Mike V.

Recently involved in accident resulting in severe head & neck injury. The specifics car : 2005, 6MN, Z-51, 3LT, 'vert, accident: in order to avoid frontal collision, had to swerve quickly, left rear tire caught on shoulder pulling the car into sideways slide. Police on scene, accident considered unavoidible, report recorded as no fault. Struck concrete lightpost between rear wheel and rear of door at apprx. 40 mph. Side airbag equipt veh. which did not deploy, head went through window breaking glass, possibly hit pole (no memory), resulting in tramatic brain injury, severe neck, minor back injury. Impact of body to door severe enough to rip rear latch from door jamb & dislodge front hinges to point door was detached from vehicle sans wiring.

The airbag deploying could/would have significantly altered severity of injuries. Seeking advise re: the failure of vehicle safety features, past experience, etc.

Injuries, not life threatening, although head and neck injuries perminent. Still seeking treatment options. Any help specific to vehicle safety feature failure would be greatly appreciated.

OnPoint

Did this happen to you?

WAwatchnut

I could be mistaken, but I believe when this has happened in the past people have commented that this may be consistent with the design. If I remember correctly, the impact sensors are built into the doors. No direct impact to the doors themselves and the airbags don't deploy. In the event that the car is struck on the side in the front or rear (as would be the case you mention), the body would not necessarily be traveling sideways (possibly diagonally, or to the front or rear), and an airbag deploying directly at the side could make things worse.

Again, this is what I remember from previous posts, but I could have it wrong.

Mike V.

Yes

foremaw

Sorry to hear about your accident. There are very specific conditions/events controlled by the sensors/computers under which airbags deploy. If those conditions are not present the airbags do not deploy to prevent additional injuries caused by deployment, which is a violent act in and of itself. If you were not hit in the driver's door or some other criteria were not met I presume that is why there was no airbag deployment. If you believe it was equipment failure, your insurance company should be assisting you in determining that. Also the Event Data Recorder may have information of value. Attorneys who specialize in accident recovery cases are also knowledgeable on this. One caution, do not get your legal advice on CF. I am sure others who have detailed knowledge on the airbag system can add more. I am certainly not an expert on it. I hope all turns out well.

'06 Quicksilver Z06

Agree with foremaw.

If the impact was between the rear wheel and door, that could be why the airbag didn't go off.

Some more info is in this thread
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ot-deploy.html

I'd still seek legal counsel though.

AORoads

I can add nothing to the above, but I am sorry to read of your accident. Hope you feel better.

PaulB

I cant think of the name of the site but the Feds put out notices on recalls. I get an e mail from this group everytime there is a recall on a Chevrolet. If you have not done this I suggest contacting this group and maybe they can get you some info. If I could think of the name of this site I would give it to you. But thats part of getting older, my memory isnt what it used to be. If I remember it I will come back and add. Good Luck in your recovery...

ben dover

I hope this works out for you.

Mike V.

I am already on this portion & pursing it. I worked at Honeywell who produced the simpliest sensors, invented the T-stat, to Aero guidence systems for space shuttle. These sensors cannot be that specific given the cost & design endpoint, to keep your head from going through the window. Fact of the mattter is I have sustained life changing injuries intuitively that may have been impacted by an airbag that should have deployed.

So I am looking for more technical, definitive input if anyone is out there.

Again, thanks for the kind response.

Mike V.

Thanks all.

BlueOx

Best of luck to you.

rayk

I would have your lawyer contact Chevy and ask for the data regarding air-bag deployment and system design. I would think they would have to comply.

You could file with the NTSB to get it on record.

Goatdad

No valid info from me on this subject but i 'm very sorry to hear about your injuries and wish you the very best, good luck and take care my friend

The Clevite Kid

GM won't give your attorney ANYTHING unless he actually files suit and can use the legal discovery process to force disclosure. But if he and you are just on a fishing expedition, you could be liable for a frivolous lawsuit. And to repeat, do NOT seek legal advice, including this paragraph, from the CF .

Now having typed the above, Mike, thanx for the help you have given me in the past. I hope your situation turns out as well as possible, given the circumstances.

- Lee

Raazor

Wayne O

I'm sorry about your injuries. I think a qualified accident-injury attorney would be better suited to ferret out documented cases of safety equipment failures, court precedents, safety systems design information and government regulations pertaining thereto. All the best with your medical treatments and I hope you have a full and speedy recovery.

sjohnson2615

Can't an accident be just an accident?
Why does it have to be someones fault?
If you want to sue someone,just sue the guy who put the pole there.
It is never a good thing when someone get's injured though,and I hope you get through this as painless as possible.I wish you the best.

EVRose

Sorry to hear about this tragedy and I hope you get well.
FWIW, I've seen the aftermath of front end collisions where one or both of the airbags did not deploy. If the sensor doesn't get hit it won't happen. It's what probably happened in your case. You might have someone take the door apart and find the sensor still intact and untouched. In that case you can't really blame the car. It just hit in an unlucky spot.

rgauchey

Why didn't the seatbelt prevent your head from hitting the windshield. Was that torn loose also?