replacing carseat for minor accident?

Question

My moms car got backed into today when it was parked on the side of the road. There was very little damage and only to the front end of her vehicle. Does her carseat still need to be replaced? I know your supposed to replace them even if its not a serious accident but I wasn't sure if she would still need to since her car wasn't even moving.

Answer 1

I would call the car seat manufacture and explain the accident to them, and see what they recommend.

NHTSA continues to advise parents and caregivers that child safety seats should be replaced if they have been involved in a moderate or severe crash.



A crash is minor-and the child seat involved in it is safe for reuse-if it meets ALL of the following criteria:



1. A visual inspection of the child safety seat, including inspection under any easily movable seat padding, does not reveal any cracks or deformation that might have been caused by the crash;

2. The vehicle in which the child safety seat was installed was capable of being driven from the crash scene;

3. The vehicle door nearest the child safety seat was undamaged;

4. There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants; and

5. The air bags (if any) did not deploy.

http://www.800bucklup.org/parent/replacing%20CSS%20after%20crash.html



It doesn't seem like you would need to replace the seat.



ETA: I was involved in a minor car accident with a britax seat, and was told by britax it didn't need to be replaced.

Answer 2

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/ChildRestraints/ReUse/RestraintReUse.htm

NHTSA Position



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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.

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NHTSA recommends that child safety seats do not automatically need to be replaced following a minor crash.

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Minor crashes are those that meet ALL of the following criteria:

o



The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;

o



The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged;

o



There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;

o



The air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND

o



There is no visible damage to the safety seat

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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.





Background



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Recent studies demonstrate that child safety seats can withstand minor crash impacts without any documented degradation in subsequent performance.

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The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia ( ICBC ) subjected nine new and used child seats restraining 3-year-old dummies to a series of 50 consecutive 15 km/h sled tests into a 40% offset barrier. Three seats were inspected visually; no damage was apparent as a result of the impacts. Three seats underwent x-ray inspection; no damage was detected. Three seats were tested in accordance with Canadian federal standards (CMVSS 213) and were found to be in compliance with all standards.

Answer 3

Yes even small accidents such as a fender bender the var seat must be replaced. Thats often the first question they ask if a vehicle has been in an accident. "Was there a car seat in the vehicle?"

Answer 4

That's a toughy. She should talk to her insurance company (if she's going through them, or the other person's). They will replace the carseat. I'm sure you and she would rather be safe than sorry.

Answer 5

Yes, you do still need to replace it. The insurance company of the other driver will pay for the damage. If it was a hit and run, your mother's insurance company will pay for the replacement.