Child Car Seats and Taxi Cabs
Do children have to be in car seats when taking a cab or taxi in California? Yes.
If you are in any vehicle, including taxis, cabs, or Uber cars, your child has to be in a car seat. As the parent, you can’t waive the child’s right to be in a car seat for the convenience of taking a cab. The law is the law, and there is very little room for negotiation when it comes to child safety. If your child was injured while in a taxi, cab, or rideshare vehicle, you must contact a personal injury attorney.
The question of fault will become a serious debate between the drivers, but as a parent you could also face criminal charges for negligence. Regardless of who is driver the vehicle, it’s your job as the guardian to ensure the child is kept from avoidable harm.
As for the driver, he or she could face serious criminal charges for driving with a child who was not properly secured. Ultimately, the driver is responsible for the passengers. So if the driver is at fault for the accident, he or she could face a life-altering legal battle. Even if the driver is not at fault for the accident, he or she can be held at fault for endangering the life of child, as can you as the parent.
In other states, children are allowed to ride in taxis and cabs without a child seat; this is not the case in California. Child protection laws are strictly enforced. If you’ve been involved in an accident that includes a child, you will probably need a personal injury attorney for any financial losses and a criminal attorney for any criminal charges.
