A woman sparked controversy online after filming herself intentionally destroying her child’s car seat after she was in an accident. TikTok user Claire Maee (@mamamaeee) uploaded a video where she takes a pair of scissors to the child seat, wrecking its straps and cutting up portions of its cushioning. “POV: your car got hit,” she writes in an on-screen caption. Some folks who replied to her clip believed that she was intentionally ruining the seat as a means of trumping up any insurance claim she intended to file in relation to the collision. “I thought she was trying to do insurance fraud,” one person penned. “Not me thinking she was trying to get a bag from insurance,” another wrote. “Cutting the Straps is Enough” However, other commenters pointed out that the woman wasn’t attempting to commit insurance fraud. Instead, she was attempting to ensure that no one else would use the car seat afterward. That’s because, as several commenters who replied to her video explained, many car seat manufacturers advise folks to dispose of them in the wake of an accident. One user on the application likened it to reusing a motorcycle or bicycle helmet after they’ve taken a nasty spill. “For are y’all car folks. Imagine you’re racing, you crash and your helmet takes a beating, but not a visible one, would you still wear it?” one wrote. At least one other person expresses this sentiment, writing, “It’s the same concept of throwing away your motorcycle helmet after you crash. After an impact the structural integrity can be weakened.” Someone else criticized others who were initially decrying Maee for her actions. “Y’all im not a parent just an older sister and we had to throw mine out after my accident come on,” they wrote. Big Car Seat Scam? However, there were others on the app who thought that throwing out a car seat was overkill. “Let's be real most accidents do not damage the car seat at all. I got rear-ended and my carseat was 900 dollars, kept it and it's just fine,” they mentioned. Some suggested the car seat could go to a parent who may not have the cash to purchase a seat for their child. However, one user explained how this could be dangerous: “This car seat has internal damage and is not safe for a child,” they replied. Furthermore, they added that there are local resources people can rely on in order to get car seats for their children. “Most fire departments will provide free car seats if you tell them you are in a rough finical spot hope this helps,” they commented. And another person wrote that as long as the car seat wasn’t visibly damaged, it’s OK to put a child in it. They believed that fear-mongering is what prompted car seat manufacturers to urge folks to toss out seats in the event of an accident. “Car seat companies did this to trick people into buying new seats as long as straps are good and nothing is cracked it’s fine,” they said. When Should You Replace a Car Seat? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers should replace their seats in response to “moderate or severe crash[es].” Moreover, the agency added that if you’ve been involved in a fender bender, i.e., “a minor crash,” then replacing a car seat isn’t necessary. The NHTSA states a crash is minor if: Vehicles that can drive away from crash sites. The door nearest to the car seat wasn’t damaged. No passenger injuries were sustained in the accident. A car’s airbags didn’t deploy. The car seat itself didn’t sustain any visible damage. However, the agency also went on to write that car owners should “always follow manufacturer’s instructions,” when it comes to replacing car seats. These same protocols were referenced by Texas-based law firm Herrman & Herrman PLLC, too. The legal group urged folks who’ve been in an accident to refer to any instructions or literature that came packaged with their car seat. And if buyers tossed that out, they urged looking for these resources online by searching the seat’s manufacturer’s name and model number. Replacing Your Car Seat After a Crash Child seat enthusiast blog The Car Seat Lady urges people to swap out their child safety seats. And it’s easy to understand why: SafeRide4Kids penned in a 2025 article that auto accidents are “the top killer of children.” In fact, 106,000 children were injured in car crashes in 2022 alone. And if folks are worried about footing the bill for a new car seat, The Car Seat Lady writes that there are ways they can get that covered. “Many insurance companies will reimburse you for the new seats,” the article states. But drivers will probably have to buy a new seat out of pocket first and then present their receipt to their provider to have a check cut. Additionally, you won’t have to replace your seat with the same exact product, either, the blog explained. Also, as the NHTSA recommends, the website goes on to state that “minor taps” and fender benders likely won’t call for a car seat replacement. Motor1 has reached out to Maee via TikTok direct message for further information. This story will be updated should she respond. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team