Carseats and car accidents

Answer 1

An installed car seats shell was strained regardless of occupancy at the time of the collision. Your vehicle belt was restraining the weight of the seat itself.

If the seat was occupied at the time of the collision, then not only would the shell be strained, but the harness straps restraining your child would be as well. Either way, the seat should be replaced. Since you have likely already destroyed/gotten rid of the wrecked seat the following may not apply to you. but I am putting it out here as others are reading: If the 3rd party insurance company is willing to put it in writing, that they guarantee the integrity of the seat and would be responsible for all injuries and deaths that could occur in part or in whole from re-using a seat that is a one time use product, then write something up and present it to them. In most cases when presented with such a waiver and in combination with a printout of the NHTSA replacement recommendations, the smart insurance company/adjustor, will cough up the money.

OP, I would suggest you print out the NHTSA recommendations and insist that the insurance company back off. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/ChildRestraints/ReUse/RestraintReUse.htm

Note that NHTSA has NOT differentiated or specifically stated that the seat must be occupied to replace.

In addition, ALL vehicle seat belts in use at the time of the collision, MUST be replaced as well (even the ones restraining the empty car seat). Again, seat belts are ONE TIME use products.

http://www.healthmsg.com/motherhealth-archived/71/parenting-family-safety-719100.shtm Im not sure what ur wanting to know but if what ur wanting to know is if ur in an accident with a carseat in the vehicle? Im a first responder and they say that car seat that were in a car during the accident should be checked out and or replaced for safety. Hope that answered your question