Children's car seats after rear-end shunt

mr_edge_to_you

Hi all

Was involved in an accident last week where our car (Skoda Octavia) was rear-end. There was substantial damage to the back of the car - all lights gone, bumper in bits, boot crushed, bumper reinforcement partially separated from body. It was quite a shunt.

Thankfully there was no kids in the car at the time and no one was injured but interested in getting peoples opinion of the children's car seats - should we consider changing them? My daughter who is 7 uses a seat which is just secured with the seat belt - as a result this was loose when the accident happened. To be honest we're a little less concerned about that seat but our youngest kid who is 3 is in an isofix one piece car seat. The fact that this was secured with the isofix system and the top tether means that it would've taken the full brunt of the hit.

Would anyone else be concerned about continuing the seats?

Thanks as always to helpful people of Motors!

Cheers

Odyssey 2005

I think the fact that the seats were empty (thankfully) at the time of the accident would indicate to me they'd be ok to use when vehicle is repaired or replaced. There was no strain or force put on the restraints or straps.

mr_edge_to_you

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

I think the fact that the seats were empty (thankfully) at the time of the accident would indicate to me they'd be ok to use when vehicle is repaired or replaced. There was no strain or force put on the restraints or straps.

Thanks!

I'd be a little concerned about the isofix seat though. In theory if it was fully secured would there be some element of strain put on the seat.

Toyotafanboi

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

Thanks!

I'd be a little concerned about the isofix seat though. In theory if it was fully secured would there be some element of strain put on the seat.

By that mentality though there has some strain on every component that is bolted to the chassis of the car. Should you go about replacing the adult seats too?

I understand your caution but I'd agree with the above, if the seats were unoccupied they are satisfactory to reuse.

ba_barabus

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

Thanks!

I'd be a little concerned about the isofix seat though. In theory if it was fully secured would there be some element of strain put on the seat.

I'd bin them. Considering how they're fitted to the isofix the jolting around may have damaged the brackets securing them. They clearly state in all the accompanying booklets that they shouldn't be used after an accident. It's less about the belts etc and more about the securing brackets.

Nobody here can categorically state what forces, shocks or jolts they were exposed to.

They should also be covered by the insurance of the person who hit you.

site_owner

Same happened to my partner a few years back.
Other drivers insurance covered replacement costs for both seats without question

mickdw

Yes I believe insurance will cover child seat replacement after any significant shunt.

Dravokivich

The recommendation is generally to replace them. I had been in an accident and replaced my son's.

whiskeyman

Replace.
Not worth taking the risk.

mr_edge_to_you

Seems that the insurance are more than happy to replace them so it's all good.

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond.