NWMR: Car Seats and Accident (car seat experts?)

NicoleWI · October 2013

I got in an accident a couple weeks ago. We were hit t-bone style but at an angle in the front driver's side part of the car, right about at the dashboard. Thank God, everyone was OK. The minivan was totaled, but almost all the impact/damage was isolated to the front driver's side area/dashboard/frame. DD was in the middle of the backseat and only had a small bruise from her car seat strap. The backseat still looked normal except that the side curtain airbags went off on one side. The frame absorbed most of the energy.

There were three car seats in the second row. The infant seat base on the impact side (base only), DD's seat with her in it in the middle, and DS's seat with no one in it on the far side. I really, really think DS's car seat on the opposite side from the crash, with no passenger in it, is totally okay. DD's seat in the middle, again, had no direct impact and seemed totally okay. Would you replace all the seats? Just some??

Edited for clarify. Also, already, thanks for the thoughts about insurance! It would be great to make them part of the claim.

mae0111 · October 2013

I'd replace your DD's car seat base. I would just be worried that there would be some issue with the integrity of the base.

How much longer will she be in the base/infant seat? You may just want to upgrade now... I just moved DD2 into a convertible seat because I couldn't lug that bucket around anymore - she's 7 months.

kyfirewife · October 2013

Agree with PP. They need to be replaced. There's also a good chance that the insurance company will cover it, so make sure it's part of any claim.

jf198400 · October 2013

I would replace them all, don't be cheap when it comes to safety! Definitely file it as part of your claim.

ccam · October 2013

I would replace them all.

Katie829 · October 2013

You need to replace all. Your car seat manual requires it.
Insurance will cover it.

Karla CS · October 2013

You need to replace the seats. Airbags deploying or a car can't be driven away from the accident elevates it from a 'minor' accident, in which case you may not need to replace the seats. NHTSA says you may not have to replace the carseats if it meets ALL of the standards:

You were able to drive your car away from the scene of the crash.
The vehicle door closest to the child safety seat was not damaged.
There were no injuries to any of the occupants of your vehicle.
The vehicle's air bags did not deploy.
There is no visible damage to the car safety seat itself.

Most insurance companies, you won't even have to ask about replacing the seats - once they know there were seats in the car, they'll require you to replace them.

MammaBear81 · October 2013

check your car seat manual, some seats need to be replaced after ANY crash, even a minor one, but yours sounds like a substantial crash, so the manual will probably state to replace. Call your insurance company, if they give you a hard time about replacing them, ask them if they will sign a paper stating that they are telling you do go against the instructions in the manual, and they they will assume liability if your seats fail in a future accident. I hope that helps, glad you are OK!

Mustardseed2007 · October 2013

We were rear ended while on vacation in a rental car. The responsible parties insurance not only paid for the car seat, they paid for the overnight shipping to get the car seat to our hotel.

Here is from the NHTSA website:

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

I would say that you had a moderate to severe crash, so I would replace all the seats.

Pips09 · October 2013

I'd replace them all. I wouldn't mess with your kids' safety.

NicoleWI · October 2013

Thanks. I really do think they are fine, but we will replace them to be sure.

LoCarb · October 2013

We claimed the car seats with the insurance and they were covered 100%. So newer car seats for free, no guilt or worry-it was a win!

MickeyM04 · October 2013

All car seats need to be replaced. I think it even says on the instructions of the car seat itself that any car seat that has been in an accident needs to be replaced. Agree that it may be covered by insurance. Better safe than sorry.

scrappingcat · October 2013

I agree with replace but wanted to add to be sure to destroy the seat. We removed the cover, cut the buckles (which we needed to send to the insurance company) and slashed up the foam core just to ensure no one else would take it out of the trash and use it!

PseudoMama · October 2013

Replace all seats. Visit the FB page Car Seats for the Littles. It is not safe to used a crashed seat at all. Not even one more time.

kanga1622Wed220857 · October 2013

I would refer you to the car seat manual. It should say to replace in ANY accident even if no one is in the seat and you don't see any damage. The seats still took an incredible force and could fail if subjected to that kind of impact again.

Heck, two weeks ago we were swiped two weeks ago and should be able to just buff out the damage. Both car seat manufacturers said to replace the unoccupied seats even in such a minor crash. If the company is not willing to risk the seat failing in another accident, why would you?

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