So I got into an accident in my less-than-3-weeks-old brand new Hyundai Entourage this morning. I was turning left into my dd's preschool parking lot (right in front of a traffic light where the lanes go from one to two for turning) when this guy pulled from the line of waiting cars into the right-hand turn lane on the opposite side, accelerated, and whammo -- there was no way for me to avoid the accident.
The right front part of my car is messed up pretty badly. Headlights survived, but right front wheel axle is toast -- the wheel is now severely tilted inwards.
DD was in her Britax Boulevard on the driver's side behind me (so away from the accident impact point); DS' Britax Marathon was unoccupied on passenger's side (both second row). DD and I were totally fine -- although it was quite a big bang (I was going very slowly making the turn but I bet the guy who hit me was doing 20-25 to try to make the light), airbags didn't deploy and nothing on us went "ouch."
So now my question is: replace carseats or no? From Britax/NHTSA policy, the 5 criteria are:
1) The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;
2) The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged;
3) There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;
4) The air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND
5) There is no visible damage to the safety seat.
Our accident fulfills 2 through 5 BUT car is no longer driveable because of damage to wheel/axle. I was able to pull into the parking lot but that's it.
So, should I treat this as a minor accident or a severe accident? Replace carseats or no?
The right front part of my car is messed up pretty badly. Headlights survived, but right front wheel axle is toast -- the wheel is now severely tilted inwards.
DD was in her Britax Boulevard on the driver's side behind me (so away from the accident impact point); DS' Britax Marathon was unoccupied on passenger's side (both second row). DD and I were totally fine -- although it was quite a big bang (I was going very slowly making the turn but I bet the guy who hit me was doing 20-25 to try to make the light), airbags didn't deploy and nothing on us went "ouch."
So now my question is: replace carseats or no? From Britax/NHTSA policy, the 5 criteria are:
1) The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;
2) The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged;
3) There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;
4) The air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND
5) There is no visible damage to the safety seat.
Our accident fulfills 2 through 5 BUT car is no longer driveable because of damage to wheel/axle. I was able to pull into the parking lot but that's it.
So, should I treat this as a minor accident or a severe accident? Replace carseats or no?