AIBU to be wavering about replacing a car seat after a bump?

[Mooncupdotcom]

I know car seats should be replaced after an accident and that they can have invisible damage. More of a WWYD as this may not be so clear cut.

BUT I had a very minor shunt last week. I was stationary at traffic lights and someone behind in a 4x4 pulled forward too soon, bumping my estate car. It's cracked the bumper along the length of it but the garage said it's minor. No damage under bumper.

I rang the car seat manufacturer and they said not to bother replacing if a "car park styled bump under 10mph", although their website says 10kmph...

Would you buy a new one? I'm a real worrier and concerned I'm spending money unnecessarily when the seat is fine....
WWYD?

You're not paying for it, so why would you take the risk of not replacing it?

If you've had to ask the question then you should replace it. Is the slight hassle of getting a new one worth the potential fall out if you don't?

I wouldn't bother. Unless it was covered by their insurance, in which case I'd get better ones than I currently have on them (serves them right for banging into me).

No - wouldn't replace.

I wouldn't replace it. If they were stopped behind you at the lights and moved off before you did, they'll barely have been moving.

Key question:
WAS THERE A CHILD IN THE SEAT AT THE TIME?
If the answer is (as I suspect) "NO" then there is no need to replace. It is the weight of the child that causes the stress and strain on the seat to "damage" it.
(Perhaps a major crash would be different, but from what you have described yours will be fine!)

I would replace it. I'd always worry about it if I didn't

Ask your insurance; DH was in a very minor scrape (no impact, just an ignorant inexperienced driver on a country lane) and they gave us a lump sum to replace it.

I'd get better ones than I currently have on them (serves them right for banging into me).

You can't do that. That's not how insurance works.

grandole It's a like for like replacement. I did gain out it as my car seat was an older style that was no longer available, the closest style to it was about £300 but my insurance company didn't say a word when I checked with them (non fault claim).

There was no visible damage but clearly needed replaced. And am I not right in thinking that generally airbags don't deploy for a fear impact unless of course it is a major impact? So that isn't an indication.

On the flip side, I reversed onto a skip but didn't replace the car seats as it was such low impact that that was just common sense.

Replace it, and include the cost in your insurance claim. When I have done this (twice, two seats each time), I couldn't get the same seat so was able to get 'an equivalent'. I did have the original receipts to show "equivalence".

Why risk safety when the insurance company will pay

The insurers say they will pay now, but the seat we had is no longer available. It was a Britax Advansafix 2 and was brilliant as could harness DS until 25kg and also reclined and isofixed with a top tether. There's nothing else like it I the market that I can find. The upgrade Advansafix 3 is only OK to harness until 16 kg which is less safe in my opinion. Hence the dilemma of which is better, the harnessed one that's been in a bump, or a newer seatbelt only one... its driving me mad. Pun intended.

only Yes 3 year old was in seat at time of shunt.

This is interesting...
You'd think US rules would be more stringent. Britax US advice suggests no need to replace us.britax.com/faqs/after-a-crash/