Good that you are ok. How fast were you going? Pics would've helped this post, but sounds like there was no direct impact on the side or the front.

 

Yikes! Yeah, I'm a little worried after hearing of a few accidents where NO airbags go off

 

 

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Those look more like "glancing blows" rather than direct hits to anything, which is good for you, not so much the Durango. I suspect that's why the airbags never went off. At least the Durango did its job and protected you from any major injuries.

 

Trust me it looks a lot worse in person. Everything is so bent the only door I can get in and out of car is the driver's side rear. My passenger window shattered but the tint held the glass together.

I was going approximately 55 MPH at impact.

 

True that they were more side-swiping blows but the front left blow was pretty direct to the second vehicle I hit.

 

Ouch looks like this will be $$$ if they decide to fix it... I had simple accident on my front bumper and it was $2k to fix.

 

Most important thing is that you are ok. Hate to see your D wrecked...but she can be fixed, or worst case replaced. Just make sure to get checked out, it is always the days following an accident that you realize how hard you were hit.

 

It looks like the reason that the bags did not blow is due to all of the indirect contact. You generally have to be hit pretty solidly into a frame rail for the front bags to go off and solidly into the side, or be rolling over for the side airbags to deploy. I would not be surprised, seeing this damage that your headrests did deploy, though. It sucks, man. I hate to see your D looking that badly, but am glad that it wasn't bad emough to actually deploy the bags. You'd surely be feeling much worse for wear if it had been bad enough to do so.

Good luck! Whatever the outcome, I hope that it all gets straight for you as soon as possible!!!

 

Did not know that headrests have air bags. It must be really fun when they deploy.

 

They don't have airbags, they are spring loaded and move closer to your head to prevent whiplash.

 

Its not an airbag, but a device that deploys rapidly pushing the headrest pad forward to catch your head as it whips back.

 

Ok, my old car didn't have that, but looking at this crash test, i don't see any point in this headrest for frontal crash, perhaps it works when someone rear ends you.

 

And, yes, they also work in rear end collisions.

 

Amazing crash video...thanks.

Crudad...I'm really glad you're ok. As others have said that appears to be glancing type damage but with all of the area's damaged I would suspect the damage to be in the 10K range to fix everything.

My personal opinion, just based on the photos is that they'll fix it. If there is other internal damage that can't be seen...obviously it could be more.

 

It took a banging, but it kept you safe and that's most important. Good luck as well.

 

If you walked away with no serious injury, then the airbags did the right thing by not going off.

I've said this somewhere else in this forum, but basically airbags are NOT big pillows. They are things that EXPLODE against the occupant's bodies to accelerate them away from the vehicle so that the bodies don't get accelerated by contact with the vehicle itself. They are inflated and deflated in the blink of an eye.

There was a time when airbags would go off with just about any impact, and a lot of people suffered more injury from the airbags than from the actual impact. Modern airbags, by and large, don't fire if they can't be of any help..

 

Thank you all for the concerns. Outside of being a little sore I'm ok. It was a crazy thing because I saw it unfold in front of me, hit the brakes and it was complete ice. I was rapidly approaching a spun out car and decided to crank the steering wheel into the cement wall. I was then flung to the left and that is when I side-swiped two vehicles. I'd like to think if I didn't do that maneuver then it would have been a head on with the back of the first vehicle.

Bitch of it is I got a ticket (along with many others) as I didn't have my car under control considering the conditions. The State Trooper told me he had to write the ticket even though he didn't want to. Glad that no one was seriously hurt.

Looks like after initial inspection my car will be repaired. While I love this car my insurance would have provided me with a brand new one if considered totaled. I dread getting it fixed and having issues down the road. They guarantee all repairs so I guess that is good. Would just rather have a new Durango but maybe I'm over thinking that.

I'm super happy that it protected me as well as it did. There were others that sustained minor injuries and their cars looked a lot worse than mine.

 

Crudad,

Just be sure to absolutely inspect the vehicle when you pick it up...from top to bottom....look for the differences in the little gaps between the doors and quarter panels, etc. Check everything you can. When you drive it off the lot keep the radio off and listen for anything you can...that could be problematic.

I guessed it would be repaired. As far as the ticket goes...sorry Many officers/troopers are obligated by dept. policy to issue citations in crashes such as this so he may have not had a choice...so to speak. Its not right by all means...just their policy.

Good luck with the repair....vehicles can be fixed or replaced. Doing that with people is tougher.

 

I'm relieved your ok! A few years ago I was in a simular accident with a brand new cruze. Only had 338 miles on it and was damn near totalled. In my case, I did not receive a ticket and was able to file a diminished value claim. You may want to research a bit and see what your state allows.

 

somewhat not relivant to this whatsoever.. but if they replaced the car.. would you still have a car payment? Who would you pay? Giving you a new car essentially pays off the old one?

Again, just curious if you thought about that?

 

You'd still have a car payment.... They aren't actually giving you a replacement car, and even if they did, now there are 2 cars that need paid off, the insurance company one, and you'd still be on the hook for the original. What's happens is the insurance is just covering the cost of the value of the wrecked one. I'm fairly certain they give you a check for the value of the vehicle. Then its up to you to pay off the loan. When it comes to the new vehicle, you're on your own again negotiating with a dealer to get one, but you do have the remainder of the insurance payout for down payment.

 

Wow Glad you are OK
I am sure your D will be better in no time.
Better to just stay home next time
STEVE

 

Do you have car dashcam? Perhaps that could help to fight the ticket?

 

Doesn't deployment of the airbags automatically total the vehicle in some states?

 

You may be correct
In Nj I believe, all sensors must be replaced after airbag replacement and the vehicle must be re-certified by the dealer. I believe the episode is recorded in the PCM and can only be removed by the Dealer Computer.

STEVE

 

Gees, sorry man. That stinks, but not matter what you and the people you hit are ok also, could have been allot worse, I think you did the right thing hitting the barrier and saved others more injury. good luck with the repair work and hope you have a speedy recovery man.

 

scary situation, but glad to hear everyone walked away. Good luck with the repairs/replacement

Glad to see that these cars can hold their own in an accident