https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 05 Jun 2026 01:03:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash/page/2#post-2761884 Wed, 26 Jul 2017 06:25:32 +0000 Littlebit7 2761884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms. RV: this is good information to hear. I tend to think about car seats like I think about bicycle helmets. One impact and their life span, to me, has ended. It's nice that others with a bit more knowledge than I do agree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash/page/2#post-2761875 Wed, 26 Jul 2017 04:54:38 +0000 Ms. RV 2761875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Part of my job involves leading a lab that tests plastic safety devices that are only supposed to ever experience one impact. We have to test our equipment for functionality and will use the same piece dozens of times before it fails. The plastic is similar to what is used in car seats. That being said, I would not use the car seats again nor would I use the safety device again. I would never stop worrying if the seat was still okay!</p> <p>Glad to hear your insurance is making it easy to replace! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash/page/2#post-2761863 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 23:11:59 +0000 DesertDreams88 2761863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: @magnoliamama42: thanks for this exchange! I knew I have heard some rules like that, so thank you for digging them up but also than clarifying that some car seats are not certified by those guidelines. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash/page/2#post-2761831 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 20:45:10 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2761831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: such a good point about reusing the covers! We got the same seat for my potty training daughter and I see that coming in handy 😜 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761830 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 20:44:15 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2761830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lady baltimore: that's awesome! I bought our new seats tonight. We got a different seat for one of them (less expensive, but will fit better if we need to fit 5 seats in the mini-van later on 😮) so I am hoping thats okay. Its a comparable seat and the adjustor said thats all I needed to do so fingers crossed it's that quick for us too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761805 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 19:37:20 +0000 lady baltimore 2761805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: Glad to hear that your insurance was easy to deal with. In case any one else is looking at this thread as a reference, I also found the car seat reimbursement process pretty painless with Allstate after a recent accident, and they got me the money FAST.</p> <p>Someone ran a red light and totaled my car about a month ago, but I still found it really difficult to cut the straps on what seemed like a totally functional car seat. It felt so wasteful! But with pictures of the disabled seat and the serial number, Allstate sent me the full retail price of a replacement seat (which I would never pay, so it actually worked out great for me :happy: ). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761651 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 13:49:19 +0000 catgirl 2761651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: Only a handful of brands follow the NHTSA guidelines, and the car seat brand rules would be more important to follow. But it sounds like insurance is covering seats for you, so that's awesome. If you get the same seats you can save your covers from the old ones to have spares! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761649 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 13:46:16 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2761649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@magnoliamama42: @catgirl: I did see those guidelines, but for both of our seats the recommendations are to not reuse because they aren't NHTSA certified or something like that? All of this is new to me. I didn't realize there were different classifications until today. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761647 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 13:43:33 +0000 catgirl 2761647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@magnoliamama42: but the majority of brands do not follow the NHTSA guidelines. </p> <p>This link is a handy way to see the different policies for each brand:</p> <p><a href="https://csftl.org/does-my-car-seat-need-to-be-replaced-after-a-crash/" rel="nofollow">https://csftl.org/does-my-car-seat-need-to-be-replaced-after-a-crash/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761642 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 13:40:49 +0000 magnoliamama42 2761642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The NHTSA says you DO NOT need to replace the car seat after an accident if the following conditions are met:<br /> - The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;<br /> - The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged;<br /> - There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;<br /> - The air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND<br /> - There is no visible damage to the safety seat </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761635 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 13:20:42 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2761635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: us too with the move. Our house is definitely nicer but oh my gosh ten-fifteen mins including a short freeway drive to go anywhere besides subway and the grocery store, and I'm not used to that!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761632 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 13:15:50 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2761632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Talked to insurance and they have a pretty easy reimbursement process. We just buy either the same sear or a comprable one, send them the receipts and photos of the old seats to compare. Seems easy enough. Yay for Nationwide. Probably going to stick around home today and then Ill go shopping tonight after DH is home. </p> <p>Thanks everyone for the input! I think I would feel okay driving with them short distances but we just moved to the middle of nowhere off a curvy road with frequent accidents. And everything is at least 20 minutes away from home. Boo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761627 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 13:03:51 +0000 Mrs. Blue 2761627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p><a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2013/06/07/babies-car-accidents/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2013/06/07/babies-car-accidents/</a></p> <p>Here you go! I have a link and the guidelines for when you should replace the car seat in that post. That was 4 1/2 years ago, as you know, so you might see if anything has changed. </p> <p>Our insurance replaced both car seats, &amp; it was a very simple process. We had to cut something off the old car seats (I can't remember what part they wanted) so it couldn't be used by anyone again and then send the receipts for the new one.</p> <p>For what happened with your car, I would probably feel fine using the car seats for a few days (and they are probably totally fine if the other car didn't even feel it enough to stop), but I would still talk to your insurance company. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761624 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:59:26 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2761624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I would replace but I would just try to stay off the freeways in the meantime, and use them little as possible. I wouldn't skip work or whatever because you can't drive to daycare though. Jmo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761620 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:57:18 +0000 Mrs. Blue 2761620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wrote a post about this after we had an accident when the twins were two months old. Let me see if I can find it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761619 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:54:26 +0000 Miss Ariel 2761619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was in an accident recently and was told my insurance wouldn't cover replacement since it was minor. They did say if it was a situation where they would replace it would have to be the exact same model and I would need to provide the receipt from when I originally purchased them. Also they would have to take the seats from me immediately before I could even file a claim for them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761614 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:44:54 +0000 Truth Bombs 2761614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, if it's an issue of money, if I were in your shoes, I would spend money on replacing the car seats before fixing the damage to the car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761608 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:35:19 +0000 littlejoy 2761608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted to keep using them ... but looking at the damage on your car, I would say to replace. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761604 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:29:53 +0000 dolphin 2761604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did not replace ours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761598 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:19:38 +0000 DesertDreams88 2761598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted that I would probably be comfortable for just using them for the next couple of days while you get replacements. But I think that there are also actual specific guidelines that are out there, like whether or not the airbags have been deployed, Etc. You might be able to get some information on car seat for the littles or the other Facebook group, can't remember the name? I know passions Run High there but I have seen some infographics about guidelines for car crashes and car seats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761596 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:19:21 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2761596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: oh okay. I'm actually in a rural county in NC. That may be why I hadn't heard that term :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761588 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:03:05 +0000 Pollywog 2761588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: District/Maryland,/Virginia? We use it for the greater DC area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761575 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:37:53 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2761575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: I am curious about your point #2 about living in the DMV....I have never heard that term before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761555 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 10:57:22 +0000 Pollywog 2761555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd replace because 1) if you got into another accident and something happened because the seats were compromised, you'd never forgive yourself, 2) your blog posts say you live in the DMV, ie the land of crazy drivers. There is an increased risk of getting into an accident because people from all over the country drive here with their local driving norms and expect others to follow them. There's an increased risk of accidents, and 3) you are considering fostering and were talking about a home study. I could imagine you taking that risk would be viewed as a red flag. </p> <p>I'd get a cheap replacement for peace of mind </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761516 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:50:37 +0000 yoursilverlining 2761516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @SweetiePie: and @kiddosc; the manufacturer's have to say "replace after every crash" - imagine the liability and chaos if they didn't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761513 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:47:51 +0000 pwnstar 2761513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: I know it can be a real pita (been there done that), but I would definitely replace. My personal policy is that unless it's an innocuous door ding from a neighboring car in a parking lot, the seats are getting replaced. My minor accident produced damage so minor you really had to look for it. We still replaced. Physics/energy is, in the words of Maui, straight up pooky dooks--there is no way to know for sure where the energy/force was transferred (i.e., if/how the seat (or any component thereof) was compromised).</p> <p>I also agree with others who have said that you're probably okay with limited use for a day or two.</p> <p>Eta: As an aside, keep in mind there could be insurance coverage issues (for future claims) if you don't replace the seats and are in a subsequent accident. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761511 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:43:20 +0000 bees_knees 2761511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you call the manufacturer and ask? If nothing else, at least then you can tell your insurance that the manufacturer definitely recommended replacing them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761510 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:35:56 +0000 snowjewelz 2761510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is tough! I know the best course is just to replace to have peace of mind; and I would gladly if insurance covers. But if they don't... It'd be a tough call if it happened to me today as one of our carseat is brand new! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761503 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:14:02 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2761503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: it was enough to break the cover on the headlight and bend the metal a little on the corner. </p> <p>Thanks everyone! You are verbalizing my internal conflict well :) </p> [attach=3751/17/otngvf.337x600.0725171011.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/replacing-car-seats-after-a-minor-crash#post-2761489 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 08:58:47 +0000 avivoca 2761489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would absolutely replace them. </p>