Do I Need to Replace My Car Seat After an Accident?

If you’ve been in an auto accident, you may not be sure if you should keep using your child’s car seat. The seat may look fine, but what if there’s damage that’s not visible? You want to make sure your child is protected while riding in your car. 

Read on to find out how you can tell if your child car seat is safe to use, and whether insurance covers the car seat replacement after an accident.  

To help you get the auto insurance coverage you need and walk you through the claims process after an accident, reach out to a Farm Bureau agent.  

When It’s Safe to Use a Car Seat After a Crash 

While it looks like you could continue using a car seat after a minor crash, you need to replace it to keep your child safe after a moderate or major crash. 

A minor crash is one where: 

• You could drive the vehicle away after the accident.
• The car door closest to the car seat was not damaged.
• No one was hurt.
• The air bags did not go off.
• You can’t see any damage to the car seat.

These guidelines apply whether your child was in the car seat or not, since the forces in the accident could damage the car seat even if your child isn’t in it. 

You should also check with the manufacturer of your car seat, because some manufacturers recommend replacing a car seat after any crash, no matter how minor.

Replacement of Car Seats After an Accident 

If you need to replace the car seat, your insurance company, or the other driver’s insurance company, may pay part or all of the replacement as part of the accident claim. Some states require insurance companies to replace car seats after an accident. 

It’s a good idea to take photos of your vehicle after the accident, if you can, and make sure you include photos of the car seat inside the car. 

If the police respond to the accident, tell them that you have a car seat installed so they document that as part of the report. 

Save the receipts when you buy a new car seat, so you can submit them to your insurance company if you need to.  

What Should You Do With Your Old Car Seat? 

Since the car seat is no longer safe to use, you should take steps to make sure that no one else uses it. Your insurance company might ask you to write “Do not use” on it, take out the padding, cut the straps and throw everything away. 

Get the Auto Coverage You Need to Protect Your Family 

Car seats can cost hundreds of dollars, so replacing them after an accident can be expensive, especially if you have a large family. Make sure that you have the auto insurance you need, including Child Passenger Restraint System coverage. A Farm Bureau agent can review your coverage and make sure it’s right for you.