Deer accident

[Navion 49]

Well, coming home last night just getting dark around 4:30, 10 minutes from home and all of a sudden a huge deer jumped up from a ditch and hit my 6 week old Ultimate 5.0. Major damage all along the right side of the vehicle. I would love it if it was written off by the insurance but knowing my luck, they will fix it. Strange thing about the accident is that no air bags went off from the side impact which doesn't make any sense to me. This was a major impact on the side of the car and should have at least set off the side air bags I would think. I am also very concerned with some major vibration that I noticed when I drove it home and also wonder about the frame/unibody being damaged and not detected by the repair shop or the insurance company. Anyway, not a happy camper here in Canada but if it wasn't for bad luck I would have no luck at all.

 

[mth]

Dang hope everyone is ok. Post some picks if you get a chance.

 

[homeofstone]

Same thing happened to my son a few years ago. It took the mirror, door handle, and side scoops off, plus denting the side up on his Mustang GT convertible. I hope you can get it repaired as good as new. Deer are pest and can be deadly.

 

[Aquineas]

Sorry to hear about your car, but happy to hear you're here to post about it. Here's to a complete recovery of your brand-new car!

 

[amartz]

That makes three of us now in this forum suffering thru that. I've at least got mine back from the body shop, all nice and shiny already.

 

[Analog]

It's a good thing the airbags didn't fire. It's an explosion that can cause problems if not used in the exact right scenario. If a car t-boned you that's when you want those side airbags firing.

I understand it might have been fairly major but it takes a certain impact over a very short amount of time to be "right" for airbags. I'm glad you are OK.

 

[shortspark]

I live in the middle of deer country where the roads are dark, narrow and the forests cut close to the roads. You can not drive around these parts at night and not eventually hit a deer. That is why I insist on the best lighting packages available. When I bought my ML350, the bi-Xenon lights were an option I had to include on the order sheet. They are wide and very bright and I know they have prevented one and possibly two deer collisions. In the big city these lamps are virtually useless but out here they are a must have option item.

I am thinking of buying a sedan and the Genesis is high on the list based on reputation although I have not yet checked out every feature. While we are on the subject, what are the headlight options on these cars?

 

[srobak]

Airbags do not deploy due to impact. This is a common misconception by many people. They do not have sensors in the bumpers or in the doors that detect a "hit".

Instead they use accelerometers to measure sudden, abrupt, rapid and massive accelerations (being hit from behind), deceleration (hitting something in the front) or sudden, abrupt, rapid and massive changes in direction (being hit from the side or in a corner).

Analog is right - you do NOT want those things going off unless you are in a serious wreck - because the impact from the explosion alone is enough to seriously hurt you and ruin your day if it fires prematurely. It is designed to be a "counter" to whatever force is being applied to you that necessitated the deployment. Think "reactive armor" on a tank. Things get cancelled out.

 

[Huddleston]

deer hit me on the way home from Vegas last month - I feel your pain. I still am waiting on my car to be repaired. glad you are okay and hope the Genesis recovers as well!

 

[ahearn]

I'm sorry to hear of your unfortunate accident. I feel for you -- and the deer. Your insurance company will likely not total your car but make sure you have a reputable body shop handle the repairs and who will restore your car to as-new condition.

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[commodore]

Well, coming home last night just getting dark around 4:30, 10 minutes from home and all of a sudden a huge deer jumped up from a ditch and hit my 6 week old Ultimate 5.0. Major damage all along the right side of the vehicle. I would love it if it was written off by the insurance but knowing my luck, they will fix it.

Because of your accident and the insurance company's unlikelihood of not totaling your car you are stuck with a nicely repaired car that has an accident report attached to its VIN. Your trade in value took a considerable wack due to that deer. At least you were unhurt.