Nebraska Car Seat Laws

Child passenger safety is paramount in a motor vehicle. Children are more susceptible than adults to serious and deadly injuries in automobile accidents. To offer children the best possible protection from injuries in a motor vehicle accident, Nebraska requires parents and drivers to use the correct types of car seats for young children. Obeying Nebraska’s car seat laws is critical for your child’s safety.

These laws specify the types of car seats required based on a child’s age, weight, and height, and they play a crucial role in minimizing injuries during collisions. Staying informed about these regulations is essential for all parents and caregivers. Here, we will provide a comprehensive overview of Nebraska’s car seat laws, discuss the importance of compliance, and offer tips for choosing and installing the right car seat for the age of your child.

What Are Nebraska’s Child Safety Seat Requirements?

By law in Nebraska, all children in a moving vehicle must be restrained with the correct child safety seat or system at all times. Although Nebraska is a secondary enforcement state, meaning that a police officer must have another reason besides a broken seat belt law to make a stop, you could still get into legal trouble for failing to restrain a child passenger properly. 

Breaking the law can also put your child in danger. The following are Nebraska’s car seat laws as of 2022:

• Infants under the age of two must be seated in rear-facing car seats. A rear-facing seat with a five-point harness provides the best support for a baby’s head, neck, and spinal cord.
• An infant approaching the age of two who has exceeded the height or weight requirement of a rear-facing seat can transition to a front-facing car seat early. Otherwise, the transition should take place after the child turns two. 
• When a child reaches 4’9” in height, they can transition from a front-facing car seat to a booster seat. A booster seat lifts a small child to the correct height to use a seat belt.
• Children under the age of eight must be seated in the rear of a vehicle, not the front seat or cargo area, as long as there is a back seat equipped with a seat belt and is not already occupied by other children under eight years of age.
• Once a child is tall enough for a standard seat belt to fit properly over the chest and lap, the child can discontinue the use of a booster seat. 
• All motor vehicle passengers, regardless of age, should wear seat belts when the vehicle is in motion.

Parents, guardians, motor vehicle operators, and daycare providers in Nebraska must all obey these child safety seat laws when traveling, even for short distances. There are exceptions, however, for a taxi, Uber, and Lyft drivers, as well as for school buses. If you are unsure of how to correctly install a car seat in your vehicle, there are free inspection stations available throughout Nebraska.

What Are the Penalties for Not Using a Car Seat in Nebraska?

Breaking Nebraska’s car seat laws by having an unsecured child in your vehicle or using the incorrect safety seat can result in a fine of $25 and one point being added to your driving record. In Nebraska, if you accumulate 12 points in a two-year period, you will have your driver’s license revoked. 

If you get into a car accident while your child is unlawfully unrestrained, you could also face legal trouble, such as criminal charges for reckless endangerment. Your financial recovery for your child’s injuries will also be reduced if you contributed to these injuries by failing to use an appropriate child restraint or a car seat.

Safety Tips for Car Seats

Following Nebraska’s car seat laws can keep your child as safe as possible while traveling in a motor vehicle. For optimal safety, use the following tips for child safety booster seats:

• Do not use an old, outdated, or used car seat. Car seats lose their integrity over time. The plastic can become brittle from sitting in the sun, or a car accident could damage the seat. If you cannot afford to purchase a new car seat, financial assistance is available.
• Thoroughly read the owner’s manual and manufacturer’s instructions for installing, using, and replacing a child safety seat. Do not put your child in a seat that is not suited for their height or weight.
• Keep your child in a rear-facing seat as long as their weight and height allow. Transitioning a child to a forward-facing car seat too soon can put him or her in danger.

If you get into a car accident in Omaha with your child in the vehicle, contact an Omaha car accident attorney from The Knowles Law Firm for a free consultation about your options for financial recovery.

Tips for Proper Installation and Use of Car Seats

If you have a child who is required to wear a car seat, we have a few recommendations that can make the installation and use of safety seats and booster seats safer and easier. We encourage you to consider the following:

• Read car seat manufacturer information to ensure the child safety seats are appropriate for the child’s weight, height, age, and developmental stage
• Use manufacturer manuals and vehicle manuals in tandem to ensure the correct installation
• Many restraint manufacturers provide video instructions on their websites for increased ease of proper and safe installation
• Have your seat checked by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to ensure the correct installation
• You can also work with certified technicians for assistance in installing and using your child’s safety seat
• Additional resources may be helpful, such as the Nebraska Department of Transportation website, so that you can check for information on child restraint laws
• Use your child’s safety seat even for short drives

Installing and using your child’s seat safely is essential for improving longevity, mitigating the risk of serious injury in an accident, and making families more comfortable on long- and short-distance trips.

If you have any questions about using seat belts properly or how car seat laws might impact your personal injury claim, we encourage you to reach out to Knowles Law Firm. We can help you understand the overall impact of your claim, assist you in receiving fair compensation, and reduce stress on your behalf.

Protect Your Children With the Right Car Seat: Get Additional Information and Support From Knowles Law Firm

Understanding Nebraska’s car seat laws and ensuring compliance is essential for your child’s safety and legal protection. At Knowles Law Firm, we have 55 years of experience helping clients navigate personal injury claims, including those involving car seat compliance.

Our commitment to swift, fair resolutions means we work diligently to move your case forward, whether through settlement or trial, if necessary. Contact us at (402) 431-9000 or through our contact form to discuss how we can assist you in ensuring your child’s safety and handling any legal concerns.