Replacement car seats after accident

[Cupoftchaiagain]

We were in a very minor bump. Insurance have offered to replace car seats. Kids were in them at time. Everyone is fine. Husband doesn’t want us to replace the seats. (He thinks it’s unethical and unfair to other person as seats aren’t damaged). I do. (They might Be damaged and new seats will be better). What would you do?

Replace better safe than sorry.
Peace of mind.

You should always replace car seats after any accident.

I worked in insurance for a while after finishing my A-Levels. We always advised customers to replace car seats after an accident and dispose of the old ones. You can no longer vouch for their safety as they might have unseen damage from the collision.

Argh but he’s so stubborn

Always replace after an accident. You cannot tell what damage has been done. Plastic could have been weakened. Its not worth the risk of your children's lives.

You need to replace the car seats. They will appear undamaged on the surface but all the cushioning internal foam that’s protected the children will be compressed and used up. That’s why you have to replace them after an accident. That cushioning can only be compressed once it doesn’t bounce back. In addition, the accident puts stress on the plastic parts...causing microscopic fracture lines. If they reuse the car seats and you have another accident, the old car seat will not protect them because the cushioning is used up, and the old car seat may even crack apart completely cutting the child or worse.

The damage caused to car seats in accidents is usually caused by the child bracing against the straps and weakening them if they are in the seat at the time. It’s unlikely that any damage to seats would be visible unless it was a very serious incident.

Definitely replace.
If it wasn’t important do so, it wouldn’t be an option.

Unethical? He's an idiot, as PP's have said it's about the damage you can't see. This is why you don't buy second hand because you can't see what's going on inside.
Get them replaced and know your kids are sat in safe seats.

Contact the car seat manufacturers and ask. Or your insurance. They generally say replace because the seats have done their job - to absorb and redistribute the forces of an accident and protected the kids as your seatbelts did for you. Unlike seatbelts, car seats are a one use item. You aren't supposed to keep them after they have been in an accident.

It will likely even be in the manuals for them if you still have those.

And YY you usually can't see any damage on seats even after extreme accidents. I've seen a lot of those "post accident car seat safety PSA" posts on facebook (can't find a good one to share, sorry) - the only car seats that ever look visibly broken after an accident are those £50 supermarket ones.

Seats from Joie, Graco, Britax, etc - they all look absolutely pristine, you wouldn't be able to tell they'd been used at all let alone severely crashed!

Argh but he’s so stubborn

Stubborn enough to risk his children's lives rather than replace some car seats?

There is now way to visually tell if a car seat has been weakened by an accident. Always replace.

Phew I went ahead and got the voucher for replacement and told him it was happening regardless. He is grumpy but going along with it. I may hear about this every time I mention recycling and the environment....

You have made the right decision OP.

I'm all in for reducing waste (we use washable napkins etc) but I'm glad you're replacing the seats. Please cut the straps when you take them to the tip as I know of people who pick seats up from tips to re-sell.