Do I need a new car seat after minor accident?

My car was recently hit by a drunk driver on a motorcycle. He tore the drivers side mirror completely off and dented the front end as well as exploded the tire. We don't know yet if he damaged anything more as far as the axle and all that are concerns. He hit the mirror hard enough for it to fly 15 feet in front of our car We called my insurance and they said because we were not in the vehicle the car seats were probably not going to be replaced. I was always told to replace them after any accident because they might not work next time. We don't know how much damage was actually done to the car as it happened about 6 hours ago and we have to wait till Monday but what do we do about the car seats?

frnaydn

anyone in a government or official position will tell you that you do need to get a new car seat. being the shape the economy is in, it's up to you. personally i would say no.

ketchupklf

I'm a very big advocate of replacing carseats in an accident... if the accident was serious enough it doesn't matter if the seat itself was hit or if a child was in the seat at the time. They are designed to protect against crash forces *once* and just because damage isn't visible doesn't mean it isn't there.

However, in this case I don't think the forces were enough to make replacing the seats necessary. I would recommend calling the car seat manufacturer and getting their opinion on the issue. And I would run the situation through the checklist on 'seat replacement after minor accidents' here: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/ChildRestraints/ReUse/RestraintReUse.htm But from what you have said here... I personally think they will be fine.

Hope that helps!

ETA: The trouble with 'always' replace after an accident is that it has to include a definition of an accident to make sense.

I mean... if someone dings your paint with their car door that is an accident. Do you replace the carseats? Well, what about if someone is slowly backing out of a parking space and taps your bumper? Replace the seats? We can inch up a bit at a time with 'silly' examples... till it *isn't* silly anymore... but when is that line crossed?

At some point going slowly 'up' the ladder it *does* become serious enough to replace the seats... that is what the website I gave tries to do. It explains when it becomes necessary. 'Always' simply becomes foolish at some point... or we couldn't bump into the car with a shopping cart without replacing the carseats!

Joseph M

There is no need to replace your car seats. There was no impact on the car seats and if no one was seating at the time if the accident then there is no load and force which could affect the integrity of your car seat. The damage to your car is only on the exterior of your car and didn't affect your interior.

Glam Mommy

you ALWAYS replace car seats after an accident. There is no possible way to tell if there is damage to the seat. There could be tiny fractures unseen to you that could cause the seat to not work properly if you were to get in another accident. Your ins. company is supposed to replace them for you. I would complain to them about it.

kelly_f_1999

he hit your mirror or door not the car seat really wouldnt be a need to replace anything but mirror or door your just up set is all really if you woul dhave hit a car going 60 car seats wouldnt be any problem if you woul dhave turn car over and flip it a few times car seats wouldnt be a problem i hit a car doing 60 then fliped landed on wheels and we drove car home seats where fine i repaired the car and drove it another 5 yrs with same seats so now im thinking your talking about kids car seat and really that shoul dbe find as well it was a motorcycle that hit side of car dont think you have anything to worry about was any air bag set off you didnt say but still if yuor car wasnt moving could hav ebeen hit with a mac truck and not hurt the seats

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