Should a car seat that was in a vehicle when it was involved in a minor accident be replaced? It was a very minor accident, no injuries, miniscule damage ... Can anyone give me definitive information?
2007-07-10 04:46:33 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
Soccer Mom: chill. I'm only asking a question. Just got off the phone with the insurance people, they said I could go either way.
2007-07-10 04:53:17 · update #1
The information you should use: call the manufacturer of your seat. Was the child in the seat at the time? If he was, than usually you have to replace it even if the accident was minor. Don't worry, its not excessive as that poster put, and you're right in thinking your child's safety would be worth getting another seat - also, depending upon your insurance (as you may already know) they will often replace the seats at no charge to you, its part of what comprehensive coverage covers, often. If they're going to replace them for free anyways, I'd get them. If not, the NHTSA says:
"NHTSA recommends that child safety seats be replaced following a moderate or severe crash in order to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers.
NHTSA recommends that child safety seats do not automatically need to be replaced following a minor crash.
Minor crashes are those that meet ALL of the following criteria:
The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;
The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged;
There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;
The air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND
There is no visible damage to the safety seat
Clarifying the need for child seat replacement will reduce the number of children unnecessarily riding without a child safety seat while a replacement seat is being acquired, and the number of children who will have to ride without a child seat if a seat were discarded and not replaced. The clarification will also reduce the financial burden of unnecessary replacement. "
If the insurance wasn't going to replace them, I would still attempt to if it I could make it work. But then, I don't know how 'minor' you're talking about, either.
2007-07-10 06:49:16 · answer #1 · answered by littleangelfire81 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You Absolutely need to get rid of the seat. The only car manufacturer that says to call before replacing your car seat is Britax. If you have a BRitax seat, then contact them. If you do not, then you need to get rid of it. Even though you cannot visibly see any damage, the force of the accident can affect the internal portion of the car seat. When it comes down to this, whatever the car seat manufacturer says, it will trump what NHTSA says every single time.
Please get a new seat, write on the seat "been in a car accident", cut the harness straps and destroy the seat (usually by a sledge hammer). Or your insurance company will take the seat from you and destroy it.
What kind of car seat do you have and what is the date of manufacture? I can tell you what the manual says specifically about what to do if you are in a car accident.
I am glad everyone was ok ay!
2007-07-10 09:22:53 · answer #2 · answered by 2cutekiddos 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you speaking of a babies car seat or just a car seat in general - either way the answer is a big old NO! If it was just a minor accident then why? Look, i know you are worried about your little one but thats just being kind of excessive. If there was no damage to the car then how could have the car seat been damaged?
Im certain others will disagree with me, but if you want to shell out 100 bucks for something you dont need be my guest.
2007-07-10 04:50:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I might touch the manufacture of the seat and spot if it demands changing and what kind of it's to exchange the bases and spot if they are able to ship you a letter pronouncing the entire expertise. Then declare the bases with the coverage and if they do not desire to pay to have them changed you're going to have the paper from the manufacturer pronouncing they must get replaced. My in legislation had been in and twist of fate the totaled an entire measurement van that hed 2 vehicle seats for there different two grandchildren and coverage mentioned there used to be no must substitute the seats because no little one used to be within the seat at the moment. When I contacted the makers of the seats one mentioned to exchange the seat and the opposite mentioned it used to be good enough. My MIL gave the coverage manufacturer the paper from the person who mentioned to exchange and so the coverage determined to pay for each seats.
2016-09-05 22:19:40 · answer #4 · answered by winchester 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have had my car seats checked by the road saftey officers and say no matter how big the accident don't risk your childs life.if the accident was the fault of someone else add the price of the carseat to there insurance as car damage
2007-07-10 05:00:51 · answer #5 · answered by niki 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From you description of the accident, I would say no. Look it over and see if it was stressed in any way. Is there anything bent on the seat? If all looks well, then go ahead and reuse it. Good luck.
2007-07-10 04:50:35 · answer #6 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think you should keep the car seat.Had an accident no one was hurt, for sure keep it.
2007-07-10 09:02:47 · answer #7 · answered by adhunt33 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
most definetly get rid of it, there can be unforseen damage that you can not see.
2007-07-10 04:50:58 · answer #8 · answered by itsjustme0305 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋