Question

If the carseat manufacturer says car seats need to be replaced after any accident, but insurance refuses to cover it because they go off their own guidelines without caring what’s in the carseat manuals, are there any options or not really?  

Answer 1

As an auto insurance adjuster, we follow NHTSA (National highway traffic safety administration) guidelines which state a seat should be replaced after a moderate or severe crash. Not needed for a minor crash. A minor crash is one in which ALL of the following apply: 1. The vehicle was able to be driven from the crash 2. The vehicle door nearest the car seat was not damaged 3. No passengers in the vehicle sustained any injuries in the crash 4. If the vehicle has airbags, the air bags did not deploy 5. There is no visible damage to the car seat

Comments

@counterespionage ALL of those have to apply? I got in accident and the only one applied to mine is #1 and 4. My car was totaled, so air bags deployed, but no injuries and no door or car seat damage. I have Geico and they covered the car seat with no issue, luckily. That seems kind of crazy to me though!  

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And these aren’t the insurance company’s guidelines. These are the US DOT guidelines and almost every insurance company adheres to these. I copied this info directly from the NHTSA website.  

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@nadabas a minor accident is one where all apply. If your airbags deployed and your car was totaled I’m certain it was a moderate or severe loss so your car seat replacement makes sense. So if ANY of the 5 points apply your accident is not considered minor and a replacement would be warranted

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That sucks, because none of those things matter when it comes to replacing a car seat.  

Answer 2

Send in copies of manual and insist. Go ver your agents head to the corporate offices. Make a big stink

Answer 3

My car got hit parked at the train station in a hit and run and the cop was able to track down the person due to a note a witness left. They had Allstate and my car seat was in the car at the time and was replaced.  

Answer 4

I would appeal it. Send in a copy of the manual and ask to speak to a manager. Making a consumer complaint with the attorney general is also an option.  

Answer 5

Isn't it IL law that a car seat be replaced after an accident? Liberty mutual gave me that crap last year and my insurance company (State Farm) told me it was IL law and they'd take care of it. See if your local agent can get involved?  

Comments

@fourway I think part of the problem is that we both have geico

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Yes! Illinois is a replace after any accident state. if the seat was occupied.  

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@saros Crest do you know where I can find documentation of that? I’m looking but not having luck

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I got in an accident in June and both the ER doctor and police office said we don’t need to legally replace, they should and we recommend it. The police office asked me if i wanted him to take the seats out to put in my husbands car when he got there so if it was a law he helped me break it. Everywhere I am reading it says it’s recommended and it should be replaced but it’s not legally an obligation. From my understanding it’s because then you would be either stuck in your home until you got new car seats or breaking the law every time you leave. Or if insurance doesn’t cover it then your asking parents with two car seats to fork 350+ when a lot of families can’t do that.  

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@anetta pm me your email and I'll send you the pdf from illinois. gov.  

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@anetta our car seat was replaced by geico (their insurance) when we were rear ended. No airbags were deployed, driven away from the scene, no one sent in an ambulance or anything. Ask to speak to a manager or supervisor. That’s what we did and “miraculously” we got the ok.  

Answer 6

I called the manufacture. That’s how mine was replaced. The sent a new one and then a call tag to pick up the old one. Along with a note of what happened so they could inspect the seat to see if there was any damage beyond the naked eye.  

Answer 7

If the seat was occupied, it is state law in Illinois that the insurance company must replace the car seat. this will only apply to full coverage insurance last time I checked. Regardless of the law, if the manufacturer says it must be replaced, then it must be replaced. Have the manufacturer get you a letter to give to the insurance company. Also, you could try telling the insurance company that you want a letter from them stating they will be held responsible for anything that happens to your child while in the seat in a future accident if the seat fails, if they won't replace it. It has worked for many in the past.  

Comments

This from Illinois. gov

Answer 8

I say fight the insurance company on it and send in the part of the manual that says it needs to be replaced. But at the end of the day, if they won’t cover it then you gotta just buy it yourself.  

Answer 9

Really? Mine offered to replace mine after a very minor bump. Better safe than sorry. Definitely put up a fight.