Side Curtain Airbags

[Jared]

On my way into work today another driver ran a red and hit my car as I was crossing a county road.  I caught her out of the corner of my eye and slammed on the brakes just before she hit me which meant she hit the front quarter of the car vs T-boning me straight into my door.  My car spun a couple of times and ended up on the shoulder of the county road, about 30 feet up from the intersection where she hit me.  My neck and ribs are a little sore and I scraped up the top of my left hand on something, but besides that I hopped out of the car without a scratch.

During the accident both my main airbag and side curtain airbags deployed.  I don't really think that the main bag did anything for me, but I felt my head hit the side airbag.  The only way I could describe it was that it was like hitting my head while wearing my MC helmet in a low speed crash.  I felt the impact but it didn't hurt and felt like the umph had been taken out of the blow. 

Once I got my bearings again I looked up at the side airbag and saw that it was covering the top 1/3 of the window and the top portion of the door frame.  If it hadn't deployed that's where my head would have hit the car and I think it would have rung my bell pretty good if not something much worse.  I have to be honest and say that I didn't even know that my car had side curtain airbags before the crash.  I am however positive that when I replace my car the new one will definitely have them...

Props to modern technology!

[beedawg]

Glad you're OK, Jared!  Sorry about your car, but it sounds like it took good care of you.   

Brent

[Greg]

Jared,
   Glad to hear you escaped relatively unharmed! Scary world out there.

Greg

[Mike Duluth]

All I can say is WOW glad your ok.

[tk]

Glad you survived. I've never had a car with a side airbag. It sure makes sense though. The left side of the head could really take a beating on the window or door frame.

[gdawgs]

dude, that is cool you made it out alive.  how's the insurance treating you? 

[Elk]

Years ago a drunk driver t-boned me right behind the driver's door, tearing the car in half.  My head hit the left side door/frame.  I wish I had had a side airbag.

Great to hear you are OK.

I f you need legal help or a referral let me know.

[beedawg]

I've never had a car with a side airbag.

I'd never owned a car with any airbag (or ABS, for that matter) until this year.  Airbags and ABS are good things that keep getting better.  People are walking away from crashes that would have killed them a few years ago.

[Jared]

The CARnage.  If you look all the way to the driver's side of the windshield you can see the airbag hanging down.

[Greg]

Sobering picture.

[RCKT GRL]

WOW!  Glad you're ok Jared. 

[Elk]

Good job, car!

How are you feeling?

[Jared]

Feeling good.  I was pretty sore Wednesday and Thursday but feeling better today.  Insurance (State Farm) has been pretty good with communication and letting me know what they need to get it taken care of quickly.  Just heard from the body shop on my way home that they are totaling the car, so we'll see how I feel once they make me an offer...  Hopefully the fact that they won't be paying for it will put them in a generous mood! 

JP

[Joel S]

glad things are OK. Airbags have come a long ways, from side, to full curtain, they are a great life and injury saver.

[Elk]

Great news!