So last Friday, a 67 year old man with his grandson in the back seat decides to skip a stop sign and fly onto the main road. This resulted in him plowing into the front-right of my Cobalt at about 25-30mph. The collision was bad enough to throw my whole suspension out of whack, bend my control arm, my frame, shred my tired and bend my rim. The internal damage is bad...so how come my airbags did not deploy?

I've gotten into a parking lot fender bender and seen air bags go off at a slower speed...so what gives? That 2 ton Lincoln almost killed my passenger. Where was the airbag when I needed it?

 

uhh...holy ****? Sub'd answers. I hope all is good...

 

He's paying for all the repairs. The only thing is....I don't think I want the car anymore. It won't ever run exactly the same. I mean I may be wrong...but for the risk of future problems, I'd rather just save up for an SS/TC like I originally wanted.

 

so I take it they didn't declare it totalled...?

 

Where exactly was the car hit? Side air bag crash sensors are in the doors and front and rear sensors are in the bumpers. For the air bags to deploy you just about have to hit the sensors directly

 

lets see pics...

 

this

 

They don't deploy when you are hit from the side but not in the door. Why do people think airbags are supposed to go off in every crash? From the wrong angles it could kill you.

 

are you ok? Because if your perfectly fine and your airbags didnt go off thats a good thing! Saves a ton of money in repairs since those things cost money and alot of labor. Plus airbags are dangerous. Helpful but dangerous. Honestly if they go off or not all depends on the ABS impact sensors. If the G-forces of the collision arnt enough then they wont go off. We learned about how they work and its basically a little magnet and metal ball inside a black box. In a collision if theres enough G forces the Metal ball will shift and connect with the magnet and once they touch it sends an electric current deploying your air bags. If theres not enough force to make the 2 touch then it wont deploy. We have several in the car as far as i know with side impact and all that and our cars safety rating. but it all depends on the angle of the collision, etc.

 

Now that you mention it, it makes sense. I swerved at the last moment so it was a glancing blow to the front right, where the front right wheel is. The car is severely damaged but not totaled, so it will all be repaired. I just hope it's okay afterwards.

 

Is your insurance company involved? Your post sounded like maybe you made a private deal with the OP. If the car IS damaged more than it appears and you didn't go through your ins it could end up biting you in the end. The WRONG end.

 

No, every repair, every dollar for the rental, right down to a new rim and tire is getting paid by him. And because I lost my job due to this...he may have to pay my average income until I replace that job. He got shafted.

 

If you didnt get a police report and are not going through insurance, you sir are the one to get shafted

 

x2

Learn from your elders when we tell you to go through insurance hahaha. He's the one who caused the accident, why the **** are you catering to him?

 

Any chance of getting pics? It may have just been hit far enoguh from the sensor...

 

do u even have side airbags... i know my balt doesnt

 

Hey! Hey! Careful with that "elder" stuff. Unless you're speaking for yourself. Those kind of lessons are the ones learned best.

 

If you post up pics of your crashed car I can tell you if the airbags were supposed to go off or not. I run a body shop so I can help you out with that.

 

Who the hell doesn't go through insurance after a wreck?

 

Our cars do not have frames.

 

Does ANYTHING anymore? Short of a 3/4 ton truck?

 

Ya, anything that isn't an econobox.

 

All trucks, all full size SUV's, and a couple sports cars like Corvettes do. Oh, and the Lincoln that hit you does.

More people than you would think. I have had customer's pay in excess of $20,000 to fix their car and the one they hit.

 

Old people + Driving ?

20 G up front beats a 2G deductable, + countless increase in preimiumus,
or of people just have liability.....

Also it might not go on the carfax report if they dont report to insurance company...
Paying for it yourslf in some cases like that COULD save you money in the long run.

 

i have a feeling that your the one getting shafted... get estimate done by insurance because if your frame is bent then thats a lot of work their and your air bags didnt go off because it was side of front end and your sensors are on the front.