Personal "Crash Test"

[saskdiesel]

Originally Posted by min4cin

Airbags are directional in their setup. Being hit the way the accident was described more than likely threw the car into the guard rail at an angle the not programmed to set the bags off. It has nothing to do with the severity of the accident but the direction of the impact. While the safety of the smart is proven in this case, wonder how a Kia or a yaris would have held up, You will always have the nay-sayers saying a large heaver car would not have rolled in this type of accident. I am glad to hear you are ok and good luck getting back in your wheels again.

I believe the side curtain air bags deploy if a certain angle (upside down?) is recorded. The front side airbags and front airbags are collision recorded.
At least thats what I was told when I bought my Fit.

[D-NICE]

Sorry to hear this! Wonder how a Smart Convertible would have faired?? Hopefully just as well.

[smartette]

Heavens to Murgatroyd, Evilbean! I'm so sorry that happened to you. Please concentrate on mental/physical recovery; we'll wait for the pics!

[SmartCard]

OMG.....glad you are ok 'bean! That must have been something.

Originally Posted by D-NICE

Sorry to hear this! Wonder how a Smart Convertible would have faired?? Hopefully just as well.

yeah, I wonder that too....particularly with the side rails off!

[dw103]

Like everyone else, I am glad that you are unharmed. Does this mean we won't see you at the first L.I. meet tom'w?

[mi_bumblebee]

I can't imagine what you've been through and I hope I never have to experience it. Thank you for sharing your story though because it makes me feel better about my decision to buy this car. I'm more happy that you're ok of course!

[Dan500]

Hope everything turns out for you Bean. Glad your ok.

[blackbeagle]

Hey...we're all glad you're OK. Hopefully your lawyer will take this other guy to town. You might be OK now but the big question is will you make a full recovery? Most car accident victims usually feel their pains (neck and back) months after it happens.

In addition of being OK in such a big crash, you also have the odds in your favor. Getting into an accident is such a rare occurrence so I'm betting that you will never have another one during your lifetime.

Good luck at getting your new Smart. Hope it comes sooner than later.

[mdfortwoguy]

Originally Posted by saskdiesel

I believe the side curtain air bags deploy if a certain angle (upside down?) is recorded. The front side airbags and front airbags are collision recorded.
At least thats what I was told when I bought my Fit.

Airbags function as a staged system. They work off of the principle of deceleration. After stage 1 of deceleration is tripped by one sensor, the system is essentially armed and waiting for the second sensor to trigger, which triggers a deployment.

Side curtains trigger off of violent lateral movement.

[JanetMermaid]

Originally Posted by blackbeagle

Most car accident victims usually feel their pains (neck and back) months after it happens.

Blackbeagle is right. I was rearended while sitting at a red light -- the car that hit me was going about 50. I felt fine at the time but after a few days had a stiff neck. It got worse, to the point where I had no grip strength (I held my coffee cup with two hands and could not open any jar lids or pop the tops on soft drink cans). After about 4 months, both arms tingled to my elbows like I'd whacked my "funny bone". Turns out I had a ruptured disk between my 6th and 7th cervical vertebra in my neck. Took spinal surgery and a fusion to fix it.

In addition of being OK in such a big crash, you also have the odds in your favor. Getting into an accident is such a rare occurrence so I'm betting that you will never have another one during your lifetime.

I hope that's true. I was rearended sitting at a red light TWICE -- the lights were a mile apart!