Using carseats after accident??

L

Lisashepp

Guest
Using carseats after accident??

I have been told by everyone I know in real life that after an accident all carseats need to be replaced regardless of whether or not a child was in them at the time of the accident.

But my insurance adjuster said that since the seat wasn't occupied it doesn't need to be replaced.

Actually Britax said the Britax Husky I have, wouldn't need to be replaced since she wasn't in it at the time of the accident.

I want my dd to be safe, but we really don't have enough money to buy her another carseat.

What is the right answer?


Lisa
 
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C

CPSDarren

Guest
Sounds like you've contacted the right people-

To be conservative, we always recommend replacing a carseat after any crash. There are too many unknowns to give any other advice without being involved in the crash first hand.

Of course, it may seem a bit overboard to replace a carseat involved in a very low speed bump, one with no damage to the vehicles, no injuries and one where the carseat was unoccupied. In those cases, it is reasonable for a parent to make their own decision after inspecting the seat for any possible stress or damage.

Ultimately, it is also a very good idea to contact the manufacturer of the carseat.

So, I don't have any additional advice for you since you have already contacted Britax. I will note that in some states, insurance companies must follow a law and replace carseats in many circumstances in a crash. As with anything insurance related, you often have to be a real pest with numerous calls/letters to get what you want.

Good luck!

Darren
 
U

UlrikeDG

Guest
To add just a little bit to what Darren posted...

Britax says they've tested seats after they've been in crashes and found that a seat that was unoccupied during a crash still performs within their safety standard. The forces on an unoccupied seat are significantly less than the forces on an occupied one.
 

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