The Danger Of Your Last Car Accident May Not Be Over

A car accident can be a very stressful experience for any family with small children, but  families often overlook one vitally important element: the possibly impairing damage to a child safety seat and associated injuries to the correlating child. In fact, some twenty-five thousand children are injured in car crashes each and every year, so the problem is clearly one that is significant in our society.

Everyone knows that a child safety seat is an instrument specially designed to protect young people anywhere between infancy and eight year olds. Just as evident yet much more frequently ignored is the fact that a child safety seat just can't do its job right if it is improperly installed or an improper fit for the occupant, or re-used after an accident or significant wear.

The national misuse rate for child safety seats is over eighty percent over all and as much as 95 percent in some areas that are particularly bad. And with child safety seats set up in an estimated one in ten vehicles on the road, the risk of one getting into an accident is of great concern. Child safety seats and booster seats save the lives of America's children every day, but only when they're installed and used properly.

CARSTAR, this country’s biggest group of auto body repair specialists, and their franchise owners like those at Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, MO work with multiple safety organizations to teach moms and dads about proper installation and usage of their child safety seat, and to make sure that they know the importance of replacing after accidents to protect the child.

Just like with any other part of the car, child safety seats can be be critically impaired by an accident, but replacement need isn’t always as clear as one might like. Insurance company and vehicle repair criteria commonly stipulate which components and systems have to be replaced under what conditions, and at what cost. That simply isn't the truth for child safety seats. In the vast majority of cases, the child seat needs to be replaced after an accident for the safety of the child, even though damage may not be directly visible, in accordance with NHTSA guidelines.  But standards for replacement and the compensation fluctuate extensively – from not being included to only a stipend that covers an entry level child safety seat.

When the unfortunate accident does occur, the physics of that crash put strain of an incredible magnitude on the frame, harness and structure of the child safety seat.  This can bring the child safety seat to not perform to top standard in future crashes and greatly reduce the actual quantity of protection provided to the child.  But determining the impact on the child safety seat is difficult with such a wide range of makers and models in that market.

That’s why Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri is becoming involved to ensure that every parent considers the child safety seat when they have their vehicle repaired.  It is positively crucial to review the child safety seat for damaged parts, frame, structure, or hinges or any inflated airbags.  These are all good signs that the child seat has to be replaced for the sake of the child.

NHTSA recommends that the performance of the child safety seat be rigorously examined after any crash whatsoever and oftentimes replaced in an accident that deploys the air bags, compresses the front bumper, rear bumper or side panels or causes injuries to the passengers.

Installation, Proper Fitting is Key

Among the most critical factors in child safety seat performance are the installation of the seat and proper fit.  Most parents will readily explain to you that installation of one of these seats can be challenging and that keeping up with a growing youngster is difficult.  Actually, eighty percent of child safety seats are installed improperly.

It is important that you have your child safety seat inspected for proper installation at a child safety seat inspection station or event. The real key with these events is making sure that the seat is installed properly so it will adequately function in the event of a crash. Absolutely always pay close attention to the inspector during the entire installation process. More then that, be an active participant in the installation. Don’t just let the technician do all the work.  It’s very important for you, the owner of the vehicle, to know exactly how to install the seat adequately.

In past times, local law enforcement and fire departments have performed child safety seat checks, but municipal budget reductions throughout the nation have removed most of these.  To fill this gap, this CARSTAR location is stepping up and stepping in by certifying our store's team members on child safety seat installation and hosting clinics at their local store.

At Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri, they're carrying out regular child safety seat installation examinations at their location, drawing hundreds of parents just like you to the store for this free service.