Should I replace seat belts and car seats after an accident?

January 8, 2026

Admin

Many people have no idea that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that any seat belts that were in use (either by a passenger or installed car seat, occupied or not) should be replaced. In fact, many automobile manufacturers recommend (review your manual) replacing all seat belts in their cars after an accident, whether they were utilized by a passenger or not.

Seat belts, like car seats and airbags, are considered by NHTSA to be single‑use items and should be replaced after a crash. These are damages that the responsible party should be responsible for paying (or your insurance company if the at-fault party was uninsured) pursuant to Insurance Code sec. 11580.011 and Vehicle Code sec. 27362.

At Cohn & Swartzon LLP, we realize that there are many important recoverable costs, such as costs for seat belts and car seats, that our clients are entitled to receive.