If you are a car owner and a parent of young children, then you probably know a lot about car seats. You’ve probably spent time swapping them between vehicles and swapping them for a bigger one when your child outgrows theirs. No doubt you’ve also spent plenty of time trying to get your children to use them properly.
What you might not know is whether you need to replace a car seat after a crash.
What do the experts say?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives clear advice on the matter. The only time you should ever even consider keeping a seat in a vehicle that has been involved in a crash is when all the following are true:
- It was possible to drive the vehicle away from the crash
- You cannot see any damage to the seat
- There was no damage to the door of the car nearest to the seat
- Everyone in the vehicle escaped without injury
- Any installed airbags remain undeployed
If even one of those five things is not a hundred percent true, then you should consign the seat to the trash and get a new one. If you are at all unsure, get a new one.
While buying a new seat may be an unwelcome expense, it can bring peace of mind that you are doing the best for your children’s safety. Remember, too, that if the crash was wholly or partly caused by someone else, you may be able to claim compensation that covers the cost of the car seat, treatment for injuries and much more.
