Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers | June 11, 2025 | Car Accident
According to the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), seat belt use has declined despite its effectiveness in preventing serious injuries and fatalities in car accidents.
Not wearing a seat belt or following Maryland car seat laws for child passengers can lead to severe injuries and tragedies. Here is what you need to know about Maryland’s laws regarding how children can ride safely in a vehicle.
When Does a Child Need to Ride in a Car Seat in Maryland?
According to the MVA Highway Safety Office, car seats can lower the risk of fatal injury in a motor vehicle crash by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers when used correctly.
Maryland car seat laws mirror those of many other states. In Maryland, children must be secured in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least two years old.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that children ride rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer. Maryland car seat laws say that switching to a forward-facing seat is fine at this point.
When Can a Child in Maryland Transition into a Booster Seat?
Once a child reaches the height or weight limits of their car seat, they are subject to booster seat requirements in Maryland. The Maryland booster seat age requirement requires children 7 years old or younger to ride in an appropriate child restraint.
There is an exception to the booster seat age in Maryland that allows children to transition out of a booster seat before they are 8 years old if they are 4’9” or taller.
Considerations Regarding Older Children and Cars in Maryland
Once a child reaches 8 years old, there are a few other important considerations you should be aware of:
- Seat belts: In Maryland, children 8 to 16 must be secured with seat belts, which should fit snugly across the chest and hips.
- Front seat: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that children not ride in the front seat if they are younger than 13, primarily because airbags can injure smaller passengers.
While Maryland generally regulates where and how children should ride in a car based on age, sometimes expert or manufacturer recommendations may be based on height and weight rather than age.
How Violating Car Seat or Booster Seat Laws in Maryland Can Negatively Affect Your Car Accident Claim
Maryland uses a contributory negligence rule for personal injury claims. Under this system, if the personal injury victim is found to have contributed at all to their own injuries, they can be barred from recovering any compensation, even if their proportionate negligence was minimal.
Insurance companies may try to use this rule to deny your insurance claim. They could argue that your child was injured because they were not properly restrained. You will need a Prince George’s County car accident lawyer on your side who can protect your rights and demand that your child be treated throughout the legal process.
Contact the Car Accident Lawyers at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers in Prince George’s County for Help with Your Insurance Claim Today
If your child was involved in a car accident, you should seek immediate medical attention for them and likely replace the car seat as it will no longer be safe to use.
The Prince George’s County car accident lawyers at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers can help you seek justice and accountability from the parties responsible for your child’s injuries. We can also help shield you from unfounded allegations from insurance companies that you were responsible for your child’s injuries.
For more information, please contact Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a confidential consultation with a car accident lawyer. Our team is available to assist clients in Lanham, Frederick, Rockville, Waldorf, Maryland.
We proudly serve Charles County, Prince George County its surrounding areas. Visit our law offices at:
Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers Waldorf
8 Post Office Rd Waldorf, MD 20602
(301) 932-9997
Available 24/7
Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers Lanham
4600 Forbes Blvd Ste #200 Lanham, MD 20706
(301) 936-0011
Available 24/7