belt across your chest. Always remember that an airbag is no substitute for a seat belt.
Some people wonder: does Florida have a seat belt law? The answer is an unequivocal yes. Seat belts became required by law in Florida on July 1, 1986.
As per Florida Statutes § 316.614, it is against the law to not wear your seat belt in Florida. The law requires all drivers, front-seat passengers, and passengers under the age of 18 to use their seat belts. Not doing so can lead to fines on a first offense and additional penalties for repeat offenses.
Child Seat Belt Laws in Florida
Here are details regarding the use of seat belts and child seats in Florida. The new Florida booster seat law of 2020 is also discussed here based on information provided by Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV):
- The law requires that seat belts be used by drivers and front-seat passengers. All children in a vehicle under the age of 18 should have age-appropriate seats and/or restraints.
- Children are required to sit in rear seats until the age of 12.
- Children who are 5 years old or younger must be properly seated in a child restraint device that is both crash-tested and federally approved.
- Children between the ages of 0 and 3 must be secured in a separate restraint device attached to the vehicle.
- Children between the ages of 4 and 5 must also be in a separate restraint device or an integrated child seat. A booster seat can also be used.
The Florida Department of Transportation follows Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 to determine if a given child restraint is suitable for use by children in vehicles. There are no specific rear-facing car seat laws in Florida. However, Florida offers Child Passenger Safety Seat Fitting Stations at various facilities throughout the state to assist you with installing your child safety seat correctly.
Seat Belt Use in Fatal Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2017, 47% of all fatal car accident victims were not wearing a seat belt. They estimate that seat belts nearly saved 15,000 lives that year.
Fatal car accidents can be caused by driver impairment, recklessness, distraction, speeding, and other violations of traffic law. If your loved one lost their lives in a car accident caused by another party’s negligence, the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato may be able to help you pursue compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit. Call us today at (954) 633-8270 to learn more in a free case review with a wrongful death lawyer in Florida or a member of our team.
Call the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato Today
Unfortunately, even drivers who use their seat belts and obey the rules of the road can get hurt in a car accident caused by another party’s negligence. If you were injured in such an accident, the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato may be able to help you. We handle personal injury insurance claims and lawsuits on behalf of our clients.
As a full-service law firm, the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can manage all communications, deadlines, and paperwork in your case when we represent you. The potentially recoverable damages in a car accident case may include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
For a free case review with a member of our car accident team, call the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato today at (954) 633-8270. Statutes of limitations apply to personal injury cases involving vehicle accidents, so please contact us as soon as possible.
If you qualify, we may be able to provide you with representation on a contingency-fee-basis. In this arrangement, we do not collect attorney fees unless and until you win your case and recover compensation via a settlement offer or court award.
