Identify car seat in crash (9)

I believe the answer is:

ascertain

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'identify' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to thinking as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'car seat in crash' is the wordplay.
'crash' is an anagram indicator.
'car'+'seat'+'in'='carseatin'
'carseatin' is an anagram of 'ASCERTAIN'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ascertain that I've seen before include "Confirm, make sure" , "Find out by making enquiries in sectarian way" , "Become aware" , "Learn" , "Get to know" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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