Being involved in a car crash is a scary experience for parents, particularly when they have their children in the vehicle. Parents who have small children in the car with them will likely focus on making sure the children are safe.
One thing that these parents have to consider is whether the car seat has to be replaced or not. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has some specific guidelines for when a car seat that’s been involved in a crash should be replaced, so knowing these is critical for all parents.
Criteria for keeping the car seat after a crash
Car seats should only be kept after a crash if the crash meets the criteria for being minor. This means that all the following points are true:
- Nobody in the vehicle was injured
- The vehicle could be driven from the site of the crash
- Airbags, if present, didn’t deploy
- There’s no damage to the door closest to the car seat
- No damage is noticeable on the car seat
Manufacturers sometimes have stricter requirements for when to replace a car seat. Parents should abide by those manufacturer instructions because they’re based on tests performed on the particular model of car seat. If there’s any doubt about the car seat, it’s best to replace it to keep the child safe.
In some cases, the cost of replacing the car seat is one of the least expensive costs of the crash. When injuries occur, it’s possible to seek compensation from the individual whose negligence led to the crash. Busy parents may need to utilize the assistance of someone familiar with these matters.