When to Replace a Childseat Following a Crash

One important question that often comes up after people have been involved in a motor vehicle crash when there are children who are also present in the vehicle is…is it proper to replace my child safety seat? This is an important question. Very often, the safety of your young child is at stake. Of course, parents want to do what is best for their children and make certain that their children will be safe while riding as passengers in a vehicle.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continues to advise parents and caregivers that child safety seats should be replaced if they have been involved in any moderate or severe motor vehicle crash. NHTSA advises that a crash is considered minor…and the child seat involved should be safe to reuse if it meets ALL of the following criteria:

-a visual inspection of the child safety seat, including inspection under any easily movable padding, does not reveal any cracks or deformation that might have been caused by the crash;

-the vehicle in which the child safety seat was installed was capable of being driven away from scene;

-the vehicle door nearest the child safety seat was undamaged;

-there were no reported injuries to any of the vehicle occupants; and

-the vehicle’s airbags, if any, did not deploy.

Crashes that meet ALL of the above criteria are generally much less severe that the dynamic testing used in compliance tests of FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) 213 “Child Restraint Systems,” and are unlikely to affect future child safety seat performance. According to NHTSA, parents and caregivers can be confident that child restraints involved in these minor crashes will continue to provide a high level of child protection. If, however, any one of the above criteria is not met, child safety seat replacement is highly recommended. NHTSA recommends that parents and caregivers check with their child seat manufacturer with regard to performance, operation, and installation of any child restraint. It is also recommended that consumers review the child safety seat owner’s manual for any specific instructions or directions following any crash.

The Stewart Law Firm is committed to driving safety and crash avoidance. We see, all too often, the senseless deaths and catastrophic personal injuries that sometimes occur to young vehicle passengers, whether through a defective child safety seat, or an improperly secured/installed child safety seat. The Stewart Law Firm is an Austin, Texas based law firm that prides itself in being on the front-line in fighting for victims’ rights and keeping proper checks and balances in place to assure that corporations, wrong-doers, and dangerous products do not injure or harm innocent people. The Stewart Law Firm handles cases involving catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, and defective products. The Stewart Law Firm can be reached, toll-free, at (877) 326-0411. Our address is: 3000 South, IH-35, Suite 150, Austin, TX 78704. Visit The Stewart Law Firm on the web at: www.thestewartlawfirm.net.