Husband Was Rear-ended... Do We Need a New Car Seat?

Updated on May 23, 2011
B.C. asks from Arlington, TX
25 answers

My hubby got rear ended the other day and it not a major crash. Do we need to buy a new Britax? We are currently in a Britax Regent, which they don't sell anymore. Thanks in advance ladies!

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So What Happened?

Thank you so much ladies! We filed it with our claim and they just said to pick out a similar car seat and they will cut us a check for it. So, we're getting a new britax frontier 85 to replace the Regent. :)

More Answers

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Nice to get opinions, but this is not that type of matter!
Here are the guidelines from the NHTSA concerning replacement after an accident:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/childps/childrestraint...

5 moms found this helpful
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S.K.

answers from Chicago on

According to NHSTA it doesn't sound like it needs to be replaced. But look at this checklist to see if his accident meets the criteria. If you ever do need to replace a seat due to crash be sure to check with your car insurance, sometimes they cover all or part of the cost.
http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/childps/childrestraint...

4 moms found this helpful
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V.T.

answers from Dallas on

I don't know if Britax does this or if any other company does this anymore, but when my sister was in an accident 20 years ago, she called Graco and they told her to send the seat back and they sent her a brand new one. All she had to pay was shipping to Graco (a lot cheaper than a new carseat). I know Britax' are expensive, but I would replace it for my own sanity. I would be too nervous to use it again. Unless, of course, it was just a minor fender bender.

3 moms found this helpful

M.H.

answers from Raleigh on

Yes you do. You need to call the insurance company of the person who hit him and tell them that you will need a new car seat. They will give you plenty of money to get a new Britax to replace the one that is no longer able to be used! Do not call your insurance company as your husband was not at fault (at least not from your description).

2 moms found this helpful
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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

I would get a new car seat no matter the crashes severity. Your insurance company will cover the cost of a new one also.

2 moms found this helpful

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

I agree with the rest ... Insurance should cover the loss.

1 mom found this helpful

M.P.

answers from Provo on

I know with the newer seats that if a certain part of the seat will break if it's in a accident where if it was bad enough to require a new seat.
Check with Britax, and call your insurance. Often time they will replace if it is needed :D

1 mom found this helpful
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S.F.

answers from Utica on

Yes, any accident can and will cause stress on the plastic and innevitably weakens the seat as a whole. Thus causing the seat to possibly not perform properly if God forbid you ever get into an accident with the infant in that seat. Insurance should cover a replacement but you need to replace the seat regardless.
PS. Sorry to hear about the accident and I hope all works out

1 mom found this helpful

S.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Someone rear-ended me going 45 miles per hour and did 5000 worth of damage to my van. When we went to a fire station that has certified car seat guys there, they told me our seat was fine.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from New York on

One of my friends was in a car accident with her infant in the car. She said that the car seat and base literally peeled off - it's part of the safety system - it takes the force and distributes it out.

Anyway, the insurance company paid for the replacement. You should give your company a call.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Norfolk on

If there was an accident report (detail speed & cars involved) get a copy and fax it with a letter to Britax. Ask them to send back some sort of documentation if the seat needs to be replaced. Provide that documentation to the person/insurance company of the person who rear-ended your husband. If it needs to be replaced, they should pay for full replacement value.

1 mom found this helpful

T.L.

answers from St. Louis on

Yes and the insurance should cover the cost.

1 mom found this helpful

J.F.

answers from Philadelphia on

If you're near the weight and height requirement I would, they have the britax 70 now thats what we got after the accident...if it was major enough to involve insurance they';ll pay if not get the guy that rear ended him to pay if it was bad

1 mom found this helpful

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

Check with the company. Most times, any kind of accident compromises the integrity of the carseat, and it's safest to buy a new one. If you child was not in the carseat and the accident wasn't THAT bad (no injuries to either party), then that might be a different story. Glad everyone's okay!!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.A.

answers from Orlando on

The other person's insurance should cover it.

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

Yes, you need to replace the car seat. There could be damage inside the seat that isn't visible on the outside making it a danger to use in case you came to a sudden stop or another accident. Report the accident to your insurance company and get a claim started even if you don't need to pay damages on the car... you can file with them that there was a child car seat in the car. As long as you provide them with the proof of purchase your insurance will cover the cost of the new car seat.

If you don't believe it to be that serious, call your insurance company and ask them. They'll tell you exactly what I just did. You would also have to replace booster seats if you had those in the car.

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

I personally feel that ANY accident - however, minor - the car seat needs to be replaced.

Call your insurance company as well as the local fire or police department to get their take on it. Here is a link to a a website just for carseats...

http://www.carseat.org/

they say replace....

J.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

I think you should just give the car seat a good looking over. Pull the straps, check for cracks, see if anything looks like it might have been damaged. If not then I imagine you are ok.

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

YES. I was rear-ended when DD was little and I was told unequivocally to replace the seat b/c there might be damage I couldn't see. Buy a new seat and submit the receipt to the insurance (yours or theirs). I got my seat paid for and they didn't balk at all when I showed them info from the manufacturer (in that case, Chicco, but I'm sure Britax is the same) saying to replace. You can keep the cover, but will probably have to turn in the old seat to the ins. adjuster.

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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

Yes. Anytime a car seat is in an accident you need to get a new one. I'm glad your husband is okay!

C.S.

answers from Redding on

technically yes and the insurance should pay for it. Once a car seat is in an accident, its safety is compromised. There is no way to be sure it is still safe to use.

B.S.

answers from Lansing on

I've been told many different answers to this question. One saying if they weren't in there, if the car wasn't totaled, depending on where you were hit....etc etc.

But I think your best bet is to contact the car seat company. Also, check with your insurance, if indeed you do need one, it might be covered.

I was in an accident without children and two car seats. My vehicle was not hit anywhere near where the seats were, but actually was told by my insurance company that I needed to replace them. And they were covered.

E.B.

answers from Seattle on

Yes. I was in a accident in 2008. My kids were not in the car, their carseats were. Insurance will cover new carseats. They will need pictures of the old ones so they can determine a value. By no means use it...They say that you can never tell after a accident if the seat has ANY type of damage.

Does not matter if car was totaled or not. We even had our stroller which was in the trunk replaced.

L.M.

answers from Dover on

Yes. Any time your carseat is involved in an accident, it needs to be replaced. It's structural integrity is not known once it has sustained impact. Could it be ok? Maybe. Do you want to stake your child's life on it? I don't, guessing you don't either.

Submit it to the insurance company as part of your loss. Purchase a new one.

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A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

We were in an accident where my car was totalled...everyone was fine. I called Britax and explained the situation. They mailed me a new version of the car seat for free. I had to mail back the old car seat...Britax paid for postage. Insurance will cover a new car seat, however, you buy it and then they reimburse you.

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