New Car Seat?

[stellabunny]

The roads are shit today in my area and I got rear ended pretty hard on the way to daycare. The trunk is damaged, one of the rear tail lights is busted, etc, but the car is still drivable. The airbags didn't deploy or anything. I mean, it sucked but DD and I were both fine and I am cautiously optimistic that the other driver is going to take 100% responsibility for it. He should, it was totally his fault and we both know it, but sometimes people decide to get cantankerous when it comes to their insurance rates possibly rising.

Anyway, should I get a new car seat? It appears to be fine and while it freaked us all out, I don't think it was that severe in the big scheme of things. But I don't want to take chances I shouldn't be taking. 

[TheEleventhHour]

From what I've read any accident warrants a new car seat. You can't know for sure if there was damage. There could be hair line cracks not visible to the eye that could cause the seat to not work the way it should. Your insurance will likely cover it.

[tarheelmom]

I would - it should be covered by the other driver's insurance. Better to be safe, in case there is any structural damage that you can't see.

[BostonKisses]

I'd replace. I know there are very specific situations where it may not warrant a replacement, but I'd just replace it regardless to be sure. Either your insurance or the other driver's insurance should cover the replacement cost.

Make sure that when you remove the old seat, cut the straps and clearly write something like "DAMAGED IN ACCIDENT: DO NOT USE" on it with a Sharpie/other permanent marker to prevent anyone from trying to liberate it from the trash and reuse it.

[cam]

I am glad you guys are okay. While I would be fine using it to drive to the store to buy a new seat (or to daycare then the store after pick up), I would not be okay not replacing it. While it may be fine, you just have no way of knowing for sure, and it would eat at me like crazy, plus I wouldn't want to have regrets even in a minor accident down the road ("Would LO not have gotten that bruise/cut/broken bone if I had just replaced the seat?" type of thing). Also, it sounds like you are in a state where the driver at fault is responsible for covering the innocent person's vehicle (and injuries if that had applied), which should include the replacement carseat. You would need to pay for the new one today obviously, but they should reimburse you.

[helenahhandbasket]

Oh no! So sorry that happened to you.

I would err in the side of caution and get a new seat. Is your LO still in an infant car seat? If yes, it might be a good time to upgrade to a bigger car seat anyway.

[stellabunny]

Thanks! I'll buy a new one and ask the insurance company to reimburse me. If they don't, oh well.

[sandandsea]

Yes, you should get a new one immediately and make sure the insurance company knows a carseat was in the vehicle at the time of the accident. We got rear ended last year and the insurance was very good about replacing the carseat. We bought the exact carseat that was in the car at the time of the accident. It was a very light hit (dented the hatchback door and scratched the bumper, but no real damage) and they still replaced it very readily. I just had to send a picture of the one in teh car and the receipt of the new one.

[redheadbaker]

I'm sorry! I'm glad you're both okay. I would push to get the car seat replaced. The other person's insurance should cover it if he's found to be at-fault (which he should be).

[eyenigh]

Yup, you have to get a new seat. It can develop hairline cracks that you can't even see so you're always better safe than sorry.

[penguin129]

I'm happy you are both ok! I'm glad I read this because I would've suggested the opposite since the airbags didn't deploy. I didn't even know about hairline fractures etc.

[stellabunny]

I texted DH to see if he could pick one up on the way back from his meeting. I've given up on driving for the day.

[namastebiotches]

What everyone else said.

[queenbabee]

Looks like you got it covered haha.

[stellabunny]

So I talked to the other driver's insurance company and they don't want to replace it because the crash meets NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) definition of a "minor" crash. Under these circumstances, the NHTSA says the child seat doesn't need to be replaced. So, I don't know. Do I push it with the insurance company?

◾Minor crashes are those that meet ALL of the following criteria:

◦The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;


◦The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged;


◦There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;


◦The air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND


◦There is no visible damage to the safety seat

[stellabunny]

Feb 4, 2015 18:43:34 GMT -5 @threegiraffes said:

Feb 4, 2015 17:31:26 GMT -5 stellabunny said:

So I talked to the other driver's insurance company and they don't want to replace it because the crash meets NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) definition of a "minor" crash. Under these circumstances, the NHTSA says the child seat doesn't need to be replaced. So, I don't know. Do I push it with the insurance company?

◾Minor crashes are those that meet ALL of the following criteria:

◦The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;


◦The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged;


◦There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;


◦The air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND


◦There is no visible damage to the safety seat

According to this, our crash was the exact definition of "minor" but the seat was still covered (and it was an expensive convertible car seat). We're in Illinois so I don't know if the laws are different. I'd push to get a new car seat covered. Maybe showing literature from the manufacturer's website or DOT stating crash replacement necessity.

Yeah - I'll push it and hope for the best. According to the manufacturer's guide, we should get a new one. The lady on the phone said the one I have now is "likely" safe. I was like, "Well, it's my kid. "Likely" isn't good enough."

[sahara78]

We were also in a crash that was considered minor using the NHTSA guidelines. Since our carseat (Britax Boulevard) installation guide said the seat would be safe to use if there was no visible damage after a NHTSA minor crash, we've still been using it. I would replace yours since the guide says you should. Sorry your insurance company is being a pain.

[TheEleventhHour]

"Likely" safe? Yeah, no thanks. I would go by what the user manual says for your seat. If it says to replace after any accident I would push it with the insurance company.

[skategirl128]

I would definitely get a new seat. If you were ever in another accident in that same seat it wouldn't be covered under insurance since you didn't follow the manufacturers directions. I would push to get it replaced or I would do so myself regardless.

I'm glad you both are ok!

[tundragirl]

I am very sorry you were in an accident but glad you both are OK. I hope the insurance company covers a replacement carseat!

[dmlk413]

I'm glad you guys are ok! Hopefully you can get everything worked out with your insurance!

[kld2014]

Glad to hear you're ok, I hope you can get it sorted out through insurance. That's just not a gamble I'd be willing to take and of course the other company is going to say no at first, keep pushing you may be able to get it through.

[casey]

Nothing new to say, but glad you are ok.

[stellabunny]

Thanks everyone! My biggest fear in life right now is getting into a car accident with DD, so this morning hearing her scream after we were hit was just terrifying. I know it was a relatively minor accident but driving is by far the most dangerous thing I do these days. Fortunately I don't have to take any major freeways on my regular commute though. The highest speed limit between my house and daycare is 60 for a very short stretch and then it goes to 40. So, my odds of being in a fatal wreck are pretty low. Other people drive like assholes sometimes, but by and large, as far as driving goes, it's a relatively safe drive. Just rambling here. Don't mind me. Talking to my insurance company tomorrow (I just talked to his company today since he was at fault) and definitely going to bring up the car seat issue again.

[emarieme]

Stellabunny! So glad you are both okay. This kind of stuff sucks to deal with but I'm glad to hear nip either of you were hurt.

[stellabunny]

I got someone on the phone there to say they would reimburse me for a replacement. I think he was talking out of turn, but he's on the record as saying they'll reimburse me so the other guy I talked to confirmed that they would.

ETA: I'm still going to use my coupon, just in case.

[esmerelda]

Gahh sorry I haven't been around much sorry about your accident. Glad to gear they're going to replace your car seat.