If you've been in a car crash, you might need to replace your car seats, even if your child wasn't with you! Get all the details to know when and if you need to replace a car seat after an accident.
Last month our friends got into a very bad car accident. They were sitting at a stoplight when a car slammed into their SUV head-on. The other driver was having a seizure and lost control of his car and ended up severely damaging our friends' vehicle to the point that it was deemed a total loss. What's worse is that their two children were in the car with them. Their little girl, age 4 was badly bruised and shaken up, but their 22-month-old son didn't have a scratch on him. Mom and dad were slightly injured and ended up with whiplash, but luckily they all walked away. Since it's Child Passenger Safety Week, I've been thinking a lot about car seats lately and wanted to find out what kind of seats the kids were in. Turns out they were both in Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 seats. I asked her if she chose to replace them with new Graco seats and she said she wasn't aware that she needed to get new seats after an accident. That got me thinking... if I didn't review car seats on this blog and pour over their manuals, would I know that? How many other people don't know that you might need to replace your car seat after a collision? Probably a lot! So, let's talk about what you need to know about car seats use after a car accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sets and enforces safety performance standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, including car seats. They also conduct research on driver behavior and traffic safety, to develop the most efficient and effective means of bringing about safety improvements. In effect, the NHTSA sets the tone for what we should or shouldn't do with our child safety seats.
Do you need to replace a car seat after an accident?
Previously, the NHTSA recommended that car seats be replaced after all car crashes. However, NHTSA made a change in the previous policy regarding replacing child safety seats involved in a crash in order to ensure that parents or caregivers continue to correctly restrain their child following a minor crash (they don't want to see kids riding around without a car seat while they're waiting for a replacement) and to reduce the financial burden of unnecessary child safety seat replacement.
The NHTSA now recommends that car seats be replaced following a moderate or severe crash in order to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers. They do not automatically need to be replaced following a minor crash.
So, what's considered 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; AND
- The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged; AND
- There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants; AND
- The air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND
- There is no visible damage to the safety seat
Evidence that the Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat did it's job in protecting this sweet little girl.
In the case of my friends, their car was deemed a total loss, so that's a sure sign that they need new car seats according to the NHTSA. However, even if you're in a minor crash, it's a good idea to check with your car seat's manufacturer to see what their stance is on the safety of your seat after a crash. Some brands, such as Clek, Evenflo, Chicco, and Graco (among others) state that your car seat should be replaced after any kind of accident. Check your manual, and if you don't have it anymore search for an online version, or simply call the manufacturer directly with your make and model number (found on the seat itself).
Will your insurance cover a replacement car seat after an accident?
The good news in all of this is that your automobile insurance company may have a policy in place to replace your car seat(s) if it's involved in a crash. I definitely recommend reaching out to them to see if you qualify for a replacement or reimbursement.
What should you do with your damaged car seat?
If your car seat manufactured doesn't have a recycling program in place, you'll need to dispose of the car seat that was involved in the crash. Be sure to make it unusable, in case someone decides to go dumpster diving and retrieve your damaged seat. Cut the straps and remove anything that can be, like the cover or headrest, to make it unfit for use.
Is this information news to you?
Have you been in an accident and had to replace your car seat(s)?
If you need a new car seat, we've got some helpful reviews for you:
At Viva Veltoro, we love the Britax brand. Check out our post about anti-rebound bars featuring the Britax Boulevard ClickTight, and our post about car seat installation tips featuring the Britax Advocate ClickTight.
We also love Graco baby products. Check out our Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat review, our Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat review, and our Graco SlimFit Convertible Car Seat review. If you've got a little baby, we've also got a Graco infant car seat review. We've also got some Graco products featured in our best baby products of 2017 list.
You should also consider Diono for their narrow seats that you can fit 3 across. We've got full reviews of the Diono Radian RXT, a post about traveling via plane with the Diono Rainier, and why car seats and coats don't mix and the benefits of extended rear-facing featuring the Diono Radian RXT as well.
Disclosure: Amazon links are affiliate links. Image credit: Tomasz Zajda/Dollar Photo Club and Roza/AdobeStock
Omenka Nwachukwu says
thank you so much for this article!
Frank says
My wife was in an accident and the van was totaled but the kids were not in the car at the time. Do car seats still need to be replaced if no child was in them at the time of the accident?
Ruth V. says
Hi Frank. Yes, the seats will definitely need to be replaced. Your insurance should cover this cost. Hope that helps!
Andrea Peppin says
Hi,
My name is Andrea, I was recently in a car crash . We were rear ended hard enough to push the whole back end from the rear bumper to the muffler. Because everything was up against the rear tires the car was not drive able.. There was no damage next to the door in which the carseat sits an our airbags did not deploy.
My 6.5 year old Granddaughter was in the car. She was in her Graco Nautilus 65 booster seat base only with shoulder belt. She weighs 57 lbs and is 49 inches tall. She did not sustain any injuries, however I have a broken back.
My husband and I are in a disagreement as to whether or not the carseat needs to be replaced. I say yes, he says no because the only two criteria that meets the ‘replace’ is not drive able and my injury( which he says would
not have happened if I were not 61 years old!
Please advise.
Amber says
Hi Andrea,
First of all, so sorry about the accident you were in; how awful! I would say that based on the accident, her car seat should be replaced. You can head here to see further recommendations on when to replace a car seat after a crash. Sending healing wishes your way!
Kaitlyn says
Hi there!
I was recently involved in a car accident, should I replace my car seat? No child was in the car, the damage was the the front of the car where it only hit the airbag sensor, causing them to deploy, but my car was totally drivable and no injuries to myself.
I can't see any visible damage to the car seat.
Thanks!
Ruth V. says
Hi Kaityln, I probably would if possible. What does the car seat manufacturer say on the website?
Heather says
I was rear ended sitting at a red light. I believe the man thought I was turning and pressed the gas to go and rammed me. All criteria are met for not needing to replace as we have no obvious injuries, soft tissue is unknown at this point. Minor damage to car - has not been assessed b absolutely driveable and everything Replace or not?
Ruth V. says
I'd reach out to the manufacturer to be sure.
CHristie says
I was recently in an accident. I was rear ended at a red light on an off ramp of a freeway. My 6.5 year old daughter was in the car, we are both sore with minor whiplash, my back end was pushed in that it was not drivable. Everything else is okay and meets requirements of a minor accident. Should this still be replaced/
Ruth V. says
Most likely, yes. I would check with your car seat manufacturer to be sure though.