Best practice guidelines recommend that child car restraints that have been involved in moderate to severe crashes should not be re-used (even if damage to the restraint is not visible), and should be disposed of in a way that ensures they cannot be reused.
This includes any crash where the car has had to be towed away, or any person was seriously injured.
Your car insurance may cover the cost of replacing your child car restraint. Contact your insurance company for more information. They may require you to keep the restraint for assessment, but do not use it after a crash.
Child car restraint manufacturers typically provide accident notices that are freely available to pass along to insurance companies – these are often found on the manufacturer’s website.