WWMRFD: Auto airbags deployed... now what?

[gabester]

Car was involved in a highway-speed head-on collision two years ago, a couple minor dents. Airbags didn't go off... I wasn't even sure they worked.

Pulling into a regular parking space brakes didn't stop in time, hit an immoveable object at relatively low speed (5-15mph?) and the airbags went off.

Slight burn/bruising on the arm.

Car is more than 10 years old but low mileage (less than 90k).

Guess I'll check the insurance status, think we took "full replacement value" off the policy a couple of years ago after the head-on collision. Not sure if that would be "full coverage" which is what my trusty neighborhood mechanic says I should have that would get me a check for a couple grand (but I'm not terribly interested in that money - I have enough in the bank to go buy a new to me used car with cash if I have to. Have an alternate vehicle available and family only occasionally needs a second car...

WWMRFD? (What would MacResource Forum Do?)

[ztirffritz]

Donate it for the tax write off.

[DP]

Glad you're OK, tho.

[haikuman]

DP wrote:
Glad you're OK, tho.

The main thing *(:>*

[OWC Jamie]

If you dropped the collision coverage, air bag replacement is probably out of pocket.

Not so sure I'd drive the car with no air bags - any passenger could possibly negligence sue for knowingly driving a defective vehicle should a personal injury occur to an occupant.

[mikebw]

Sue the immovable object for being so unyielding.

[tenders]

"Sell it as-is on Craigslist and put the proceeds towards a new vehicle" was not one of the options but that's what I'd do.

> Car was involved in a highway-speed head-on collision two years ago, a couple minor dents. Airbags didn't go off.

Lots of engineering intrigue in this little vignette. Details?

[space-time]

How come the highway-speed head-on collision resulted only in some minor dents? How come airbags did not go off back then? And now the airbags deployed at low speed, I thought they only deploy at over 25 MPH. I would contact manufacturer and file a complaint. Maybe there is a recall or something. Also what is wrong with you brakes?

[Wags]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2zgr_Gg11U

[cbelt3]

"Full Replacement" policy assumes some sort of 'Super collision' insurance, no ? If you still have collision insurance your insurance (minus deductible) will probably fund airbag replacements. Cars that are even 10 years old may have sufficient KBB value that they are not totaled out. It depends on the vehicle.

DO note:

If you go the insurance route and they total out the car, you do have the option of taking a lower payout and keeping the car. Which will then need to be repaired up to standards (including airbag replacement), a state inspection (depends on the state), and then relicensed. We're going through that and it's a major PITA. We really should have just taken the check and got rid of the car.

Beyond that...
1- Airbag collision speed depends on what you hit, where you hit it, and how fast you hit it. A flat barrier should deploy around 8-15 mph. But if you hit a bollard RIGHT at the sensor, even 5mph may produce enough impact shock to deploy them.
2- Is there another problem in your vehicle that caused the collission, or was there an inattention cause ?

Good luck ! Hope you feel better... colleagues who have had airbags deploy compare it to being beat up by an angry pugilist.