wwyd - DH in accident

[olien]

My DH was in a single car accident yesterday. He is Ok thank God.

We have a FF car seat in the vehicle he was in, which I know we can no longer use. We also had an extra base for an infant RF seat. Should we scrap that too? - It was just the base.

Do some insurance co's pay for new seats??

[chickabiddy]

The infant base is also no longer safe to use.

If you have full coverage (collision and comprehensive), most insurance companies will pay for carseats.  And in a multi-vehicle accident, if the other driver is at fault, their insurance should pay.

[PoppyMama]

I thought the crash had to meet certain specifications for the seat to need to be replaced.  If you don't have full coverage but you carry a PIP on your policy that should be able to be able to be used to pay for seats.  You will have to specifically demand it from your ins adjuster though.  They like to pretend it doesn't exist.

[chickabiddy]

All manufacturers except Britax require replacement after even minor crashes.

[an_aurora]

Originally Posted by PoppyMama 

I thought the crash had to meet certain specifications for the seat to need to be replaced.  If you don't have full coverage but you carry a PIP on your policy that should be able to be able to be used to pay for seats.  You will have to specifically demand it from your ins adjuster though.  They like to pretend it doesn't exist.

Originally Posted by chickabiddy 

All manufacturers except Britax require replacement after even minor crashes.

Yes, this.  If you have a Britax, they go by the NHTSA 'rules' for replacement.  If you have anything other than a Britax, it must be replaced after ANY crash, no matter how minor (ie, my DH backed into my van a few years ago, and both Evenflo and Graco wanted me to replace my seats, even though hitting a curb would have been more of an impact).  

[Lisa1970]

The insurance company is supposed to pay for the replacement of the seats.

However, and I do not know if the standards have changed or not, but it used to be that unless someone was in the seat when the accident happened, they don't need to be replaced because the stress would not have been put on the seats. That rule might have changed though so you may want to look in to it yourself. But for us, the insurance company did pay to replace our seats.

[an_aurora]

The seats need to be replaced whether they were occupied or not.  

[lonegirl]

http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/childps/childrestraints/reuse/restraintreuse.htm 

[chickabiddy]

Except that, as stated above, all manufacturers except Britax* require that the seats be replaced after even a minor crash.  In most states, it is illegal (and it is never a good idea, regardless) to use a seat against manufacturer's directions.

* And Sunshine Kids for the Monterey, but that's not an infant or convertible seat so irrelevant to the OP.

[olien]

Well, thanks everyone for your replies. The FF seat was not occupied & the base was not even installed. It was just in the back of the SUV. It also was not a minor accident. DH slid on black ice at 50 - 60mph and hit the concrete at a toll plaza (GS Parkway in NJ) & actually went up onto the barrier as well. Thank goodness the kids weren't with him.

So, he is going to contact the insurance & request a new seat & a new base. BTW, the seat is a Graco.

I appreciate the insight.

[Flower of Bliss]

How scary!  I'm so glad he is ok. 

[jocelyndale]

You can save the harness and cover from the convertible.  Since the seat was unoccupied, those can be reused.  The seat itself, no.  Check on your in-use seatbelts, as well.  They may need to be replaced (check the owner's manual).