car seats after accidents

amylw1 · Oct 20th, 2009, 07:53 AM

hi,

my mate down the road was involved in a car accident the other day. she had stopped at a junction but the car behind didnt and hit her. the police were involved etc and she is claiming off the other driver.

she has 4 childern who were all in the car in/on car seats. they are 5, 4, 2 and 1. the younger 2 are in "proper seats" and the older 2 have booster seats.

now the question is - does she need to replace ALL 4 seats? i think yes as does she BUT the other drivers insurance company are saying they only need replacing IF they look damaged or are damaged (which none do). i thought that they had to be replaced after an accident no matter how small it was.

she is going to see her solicitor on thursday but any advice on this greatful.

stephwiggy · Oct 20th, 2009, 07:55 AM

i would say replace all for sure !!

Blah11 · Oct 20th, 2009, 08:00 AM

Replace them all.. Not sure about the booster ones though as they're just for height so the seatbelt doesn't strangle the LO. I'd say booster is okay but the other car seats def need replacing.

lesleyann · Oct 20th, 2009, 08:19 AM

looking at our insurence is says any hit to the car they would replace any carseat so i would say the seats need replacing, since you do not need to be able to see the damage for it to be there and impact on a worse accident

Justme · Oct 20th, 2009, 08:29 AM

Yeah I would say replace all.There is no price on a childs life so regardless of the insurance trying to cut costs (like it sounds) I would definately refuse to accept what they are saying and get them to cough up for new car seats. x

Fern.x · Oct 20th, 2009, 08:35 AM

Just read this up for you, but i would replace them myself.
1. the vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;
2. the vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged;
3. there were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;
4. the air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND
5. there is no visible damage to the safety seat.

If your accident meets all of those criteria, then you probably don't need to replace their car seats. If it was a more moderate or severe crash or if you aren't sure if your child's car seat is still safe, then you should likely replace it. Or at least have it checked at a Child Safety Seat Inspection Station

suzib76 · Oct 20th, 2009, 09:27 AM

i would push for the little ones seats to be replaced for sure, meantime i would already have replaced them

gills8752 · Oct 20th, 2009, 10:25 AM

I'm sure the insurance would cover new seats if she wasn't at fault. Tell her to claim it as compensation if not. XX

amylw1 · Oct 20th, 2009, 10:57 AM

thanks everyone. i appreciate your replies. my OH policy also says they will be replaced in the event of any accident.

Quote:

1. the vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;
2. the vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged;
3. there were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;
4. the air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND
5. there is no visible damage to the safety seat.

the above conditions -

1. - yes it was driven away
2. - she has a 7 seater and the boot has suffered damage, (it was a 4x4 that hit her,) and this is where 1 big and 1 small child were.
3. - both her and her husband have suffered whiplash and lower back injury, and the eldest has said her back her hurts (the docs said she hasnt got whiplash though)
4. - the airbags didnt go off
5. - no visible damage

so 2 out of the 5 happened therefore they should be replaced. she hasnt driven the car with the kids in it since she drove it home. she's not in a position to go out and buy 4 new seats - her booster 1s have the backs and cost £70 each and tthe 2 smaller 1s are on offer at £99 at the moment but usually £129.

princess_bump · Oct 20th, 2009, 11:07 AM

personally i would push to replace them all, you never no about hair line cracks, and the material can become weak and brittle and thus could not be as affective next time. good luck to her x

Oct 20th, 2009, 07:53 AM	#1
amylw1 Other BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: peterborough Posts: 2,684	car seats after accidents hi, my mate down the road was involved in a car accident the other day. she had stopped at a junction but the car behind didnt and hit her. the police were involved etc and she is claiming off the other driver. she has 4 childern who were all in the car in/on car seats. they are 5, 4, 2 and 1. the younger 2 are in "proper seats" and the older 2 have booster seats. now the question is - does she need to replace ALL 4 seats? i think yes as does she BUT the other drivers insurance company are saying they only need replacing IF they look damaged or are damaged (which none do). i thought that they had to be replaced after an accident no matter how small it was. she is going to see her solicitor on thursday but any advice on this greatful.

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Oct 20th, 2009, 07:55 AM	#2
stephwiggy Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: May 2009 Location: peterborough ish. Posts: 4,658	i would say replace all for sure !!

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Oct 20th, 2009, 08:00 AM	#3
Blah11 Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 32,873	Replace them all.. Not sure about the booster ones though as they're just for height so the seatbelt doesn't strangle the LO. I'd say booster is okay but the other car seats def need replacing.

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Oct 20th, 2009, 08:19 AM	#4
lesleyann Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Peterborough, England Posts: 8,189	looking at our insurence is says any hit to the car they would replace any carseat so i would say the seats need replacing, since you do not need to be able to see the damage for it to be there and impact on a worse accident

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Oct 20th, 2009, 08:29 AM	#5
Justme Waiting To Try (WTT) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ask me Posts: 3,395	Yeah I would say replace all.There is no price on a childs life so regardless of the insurance trying to cut costs (like it sounds) I would definately refuse to accept what they are saying and get them to cough up for new car seats. x

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Oct 20th, 2009, 08:35 AM	#6
Fern.x Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Scotland/ Fife Posts: 1,132	Just read this up for you, but i would replace them myself. 1. the vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site; 2. the vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged; 3. there were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants; 4. the air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND 5. there is no visible damage to the safety seat. If your accident meets all of those criteria, then you probably don't need to replace their car seats. If it was a more moderate or severe crash or if you aren't sure if your child's car seat is still safe, then you should likely replace it. Or at least have it checked at a Child Safety Seat Inspection Station

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Oct 20th, 2009, 09:27 AM	#7
suzib76 Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4,693	i would push for the little ones seats to be replaced for sure, meantime i would already have replaced them

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Oct 20th, 2009, 10:25 AM	#8
gills8752 Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 3,693	I'm sure the insurance would cover new seats if she wasn't at fault. Tell her to claim it as compensation if not. XX

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Oct 20th, 2009, 11:07 AM	#10
princess_bump Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 31,453	personally i would push to replace them all, you never no about hair line cracks, and the material can become weak and brittle and thus could not be as affective next time. good luck to her x

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