The back seat is safer in a car accident. A vehicle occupant is more likely to hit the dashboard or get ejected through the windshield when sitting in the front seat. More importantly, children in the front seat can suffer airbag injuries when the airbag bursts from its housing and strikes them.
Despite these facts, Nevada has no law that dictates when a child must sit in the rear seat. Thus, a child of any age can sit in the front seat as long as the driver complies with child car seat laws. Instead of looking at the state’s traffic laws, you need to look at best practices recommended by traffic experts to determine when your child can ride in the front seat.
Nevada Traffic Laws
Nevada has two laws that address children in cars. The first is its car seat law. This law does not state where children must ride. But it does limit when drivers can put a rear-facing car seat in the front seat.
Under this law, children under two years must ride in a rear-facing car seat. Manufacturers and the state recommend putting rear-facing car seats in the back because of the risk posed by inflating airbags.
Airbags inflate in less than one-twentieth of a second. When the force of the airbag hits a rear-facing car seat, it can flip over. In the process, the infant or toddler can get ejected from the seat. You avoid this risk by placing the rear-facing car seat in the back.
However, the state does not always prohibit rear-facing car seats in the front seat.
You can place your child’s rear-facing car seat in the front seat if both of the following are true:
- The seat is on the passenger side of the front seat
- The airbag on the passenger side is deactivated
You must also show that at least one of the following three conditions applies:
- The child has special needs that require them to ride in the front seat; or
- Other children under two years occupy the rear seats; or
- The vehicle does not have a rear seat
The other provision that addresses children in cars is Nevada’s seat belt law. Like the car seat law, this statute does not state which seats children must use. Instead, it merely says that everyone six years or older or four feet nine inches or taller must wear a seat belt regardless of where they sit. Thus, your child can ride in the front seat as long as they wear a seat belt.
When Should Children Ride in the Front Seat?
Since children of any age can legally ride in the front seat, the question arises, “When should children ride in the front seat?” Although its laws do not require it, Nevada recommends that children under 12 should ride in the back. Under this recommendation, a child can move into the front seat when they turn 12.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a more restrictive recommendation. That agency recommends that your child ride in the back until they turn 13.
The purpose of these recommendations is to minimize the risk of child injuries. Since children do not weigh as much as adults, they can get thrown forward more easily in a collision. By waiting until they are heavier and taller, their weight and the pressure of the seat belt on their shoulder will hold them in place.
Options If Your Child Gets Injured in a Crash
You should try to keep your children in the back seat as long as possible to reduce the risk of injury. However, your child can get injured in a crash regardless of where they sit. If your child suffers an injury in a collision, contact a lawyer to learn about your options for seeking compensation.
Contact Our Las Vegas Personal Injury Law Firm For Help Today
If you’ve been injured in Las Vegas, NV, and need legal help contact our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case evaluation today.
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