Airbags are placed in the steering wheel, roof column, and seats. They have sensors that need to be triggered for deployment. None of these sensors were triggered in this case, which is why the airbags didn’t deploy. The door and seatbelt likely protected you. This is pretty standard.
@Puck
What about the curtain airbags? How do they deploy?
QuantumQuest said:
@Puck
What about the curtain airbags? How do they deploy?
Curtain airbags don’t always need to be triggered by direct impact on the sensors. Some people may not fully understand how they work.
@Lizz
Airbags don’t always deploy because they aren’t always necessary. Sometimes they could cause more harm than good.
QuantumQuest said:
@Puck
What about the curtain airbags? How do they deploy?
Airbags work by catching you when you’re thrown forward. But if you’re hit from the side, it can push you deeper into the car, and there’s no airbag there to protect you. The passenger side might have deployed if there was someone in the seat, but it wouldn’t trigger without a passenger.
It may seem like ‘common sense,’ but understanding airbag deployment is pretty complicated. Hopefully, you’re okay, though. If you are, it means the airbags didn’t need to deploy. In certain situations, airbags could cause more harm than good. If the people who deal with this professionally (insurance adjusters, police, EMS, etc.) think the airbags should have gone off, you might have a case against Hyundai. But if you’re fine, just wait for the insurance check and get yourself a new car.
Interestingly, the frame and B-pillar seem fine. That could be why the side curtain airbags didn’t deploy—they’re usually attached to the frame and pillars. Airbags shouldn’t deploy unless it’s really necessary. Car ads and crash test footage show airbags inflating gently, but in reality, they inflate quickly and can cause serious injuries. This is one reason why there are age limits for kids in the front seat.
@Gerald
You’re right. Though rare, airbags can cause broken bones or bruises, and more commonly, they cause contusions, broken noses, and sprains.
What year and model is your car?
Does this mean my car is totaled?
Atkinston said:
Does this mean my car is totaled?
It depends on the year and mileage. It’s possible to just replace both doors. That’s what insurance is for.
Not accusing anyone, but if you weren’t wearing a seatbelt, the airbags wouldn’t have deployed (it’s actually more dangerous if they do deploy without seatbelts). That could be the reason.
richardfeller said:
Not accusing anyone, but if you weren’t wearing a seatbelt, the airbags wouldn’t have deployed (it’s actually more dangerous if they do deploy without seatbelts). That could be the reason.
I was wearing my seatbelt, but I’m trying to figure out whether the airbags should have deployed or not.
Question: We were in a head-on collision and rear-ended in our truck. However, we were at a stop when it happened, so no airbags deployed. The truck has an accelerometer in it, and from what I’ve read, airbags don’t deploy unless you’re moving at a higher speed. Were you moving when this happened?
The side curtains should have deployed in this case.
Was the impact at a 20-30 degree angle?
malawi said:
Was the impact at a 20-30 degree angle?
Looks like it was.
Does your car have side airbags?
SueJohnson said:
Does your car have side airbags?
Yes, you can see them in the photo.