When Your Family Vehicle Needs Towing: Protecting Your Child’s Car Seat Safety During Recovery

Vehicle breakdowns and accidents are stressful enough without worrying about your child’s safety during the towing process. For families in Gilbert, Arizona, understanding how to protect your little ones and their car seats during vehicle recovery is crucial for maintaining safety standards and ensuring continued protection.

The Critical Link Between Car Seat Safety and Vehicle Recovery

When your family vehicle requires towing, one of the most important considerations is the impact on your child’s car seat. NHTSA recommends that car seats be replaced following a moderate or severe crash in order to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers. However, the decision to replace isn’t always straightforward, especially when dealing with minor incidents that require towing.

Since your vehicle had to be towed it doesn’t meet all 5 of the NHTSA crash criteria which would mean it’s safest to replace the car seat. This is because many car seats do need to be replaced if they were in a vehicle that is involved in a crash — even if the child was NOT in the car seat during the crash. This crash energy will weaken the plastic in the car seat. And while the car seat may seem fine, it may not properly protect the child in a subsequent crash.

Understanding NHTSA’s Guidelines for Post-Incident Car Seat Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides specific criteria for determining whether a car seat should be replaced after an incident. A minor crash is one in which ALL of the following apply: The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site. The vehicle door nearest the car seat was not damaged. None of the passengers in the vehicle sustained any injuries in the crash. If the vehicle has airbags, the airbags did not deploy during the crash; and · There is no visible damage to the car seat.

If any of these conditions are not met, including situations where the vehicle requires towing, NEVER use a car seat that has been involved in a moderate to severe crash. This precautionary approach ensures that invisible structural damage doesn’t compromise your child’s safety in future travel.

Family-Friendly Towing Services: What to Look For

When selecting a towing service in Gilbert, families should prioritize companies that understand the unique needs of vehicles carrying children. Professional towing services should be knowledgeable about car seat safety protocols and able to provide guidance during stressful situations.

For families seeking reliable assistance, choosing an established towing service gilbert provider ensures you receive professional care when you need it most. On Time Emergency Roadside and Battery Service exemplifies this family-focused approach, with their commitment to providing service of the highest quality, paying particular attention to working efficiently while keeping the lines of communication with our clients clear and concise.

On Time Emergency: Supporting Gilbert Families

On Time Emergency Roadside and Battery Service provides top of the line roadside assistance and towing in the Maricopa County, AZ area. What sets them apart for families is their understanding that vehicle emergencies involving children require special consideration and rapid response.

The company’s commitment to excellence is evident in their customer testimonials. “I called on a late Saturday evening they came and towed the RV for me. They had an excellent personality, excellent professionalism and excellent towing. Because we are pastors we are referring this towing company to our church members, friends, family as well as other churches.”

Practical Steps for Parents During Vehicle Recovery

When your family vehicle requires towing, follow these essential steps to protect your children and their car seats:

• Document the incident: Take photos of your car seats and their positioning before the tow truck arrives
• Remove car seats if possible: If the vehicle is accessible and safe, remove car seats to prevent additional stress during transport
• Communicate with your towing provider: Inform them about the presence of car seats and any concerns about child safety equipment
• Contact your insurance: Some insurance companies replace your car seat if you’re in an accident. In some states like California and Illinois, insurance companies are even required to replace child safety seats in crashes.

The Importance of Professional Assessment

There is no one who can inspect your car seat to certify it as safe after a crash. This reality underscores the importance of following manufacturer guidelines and NHTSA recommendations rather than relying on visual inspection alone. Because in a collision, your car seat is put under a lot of stress to protect your child, and there can be plenty of damage under the surface, making the car seat unfit to handle another crash.

Special Considerations for Infants and Toddlers

Families with very young children face additional challenges during vehicle recovery. After a crash or vehicle breakdown, a child aged under 12 months can travel in a tow truck. If a suitable child car seat is not available, they can sit on the lap of another passenger. If the tow truck has two or more rows of seats, they must sit in the back seat.

However, this should only be considered for emergency transport to safety, not as a substitute for proper car seat use in regular travel.

Moving Forward After Vehicle Recovery

Once your vehicle has been towed and you’ve determined that car seat replacement is necessary, don’t be quick to buy a new one before talking to your insurance provider! Many insurance policies cover car seat replacement after qualifying incidents, which can significantly reduce the financial burden on families already dealing with vehicle repairs.

When disposing of damaged car seats, research car seat recycling in your area. It may be something you can do in your community! If you can, call them for instructions on recycling.

For Gilbert families, having a reliable towing service that understands the unique challenges of transporting vehicles with child safety equipment is invaluable. On Time Emergency Roadside and Battery Service provides the fastest, most reliable, and most affordable priced results with 24/7 emergency roadside service, so no matter the time or the day or the night, and no matter where you are, just give us a call.

Remember, while vehicle breakdowns and accidents are stressful, prioritizing your child’s safety through proper car seat protocols and choosing family-friendly towing services ensures that your family stays protected throughout the recovery process.