Why Replace Child Car Seats After a Collision?

As a Florida parent, you prioritize child safety. Child car seats are essential to protect your child in the event of an accident. While this is well understood, it is important to understand that if your vehicle is involved in a collision, you will likely need to replace the child car seats.

If you are wondering who is responsible for covering the costs of replacing child seats, share the details of your situation with a Boca Raton personal injury lawyer. Depending on your policy, your insurance may pay for replacement child seats.

When Will Insurance Cover Child Car Seat Replacement Costs?

Child car seats are designed to provide optimal safety and protection, but they may not be as effective after a collision. Even if a child car seat appears undamaged on the surface, it may have sustained internal damage, such as cracks in the plastic or stretching of webbing, that has compromised its structural integrity.

Follow car seat manufacturers recommendations when it comes to replacements, which is often replacing the seat after any accident, regardless of the severity. This is because a company cannot guarantee the safety and integrity of their products post-collision.

It is possible the costs of replacement seats will be covered by an insurance plan, but the coverage may vary depending on the circumstances.

• At-fault party’s insurance. If you were involved in a collision and another driver was at fault, their liability insurance should cover the replacement cost of child car seats as part of your overall damages.
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. After a Florida car accident with an at-fault driver who was uninsured or underinsured, your own insurance policy may cover the costs of replacement charges if you carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
• Comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive auto insurance plans may cover the replacement of child car seats regardless of fault.
• Child car seat coverage. Some auto insurance policies offer specific areas of coverage, such as additional coverage specifically for child car seat replacement. Be sure to check your policy for any such provisions.

However you are planning to access funds for child car seat replacement, documentation will be part of the process. Be sure to review the policies involved, noticing any provisions connected to child car seat replacement, and maintain complete records of accident-related expenses, including receipts of child car seat replacement purchases. If you need guidance, bring your questions to the attention of a Boca Raton personal injury lawyer.

How Should I Dispose of Old Child Car Seats?

When replacing child car seats after a collision, it is often recommended that the old seats be thrown out. Plus, some experts request that individuals cut seat straps and labels prior to the seats being put in the garbage. Rendering the seats unusable means an inferior product can’t be used by another family. If you want a more eco-friendly option, explore old seat recycling programs in your community.

Should you replace the child safety seats that were in your car when a collision occurred?

The talented attorneys at Leifer & Ramirez can answer all of your post-accident inquiries. Schedule a fee-free consultation, call 561-660-9421.