Built-In Car Seats after wreck?

[ajay]

My father-in-law hit a deer last night and severely damaged his van, but not enough to total it. He drives an '03 or '04 Chrysler Voyager. My son used the built in car seats occasionally. How are those impacted in a crash? They were not occupied at the time and were folded into the seat, but I still don't feel comfortable using them.

Insurance is trying to say that they are fine. Where do I start? Thanks for your help!!

 

[Pixels]

If you would be comfortable using the seat they are installed on, then a built-in restraint should be fine. With add-on restraints, there is strain on the belt path even when the seat is empty. There is no belt path on a built-in seat.

Using a built-in restraint that was unoccupied is a lot like reusing the harness, buckle, and chest clip from an unoccupied restraint.

 

[ajay]

If you would be comfortable using the seat they are installed on, then a built-in restraint should be fine. With add-on restraints, there is strain on the belt path even when the seat is empty. There is no belt path on a built-in seat.

Using a built-in restraint that was unoccupied is a lot like reusing the harness, buckle, and chest clip from an unoccupied restraint.

So they are fine to use? I'm not entirely comfortable with them anyway (wreck or not), so maybe I will just buy seats and install them. Hopefully this will be a wake-up to my in-laws that things CAN happen.

 

[LISmama810]

No different than using a seatbelt that had been unoccupied during the crash. As long as the child fits properly in the restraint, there's no problem using it.

 

[ajay]

Thank you!!