Do insurance companies have to replace car seats?
Insurance companies in California are obligated by law to replace occupied seats. An insurance company may instruct you to purchase a replacement seat and submit the receipt for reimbursement. It is important that you clarify what your insurance company will cover before buying a new car seat.
Can car seats touch side by side?
Adjacent car seats can’t keep the other car seats installed correctly — each car seat in each configuration must be installed correctly.
Are all car seats side impact tested?
As car seats’ frontal crash protection improves, side-impact crash protection seems to be the next big area where child restraint designs can improve to better protect children in all types of crashes. Current U.S. child car seat standards only include a frontal impact test.
Do car seats have to be replaced after an accident?
To boost personal safety, choosing new seats may be best. While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advised replacing all child seats after any accident in the past, they have adjusted that recommendation to be only after a moderate to severe crash.
What voids a car seat warranty?
If the product is too padded it could squish during an accident and your child could be ejected. On top of which, every car seat specifically states that after market products should NEVER be added to the car seat and that it voids the warranty and makes you responsible if the car seat fails for any reason.
What’s considered a minor car accident?
Minor auto accidents typically involve slight damage to the vehicle that does not impede the vehicle’s ability to operate or cause severe injuries. For instance, a person may rear-end your vehicle and cause a few dents or scratches to the bumper.
Why can’t carseats touch front?
Some rear-facing seats cannot make contact with the vehicle seat in front of them because the car seat manual forbids it. Some rear-facing car seats cannot make contact with the vehicle seat in front of them because the vehicle manual forbids it.
Can two car seats use the same latch?
Because the Passenger & Center position share a Lower Anchor, it is never possible to install a car seat in the Passenger & Center seat with both using the Lower Anchors – as 2 car seats can never be attached to the same Lower Anchor.
Is it illegal to use an expired car seat?
NHTSA says there is no regulation prohibiting parents from using an expired car seat and most states don’t say anything about a car seat’s expiration in their laws. But many states’ car seats laws do require a parent to use the car seat per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Should you replace your car seat after a fender bender?
NHTSA recommends replacing child safety seats and boosters following a moderate or severe crash in order to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers. NHTSA recommends that child safety seats do not automatically need to be replaced following a minor crash..
What is considered a minor crash?
When does a car hit on its side?
Side Impact Accidents A side impact accident happens when a car is hit on its side at an approximate 90-degree angle. Another name for these accidents is “T-bone” accidents.
What happens if you put your child in a front facing car seat?
If the car seat is placed in the front seat and the air bag inflates, it could hit the back of a rear-facing car seat — right where your child’s head is — and cause a serious or fatal injury. A child who rides in a forward-facing car seat could also be harmed by an air bag.
What happens if an air bag hits a front facing car seat?
If the car seat is placed in the front seat and the air bag inflates, it could hit the back of a rear-facing car seat — right where the child’s head is — and cause a serious or fatal injury. An air bag could also hit and harm a child riding in a forward-facing car seat.
What should you know before installing a car seat?
Before you install a car seat, read the manufacturer’s instructions and the section on car seats in the vehicle’s manual. Make sure the seat is tightly secured — allowing no more than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of movement from side to side or front to back when grasped at the bottom near the attachment points — and facing the correct direction.