Replacing Your Child’s Car Seat After an Auto Accident in Colorado
Keeping children safe during car travel is one of parents’ primary day-to-day concerns. Child car seats play a major role in this effort. Understanding when to replace your child’s car seat after a car accident can help you keep your child safe while you’re driving on the road.
Understanding the Importance of Replacing a Car Seat After an Accident
Child car seats are engineered to absorb impact and protect young passengers during collisions. However, a car crash can compromise the structural integrity of the seat. Even if a car seat appears undamaged externally, the force during a crash can cause internal weaknesses, rendering the seat less effective in future incidents.
National Guidelines on Car Seat Replacement
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides recommendations about when to replace a car seat after a motor vehicle accident. According to the NHTSA, car seats should be replaced after moderate or severe crashes due to the risk of structural damage to the seat. However, replacement may not be necessary after minor crashes.
A crash is considered minor if:
- The driver could drive the vehicle away from the crash site.
- The vehicle door nearest the car seat was undamaged.
- Passengers were unharmed.
- The airbags didn’t deploy.
- There is no visible damage to the car seat.
If any of these criteria are not present, the crash is likely moderate or severe — and the car seat should be replaced.
Car Seat Manufacturer Guidelines
The NHTSA general recommendations provide a good starting place for identifying when to replace a car seat. However, it’s important to consult the specific guidelines of your car seat’s manufacturer. Some manufacturers advise replacing car seats after any crash (even minor collisions) out of an abundance of caution.
For instance, brands like Britax follow the NHTSA’s minor crash criteria, recommending replacement only after moderate or severe crashes. But manufacturers like Chicco advise replacing the car seat after any crash. Always refer to your car seat’s manual or contact the manufacturer directly to determine the appropriate course of action.
Colorado’s Child Passenger Safety Regulations
In Colorado, the law mandates specific requirements for child passenger safety.
Effective January 1, 2025, the state requires the following:
- Children under 2 years old (and under 40 lbs): Must use a rear-facing child restraint system in the vehicle’s rear seat.
- Children aged 2 to under 4 years (at least 20 lbs): May use a forward-facing child restraint system in the rear seat, if available.
- Children aged 4 to under 9 years (at least 40lbs): Must use a booster seat in the rear seat, if available.
- Children aged 9 to under 18 years: Must fit in seat belt properly.
These regulations are backed by the latest research on car seats, booster seats, and seat belt use for children. Individuals who have questions about the new law can email [email protected].
Steps to Take After an Accident
If you’re involved in an accident in Colorado, consider the following steps regarding your child’s car seat:
- Discontinue use until you are sure the seat is safe to use.
- Inspect the car seat for visible damage and document any findings. Take photographs of both the car seat and the vehicle’s damage.
- Consult the manufacturer’s guidelines to understand whether to replace the car seat.
- Report the accident to your insurance company and inquire about coverage for car seat replacement.
- Dispose of the car seat properly; cut the car seat’s straps and label it as unsafe before disposal.
Replacing a car seat after an accident may seem tedious. But it may mean the difference between safety and serious injury in future collisions. When in doubt, it’s always safer to replace a car seat than to risk using one that may no longer provide adequate protection.
Contact our Denver Car Accident Attorneys at Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers in Denver. Call us at (720) 613 9706
For more information, please contact the Denver car accident lawyers at Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation with a Denver personal injury lawyer.
We are located in Denver, CO, proudly serving all of Denver County.
Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers
1610 Wynkoop Street, Suite 120.
Denver, CO 80202
(720) 613 9706
About The Author
Kurt Zaner has earned national recognition for his innovative legal strategies, securing some of the largest verdicts in Colorado. He assists injured clients in Denver with personal injury cases, including car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, motorcycle accidents, and more. Click here to view some of the fantastic case results that Zaner Law has successfully handled.
Location: Denver, CO
