Britax pavilion 70 g3 116 238 l

Using a Car Seat After an Accident

May 15, 2013

Have you been in an accident before? Chances are, you've been in one or witnessed one.
Here is a link to traffic accidents & fatalities over a 10 year period.

Accidents are scary and can cause serous injuries.

Have you been in an accident with a small child? A child in a car seat? Hopefully you haven't, but if you have...

What do you do? What happens?

Britax pavilion 70 g3 116 238 l

After the crash, the people get checked out for injuries and the car is brought to a body shop for repairs.

But what do you do about the car seat? It still looks good. Is it ok to use?


It depends, most likely not, according to Nation Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Below is what NHTSA says about using a car seat AFTER a crash:

"[A car seat should] be replaced following a moderate or severe crash in order to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers. Car seats do not automatically need to be replaced following a minor crash.

What defines a minor crash? A minor crash is one in which ALL (emphasis MMISI) of the following apply:

  • The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site.
  • The vehicle door nearest the car seat was not damaged.
  • None of the passengers in the vehicle sustained any injuries in the crash.
  • If the vehicle has air bags, the air bags did not deploy during the crash and
  • There is no visible damage to the car seat.


Never use a car seat that has been involved in a moderate to severe crash. Always follow manufacturer’s instructions."

The question - will insurance cover it? Insurance will usually cover a car seat, however it depends from company to company. Check with your insurance agent if you have a concern. Our agency has not had a problem with insurance companies replacing a car seat that was involved in a moderate or severe crash.