Can You Re-use Your Child Safety Car Seat After a Minor Crash?

Have you or someone you know recently been involved in a Southern California car accident with a child onboard? If so, you might be wondering whether you can re-use your child’s car safety seat following a wreck.

If you are involved in a moderate or severe auto accident, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that you replace the child safety seat. This is to ensure a continued high level of protection for your child in the event that you become involved in another crash.

However, the NHTSA’s website states that recent studies show that child safety seats can withstand minor crash impacts without any documented degradation in subsequent performance. Therefore, the NHTSA believes that the replacement of child safety car seats is not automatic following a minor car accident.

You might be wondering what is considered a minor crash. According to the NHTSA’s website, a minor crash are those that meet all of the following criteria:

• The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;
• The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged;
• There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;
• The air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND
• There is no visible damage to the safety seat

If you or someone you know has a child who has been injured in a car accident, you should contact one of our experienced Southern California car accident attorneys at Steinberg & Spencer Injury Lawyers at (800) 989-6385.