Car Seat Safety After a Crash: What Parents Need to Know
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Consumer Reports car seat safety expert Emily Thomas was recently involved in a rear-end collision on the highway. Fortunately, she was unharmed, and her children were not in the vehicle, but their car seats were.
Thomas raised an important question for parents: Do car seats need replacing after a crash? According to her, replacement is not always necessary for minor crashes but is essential for moderate to severe incidents.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides a checklist to determine if a crash is minor:
- The vehicle was drivable post-crash.
- No passengers sustained injuries.
- No visible damage to the car seat.
- The door nearest the car seat was undamaged.
- Airbags did not deploy.
Failure to meet any criterion means the car seat should be replaced. Thomas noted her own situation met many criteria: no visible damage and no injuries. However, because both vehicles were towed and airbags deployed, it was classified as a moderate crash, necessitating new car seats.
Different manufacturers recommend varying policies; some advise replacing seats after any crash. Parents should consult their specific car seat guidelines. If replacement is needed, contacting your insurance provider may help cover the costs.
For safety, ensure car seats are secured, even when unoccupied, to prevent them from becoming projectiles. Always ensure children are properly harnessed in their seats.