For example, if your child was just about to outgrow his infant seat, you could replace the crashed infant seat with a convertible seat. You are not required to replace the crashed car seat with the same exact model. If they still have trouble remembering, ask them to put in writing that they are advising you to continue using the car seat despite the car seat manufacturer stating it should not be used again. If you don’t have the instruction manual, you can usually download one online or call the company and have them email you one. If the insurance company has “trouble remembering” that they’re supposed to cover the replacement of the car seats, show them the instruction manual to your child’s car seat where it states that the seat should not be re-used after a crash. You will likely need to buy the new seat, and then show them the receipt for the new seat in order to get reimbursed.

Many insurance companies will reimburse you for the new seats.

If you need to replace your car seat, remember: Minor taps in a parking lot – which typically don’t even damage the fragile bumper of the car – are likely not going to damage the car seat either. Someone tapped my bumper in the parking lot… do I still need to replace the car seat? Therefore, if the manufacturer says to replace the seat, it should be replaced regardless of whether the child was or was not in the seat. The car seat will still take some of the crash forces even when a child is not in the seat.

But my child wasn’t in the seat, do I still need to replace it? Even though you may not be able to see the damage, the plastic in the car seat could be weakened by these crash forces and may not protect the child properly in a 2nd crash.

Crash forces are extreme they’re strong enough to bend the steel frame of the car, and can easily damage a car seat too. After a Crash Posted in: Blog, Car Seat Buying Guide Can I keep using my car seat after a car crash?

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