? about Carseat and Accident...

A couple weeks ago my DH was in an accident, he rear-ended someone and was going about 25-30 mph.

One empty car seat was in the back of the car.

The damage on his car was only to the front end, no other part of the car.

My question is, would you keep the carseat? I know they say you should replace them if your in an accident, but to me, what's the differance if he slammed on his breaks going 25-30 mph? We wouldn't replace the carseat then.

Thoughts? WWYD?

 

I was always told that if the air bags didn't open, then you are OK.....if it were me, I would not want to chance it. I would replace it.

 

The concern is that the straps may be compromised in an accident, as well as the shell of the seat. Since there is no damage to the car where the seat was installed and the straps didn't engage around a child, then you're good to go. I wouldn't replace the seat.

 

QUOTE(Mellizos @ Jul 18 2007, 10:02 AM) [snapback]335863[/snapback]
The concern is that the straps may be compromised in an accident, as well as the shell of the seat.



True but I was told both by the car seat manufacturer AND the insurance company to replace the seat. The insurance company paid for the seats. AND, my accident was merely a 5-10mph fender-bender in a parking lot where we were both backing up and she hit the side of my van with her van. I would replace it. Why take the chance? Not worth it imo.

 

You're supposed to replace your carseats after an accident.
If you have a Britax, they're supposed to replace it at no cost (maybe shipping?) after you send them an accident report. I'd ask your insurance agent about it at the very least.

 

Thanks for your opinions.

The insurance company HAS replaced it, but we do still have the old one. The seat was given to us by a friend because it no longer fit in her car and was relatively new. It was a really nice Eddie Bauer Elite which we will be using for the new baby (and only had installed in the other car as a spare so if we took the boys in that one we'd only have to move 1 car seat in there as opposed to both). Our boys right now have seats that are fine but not nearly as nice - I just bought them for $100 at Walmart (this seat is about $250). I was thinking of using the 2 Eddie Bauer seats for the boys now...

Still not sure what to do. I worked for an insurance company that, for a time, if the seat or area around it wasn't compromised, then they wouldn't replace it. How can the straps be compromised if there was no child in the seat? They were just dangling there after all! And the airbags didn't go off.

 

Definitely replace them! I was rearended a few weeks ago going only 25 mph too. But the damage was to both rear hatch (totally smashed in) and I went under the guy infront of me's tow hitch, so the front end was damaged as well. My poor honda ody will never the same. :angry: Anyways, no airbags deployed either. But both carseat manuf told me to replace dd's booster seat and the boys convertible seats even though they were NOT in the vehicle. The at fault drivers ins is not questioning me at all. I just bought them and sent her the receipts and expect refund checks very soon.

HTH