Just got in Car accident

Hey guys. Im realtivly new to the forum, but have posted some stuff the last two months or so. BUt I just wanted to let everyone know of a mircale that happened last night/

I was going 80mph down a country road, lost control because I over corrected a lane adjustment and then over over corrected that, which sent my car sideways into a pole, which I broke in half, and flipped 4 times across 80-100 yards. I was out cold for about 10 minutes before someone came to me and found me. Heres the setup:

-Windshield is 3 inches from my face, smashed in, the glove box is rightnear my right leg, about 8 inches, my tunk is non-exsistant, and my car's nose is barely recognizaible. However, the whole drivers side was barely not touched. Everything was right near me, but I was awake and consous. I was pinned by the steerling wheel but that was it.

The man who called the EMTs said there was a death, there was no way I was alive. I asked to him to call my dad.

THe EMTs show up, unpin me, and I WALK away. I walk to the EMT truck and get into it by myself.

At the hosipital,
I got a CAT scan and x-rays. I hace ZERO broken bones and nothing wrong with my head.(I got knocked out by hitting my head on the wheel).


THE GOOD NEWS: Photoshoot of the car I just totaled, its happening on saturday. Ill post some pics.

THE BAD NEWS: MY airbags did not deploy/ Does anyone have any info on legal aspects of this. (I have a '03 Honda Accord 4-Door).

ps: If you are not a christain, please just skip over this part, I do not wish to offend anyone(non-christains)

So basicly, God said it wasn't my time to go, and I think he has some big plans for my life. And He put a shield around me last night, he didn't let anything happen to me. I wasn't doing to good in my walk of faith the last month or so, this has defantly brought me closer to the Lord.

Because you went sideways...the airbag sensors didn't call for the airbags to deploy. The airbags in that particular car were only designed to deploy in a frontal/head-on impact. If the car didn't receive enough force in that direction, the airbags would not deploy. It requires an impact equivalent of 14mph head-on to cause normal airbag operation.

From the sounds of things, you were very lucky. I think you should smile and enjoy your good fortune....perhaps even buy a lottery ticket or two!

michaelbehlen wrote in post #2370201
I was going 80mph down a country road, lost control because I over corrected a lane adjustment and then over over corrected that,....

THE BAD NEWS: MY airbags did not deploy/ Does anyone have any info on legal aspects of this. (I have a '03 Honda Accord 4-Door).

Your speed and quality of driving should negate any claim you have against the no deployment of the airbag

(Glad you are OK)

michaelbehlen wrote in post #2370201
So basically, God said it wasn't my time to go, and I think he has some big plans for my life. And He put a shield around me last night, he didn't let anything happen to me. I wasn't doing to good in my walk of faith the last month or so, this has defiantly brought me closer to the Lord.

God should have taught you not to drive so fast and recklessly in the first place. I am glad you are ok. I assume you are under 22 yoa and wanted to go out and get some FAST on.

After 30 years in the fire department, I learned just how kids so often outdrive their capabilities. Just a fact, kids have the best eyes, reflexes, everything but brains... well, experience. Lesson learned I hop and thank goodness you didn't die, or worse, kill someone else.

I'm glad you feel strong in your faith, something that provides comfort and hopefully a better person comes out of this... well, you might be a great person, so I will say let's hope this produces a safer and better driver. 50,000 deaths a year on our roads is way too much of a waste. Peace.

Woah! You are very very fortunate to have walked away from that. I'm glad you're still around as I love your current work.

I'm sure you're seeing a whole different side to your life, and your faith now.

Glad you're OK, but I have to go along with some of the comments here about speed, particularly from joegolf68.
I'm sure we've all 'been there' and got away with it in the past, so it's not as if we are all perfect, but sometimes we have to learn from mistakes and be slightly more sensible in the future.

I do find it a bit ironic that one of the first things you are asking is "MY airbags did not deploy/ Does anyone have any info on legal aspects of this"...

I'd just be glad to get out alive...

Look forward to the pics

Glad you are okay, but please think long and hard about these things: In the US reckless driving negates liabilities of any other party. How could they be liable when you did not use the car in the manner intended and also not within the legally defined uses of the car. Also, as stated previously, airbags are not designed for side impoact, unless your car is specifically built with side impact air bags. Also, if you were closer to the Lord you would not even be thinking of how to profit from your recklessly violating the law.

Thank goodness you are unhurt...it souds like a most horrific crash. Over correcting at 80 MPH is an invitation for a roll over...as you have found out. The lesson you should learn here is that 80 MPH is illegal and speed limits are posted for a reason. You are a lucky guy...learn from this!

Well, all I can say is thankfully you're okay, and consider yourself lucky.

Please use this experience as a lesson. Learn from it, that would be the best you could ever hope to get out of it.

Just make sure you use this accident as a lesson to make you a better driver in future.

I too have destroyed a car in a shunt that should have killed me. You take these things forward and use them to make you a better driver.

Speed limits are there because the government decided that driving above them - in perfect conditions - is too dangerous for that piece of road. What would have been the result if you'd rounded a curve at 80mph and found a child in the road? That child would have been mincemeat. In icy, snowy, rainy or in the dark, the speed limit is probably going to be far too fast for that piece of road.

It's not a case of my lecturing you on driving within your abilities but on driving with a safety margin given current conditions and posted speed limits. There's no shame in driving safely. I always try to be a better driver than anybody else on the road.

Man... glad to hear you are ok!!

Stay safe and keep shooting

SLOW DOWN.......please.

who does 80 mph on a country road anyway? hopefully u learned.

glad u r okay

You have gotten some good answers to the question. As Woolburr said - the air bag sensors (depending on the car) are located front/rear. They are engaged (and most effective) in frontal/rear end crashes. Also, depending on the car, they deploy at different speeds - the Ford Crown Victoria (which I have the most experience with) takes about 25-28 mph front/rear end collision to deploy the airbags. Because of the dynamics of the crash as you describe - no front/rear end involvement - only side impact against a fixed object which would not "trigger" the airbag. Airbags are not magic and are best used in the manner they were designed for - frontal/rear end crashes. The fact you survived the crash (that you had to be unpinned tells me you were wearing your lap/shoulder belt) speaks well of the design of the car and the safety features you had -- good lap/shoulder belts and good compartment design.

You did not have an "accident." (Law. such a happening resulting in injury that is in no way the fault of the injured person for which compensation or indemnity is legally sought.) Accidents can't be prevented - you crashed. There were several points at which this crash - potentially fatal - could have been prevented. You have been preached to enough - glad you are alright - and more glad no one else was injured or killed in this crash.

Drive safe - live to photograph another day!!

michaelbehlen wrote in post #2370201
Hey guys. Im realtivly new to the forum, but have posted some stuff the last two months or so. BUt I just wanted to let everyone know of a mircale that happened last night/

I was going 80mph down a country road, lost control because I over corrected a lane adjustment and then over over corrected that, which sent my car sideways into a pole, which I broke in half, and flipped 4 times across 80-100 yards. I was out cold for about 10 minutes before someone came to me and found me. Heres the setup:

-Windshield is 3 inches from my face, smashed in, the glove box is rightnear my right leg, about 8 inches, my tunk is non-exsistant, and my car's nose is barely recognizaible. However, the whole drivers side was barely not touched. Everything was right near me, but I was awake and consous. I was pinned by the steerling wheel but that was it.

The man who called the EMTs said there was a death, there was no way I was alive. I asked to him to call my dad.

THe EMTs show up, unpin me, and I WALK away. I walk to the EMT truck and get into it by myself.

At the hosipital,
I got a CAT scan and x-rays. I hace ZERO broken bones and nothing wrong with my head.(I got knocked out by hitting my head on the wheel).


THE GOOD NEWS: Photoshoot of the car I just totaled, its happening on saturday. Ill post some pics.

THE BAD NEWS: MY airbags did not deploy/ Does anyone have any info on legal aspects of this. (I have a '03 Honda Accord 4-Door).

ps: If you are not a christain, please just skip over this part, I do not wish to offend anyone(non-christains)

So basicly, God said it wasn't my time to go, and I think he has some big plans for my life. And He put a shield around me last night, he didn't let anything happen to me. I wasn't doing to good in my walk of faith the last month or so, this has defantly brought me closer to the Lord.

I am a christian. You are lucky.

Now why the hell are you looking into legal matters because your airbag did not deply? Would it save your car? would it have saved you form injuries? Oh, yeah you walked away. People like you are driving up the costs of everything with a blame others cuz you could not handle your car. Your life was just spared by the grace of God and you want to look into a law suit. you make me want to puke. dont sue, dont speed. Yikes. I hope you are 70 years old, because if you are the youth of today we are doomed. I would really liek to tell you how I feel, but you are not worth getting banned over. Some christian you are.