I was in a front end collision today, without children in the car, can anyone tell me if I need to replace the car seats? The car seats were no where near where the car was hit and again they weren't in the car with me just the seats.
Added:
My car probably will be totaled but mostly because its a 1998 and the airbags went off...so they figure that alone will the cost of the vehicle.
Thanks for the advice everyone, we are going to contact the insurance company and see what they say. (If they will cover it) Otherwise it looks like we will be buying new ones.
FYI (In case anyone wanted to know) our insurance company (State Farm) is covering the cost of the car seats.
It is said to replace car seat that have been in a car accident. I know they are expensive! Good Luck!
M.
Working From Home and loving it!
I have to say that even if the airbag does not go off that doesn't mean you don't need to replace them, I was in an accident that totaled my 2004 caravan and the airbags didn't go off, I was rear ended at 40 mps and hit into another vehicle. There is a chance that the seat was stressed in the accident making them less useful. Insurance should cover the new seats just give them a call. Why risk having the kids in a seat that has been in one when the next accident if you were to have one could be way worse.
replace them!! you never know and better to be safe than sorry. if your insurance company tries to fight it call who ever you seats are made by they might be able to send you an email telling your insurance company the reasons why NOT to use the seats again. and if they choose not to and you still use them and get into another accident you can sue them since they didn't replace them, just have them sign a wavier saying they choose NOT to replace them. also another good place to get information on car seats is kyledavidmiller.org. if you email laura she is really good at emailing back quickly. i hope you didn't get hurt bad. good luck
I would think they would be fine. ou will have to take them out check them out. I would think there fine though!
Your car insurance should cover to replace them- do it! In the mean time, take care of yourself. I was in a rear-end accident at a light & went to the dr. cuz I had minor whip-lash. I wish I would have asked for a referral to get a massage- I sure could have used it 3 days later! Use your insurance- that's what you pay it for!
ABSOLUTELY! Car seats need to be replaced after any minor fender bender. The insurance should cover the expense.
I have to think unless the carseats were damaged, why would you replace them?
I was in an accident last August. It was our ER doc who told us that yes every car seat in every accident should be replaced. We had State Farm and they didn't give us any hassle replacing our car seat. Apparently the integrity of the seat, possible the plastic that you can't even see, can be stressed by an accident and make them less than safe. Good luck, I hope your insurance company is as accommodating as ours was.
If the airbag went off there was enough of an impact to affect the car seats. I would have their insurance cover it and get new ones. My husband was in a minor rear-end accident which forced him into the car in front of him and the fire department told me that since the airbags didnt go off the seats would be okay but I was cleaning out his truck one day and noticed that one of the latch belts tore about 1/2 inch and if we got in another accident I doubt it would have held. It's too late now to get a new seat out of the insurance so its all out of pocket. Get new ones out of them.
They are fine the restraint system wasn't strected,was your car totaled if not they are also fine.
I personally would call the police department and check if you are not sure. They will know as they do car seat checks. Good luck and I hope you were not hurt.
They are probably fine but you might try contacting the manufacturer. Also, car seats replacements are sometimes covered by insurance when they have been in an accident. It might be worth checking with the insurance company to find out.
Here is what the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/childps/ChildRestraint... - based on this you should replace the car seats.
Hello Becky-
I have been studying car seat safety and plan on getting my certification as a child infant safety seat installer soon/eventually.
Everything I've read/studied about car seats & accidents says replace it! Sometimes during accidents, the seat can be stressed in ways that you cannot see, even if your child was not in the seat. These unseen stresses may affect the seat's ability to protect your kids later.
I would request the insurance company cover the replacement of the seat.
Good Luck, I hope you're ok!
R. Magby
I have to agree that you should replace them. There was stress placed on them where they latch to the car. If your seatbelt locked, their restraints were stretched and stressed, even if there was no impact on them directly.
I know of somebody who was in the accident like that and she was required to replace the seats. Her insurance company got her new ones though.
Replace your car seats immediately, your insurance will pay for replacements. Even if they don't look damaged from the outside the internal parts can be damaged. You never want to take a change with your children's safety. I hope you are ok, car accidents can be very scary.
I had an accident where my kids weren't with me. I asked the insurance company and they said replace it. With your kids safety in mind, it's MUCH better to replace than to take the chance. The insurance HAS to cover the cost of replacing the seat, since for your kids, they are the ONLY way they can be in the car.
They ABSOLUTELY MUST BE REPLACED! DO NOT use them again, replace them immediately.
The only car seat manufacturer that asks you to call them after a crash to see if the seats are ok to use is Britax. EVERY OTHER CAR SEAT MANUFACTURER (Cosco, Dorel, eddie bauer, Safety 1st, etc) all REQUIRE the seats be replaced even after a fender bender. Even if the seat was NOT in use during the crash, it was still compromised by the seat belt locking or the LATCH system putting stress on the seat.
Insurance should cover new car seats, but DO NOT USE THEM ANYMORE! remove the cover, cut the harness and write 'DO NOT USE!' on the seat in black marker and recycle or put it in the trash separate from the cover and harness.
You cannot look at a car seat and see damage. sometimes its so internal that its not visible to the naked eye, but the damage is done and in another crash, its not reliable. A car seat is a one time use item, even if not occupied it was still in the crash and must be replaced. This is written very clearly in the car seat manual.
