I own a 07 c230 and i was recently in a car accident. I hit another car head on on the shoulder on the highway. I was almost at a complete stop when he hit me ( i estimate he was going under 30mph) and my hood and bumper got destroyed. The problem is that my airbags did not deploy while the other guys did deploy even though it was a head on and the force of the crash separated our cars by over 100 feet. I was not seriously hurt but I am wondering why the airbags didnt deploy and if i can pursue legal action against Mercedes for this (like maybe replace my car)? I already talked to my dealership without them seeing the car and they told me that there wasnt enough force for the airbags to deploy. Does anybody have any advice or tips on what i should do? Thanks
Do nothing. You have no case against Mercedes. Just because the other cars airbags deployed does not reflect as a lesser quality of Mercedes because yours did not. I have never heard of anyone bragging about the low speeds at which it takes it their airbags to deploy. Airbags are not the first safety feature in a Benz. The old W126 uses over a 100 safety features in high speed crashes.
Vehicle: 2003 540i M-Sport Six Speed, 1987 190e 2.3-16
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 224
You say you hit someone, but also you say "hen he hit me".
So what happened? Did you hit someone or did someone hit you? And at what speed? Stopped or 30mph? You need to be more clear.
Airbags do not always go off IIRC, it depends on the circumstances.
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Jack Miles AIM-RPMPhotographyJM 2003 540i M-Sport Six Speed
1987 Mercedes-Benz 190e 2.3-16
1989 Mercedes-Benz 190e 2.6
1980 Mercedes-Benz 500se Grey-Market (Parting out. Take your pick!)
I own a 07 c230 and i was recently in a car accident. I hit another car head on on the shoulder on the highway. I was almost at a complete stop when he hit me ( i estimate he was going under 30mph) and my hood and bumper got destroyed. The problem is that my airbags did not deploy while the other guys did deploy even though it was a head on and the force of the crash separated our cars by over 100 feet. I was not seriously hurt but I am wondering why the airbags didnt deploy and if i can pursue legal action against Mercedes for this (like maybe replace my car)? I already talked to my dealership without them seeing the car and they told me that there wasnt enough force for the airbags to deploy. Does anybody have any advice or tips on what i should do? Thanks
Do I understand you correctly?
You did hit another car.
Your Mercedes did prevent you from being seriously hurt.
And now you want sue Mercedes-Benz in order to get a new car to replace the car you destroyed on your own?
I cannot understand your arguments?????
Further-on, the airbags only deploy to prevent serious hurt or death. They do not deploy if the angle of attack is in away the airbags would not help or to prevent minor hurt. The reason:
First, their is also a risk of being hurt by the airbags, and if the risk of hurt due to the impact for the passenger is only minor, it makes no sense to deploy the airbags.
Second, consider in an accident a set of impacts. You bump quite lightly into a car and then your car turns around and bumbs again a tree. When do you want the airbags deployed? So also for this reason the airbags do only deploy at a VERY heavy impact in order that in case of several impacts your car has they save your life at the time it is needed.
Do not sue Mercedes but write them a letter and thank them that you are not hurt and second that you do not have to pay the cost to replace deployed airbags.
Oh the joys of frivolous lawsuits in today's society.
My father rear ended a car in his van at 45 mph two years ago. Guess what; the airbags didn't go off. Airbags are not always beneficial in a collision. There are various sensors placed around the car where an impact at such a point would prove beneficial to have the airbags deploy.
It seems like you're well enough to join up on a new forum and ask this question, so it seems like Mercedes-Benz safety engineering did its job correctly.
I own a 07 c230 and i was recently in a car accident. I hit another car head on on the shoulder on the highway. I was almost at a complete stop when he hit me ( i estimate he was going under 30mph) and my hood and bumper got destroyed. The problem is that my airbags did not deploy while the other guys did deploy even though it was a head on and the force of the crash separated our cars by over 100 feet. I was not seriously hurt but I am wondering why the airbags didnt deploy and if i can pursue legal action against Mercedes for this (like maybe replace my car)? I already talked to my dealership without them seeing the car and they told me that there wasnt enough force for the airbags to deploy. Does anybody have any advice or tips on what i should do? Thanks
Lawsuits are typically based on damages. You just said you had no damages. What is it that you wish to be compensated for?
Vehicle: 2001 E320 - Brilliant Silver/Ash: MBCA member
Location: West Virginia, USA
Posts: 5,963
I don't think Mercedes is liable for anything and I'd forget filing a suit against them. If you don't believe me, consult an attorney and see what he/she tells you. You didn't say who was at fault, but I would have the car fixed using the insurance company money and if you are not satisfied with the outcome, sell it and buy one that hasn't been in a front end collision.
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Ich liebe meinen Mercedes-Benz!
You can sue anyone you wish. The question is whether you can prevail.
In your case, I doubt it.
My understanding is that MB airbags are set to deploy at a higher impact level than most, and for good reason. Imagine that you hit a deer and the air bag deploys. You loose control of the car which then hits a two-foot diameter tree. The airbag is now laying uselessly in your lap so that your brain decelerates suddenly against the inside of your skull because your skull decelerated instantly against the top curve of the steering wheel...
These Benz engineers are pretty talented people. I'd trust them...
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