2014 TE wreck / curtain airbag deployment

[NERunner]

Long time reader, unfortunate 1st post...

Was in an 8 car pile up last week in my relatively new 2014 TE outside of Boston early in the morning. Some aches and pains, but will be ok. My T4R, on the other hand may not be. I was the third car in a chain of 8, was rear ended and driven into the car in front of me. Considerable nose/hood damage and was pried off the ground by a small compact car that bent my hitch, exhaust, and damaged my bumper.

Speed at the time of impact was minimal as I recall... However both driver airbags deployed as well as curtain bags the entire length of the t4R. Cops and tow driver were both surprised the curtains deployed...and was wondering what would have triggered them to blow. Has anyone here had a similar experience?

Needless to say I've gotten the first estimate from the insurance company and without looking at the undercarriage they're already at 16k in damage. About 3/4 of that amount is attributed to replacing the airbags and in that initial estimate they didn't include the exhaust or hitch work.

At this point I'd love for them to salvage it so I can pickup another off the lot, but don't think they will... I'll need another 10k+ in damage identified for them to salvage it as I understand. Anyone else been in a similar wreck and had luck getting it salvaged?

Thx

 

[USMCASA]

for your vehicle to total it has to be close to 75% of the tax value of your vehicle with its current mileage... unless there is extensive frame damage you probably won't come close to that.

 

[T4RT]

[MENTION=107766]NERunner[/MENTION] - I am glad to hear you were not injured! We can replace a vehicle, but we cant replace the people in it! Glad to hear the 4Runner held up during the accident. I feel for you in this situation since I have been there before with another vehicle I have owned. I am interested to hear from other people and read their feedback as well concerning the airbag deployment. The side curtain airbag system was one of the selling points for me when I purchased my 4Runner two weeks ago.

Keep us posted!

T4RT

 

[simplemind]

Sorry NERunner, that's a tough break. A lot depends on the adjuster that the insurance company uses, although it may be the other persons company, dunno. The percentage that USMCSA is a range, which is determined by the insurer, but it's a starting point.
My wife had a Lexus RX360 AWD which ran off a rain slick road at about 20 mph. and hit nothing but a chain link fence, and was going pretty slow at that point. The bumper fascia and hood were the obvious damaged components on top, but no air bags were deployed. HOWEVER, the car was totaled (28k) because of all the damage underneath. Partly because it was a uni-body vs body-on-frame, I imagine, but all the sensors, hydraulics, etc are pretty vulnerable under there.
From your description, it wouldn't be a surprise if they totaled it. BTW, let them know that you will not accept anything less than perfect.

 

[1engineer]

Long time reader, unfortunate 1st post...

Was in an 8 car pile up last week in my relatively new 2014 TE outside of Boston early in the morning. Some aches and pains, but will be ok. My T4R, on the other hand may not be. I was the third car in a chain of 8, was rear ended and driven into the car in front of me. Considerable nose/hood damage and was pried off the ground by a small compact car that bent my hitch, exhaust, and damaged my bumper.

Speed at the time of impact was minimal as I recall... However both driver airbags deployed as well as curtain bags the entire length of the t4R. Cops and tow driver were both surprised the curtains deployed...and was wondering what would have triggered them to blow. Has anyone here had a similar experience?

Needless to say I've gotten the first estimate from the insurance company and without looking at the undercarriage they're already at 16k in damage. About 3/4 of that amount is attributed to replacing the airbags and in that initial estimate they didn't include the exhaust or hitch work.

At this point I'd love for them to salvage it so I can pickup another off the lot, but don't think they will... I'll need another 10k+ in damage identified for them to salvage it as I understand. Anyone else been in a similar wreck and had luck getting it salvaged?

Thx

Airbag deployment is complicated. Several things have to happen during the accident to get these things to fire. One of the common misconceptions about them is speed of the vehicle. It's important, but not as important as the rate of change of velocity. For example, you are going 25 mph and you let off the brakes and coast to a stop. The time that it took you to go from 25 mph to 0 mph is a long time. Now let's slam on the brakes from 25 mph. Absolutely the rate of change in speed is much shorter, but not short enough to trigger the airbags. Now let's go 25 mph and hit a concrete wall. Boom! THAT rate of change to 0 mph is enough to trigger the airbags. Same with the side curtain airbags. If you tip the vehicle really slow, then they won't go off. In an accident that "sideways" movement could be fast enough to trigger the side curtain airbags. It's not how far you tip it, it's how fast you tip it. Hope this helps.

 

[jbstrd]

Airbag deployment is complicated. Several things have to happen during the accident to get these things to fire. One of the common misconceptions about them is speed of the vehicle. It's important, but not as important as the rate of change of velocity. For example, you are going 25 mph and you let off the brakes and coast to a stop. The time that it took you to go from 25 mph to 0 mph is a long time. Now let's slam on the brakes from 25 mph. Absolutely the rate of change in speed is much shorter, but not short enough to trigger the airbags. Now let's go 25 mph and hit a concrete wall. Boom! THAT rate of change to 0 mph is enough to trigger the airbags. Same with the side curtain airbags. If you tip the vehicle really slow, then they won't go off. In an accident that "sideways" movement could be fast enough to trigger the side curtain airbags. It's not how far you tip it, it's how fast you tip it. Hope this helps.

Yep, Delta V

 

[1engineer]

Yep, Delta V

Yep. I try to answer in english as much as possible though lol even though "geek" is my primary form of communication.

 

[jbstrd]

Yep. I try to answer in english as much as possible though lol even though "geek" is my primary form of communication.

Geek is very foreign to me so I like to show off when I actually understand a little Geek, lol.

 

[JeremyB]

Yep. I try to answer in english as much as possible though lol even though "geek" is my primary form of communication.

I was curious if jerk was used for airbag deployment. It is. http://www.experts.com/content/articles/Kenneth-Solomon-Airbag-Paper.pdf

 

[burninator]

Long time reader, unfortunate 1st post...



Was in an 8 car pile up last week in my relatively new 2014 TE outside of Boston early in the morning. Some aches and pains, but will be ok. My T4R, on the other hand may not be. I was the third car in a chain of 8, was rear ended and driven into the car in front of me. Considerable nose/hood damage and was pried off the ground by a small compact car that bent my hitch, exhaust, and damaged my bumper.



Speed at the time of impact was minimal as I recall... However both driver airbags deployed as well as curtain bags the entire length of the t4R. Cops and tow driver were both surprised the curtains deployed...and was wondering what would have triggered them to blow. Has anyone here had a similar experience?



Needless to say I've gotten the first estimate from the insurance company and without looking at the undercarriage they're already at 16k in damage. About 3/4 of that amount is attributed to replacing the airbags and in that initial estimate they didn't include the exhaust or hitch work.



At this point I'd love for them to salvage it so I can pickup another off the lot, but don't think they will... I'll need another 10k+ in damage identified for them to salvage it as I understand. Anyone else been in a similar wreck and had luck getting it salvaged?



Thx

Got any pics?

 

[KiruxaT4R]

Glad you are ok, pics please!

 

[dekeman]

If it gets repaired, instead of written off, consider trading it on another. Be honest and upfront about the repair. Lots of uses for repaired trucks - they often go on to lead good lives as work trucks. Keeping it will undoubtedly result in problems down the road, problems you wouldn't have with an non-accident truck. It's a little like having an affair: once the trust is broken, it's never the same again.

 

[Hadelson]

Long time reader, unfortunate 1st post...

Was in an 8 car pile up last week in my relatively new 2014 TE outside of Boston early in the morning. Some aches and pains, but will be ok. My T4R, on the other hand may not be. I was the third car in a chain of 8, was rear ended and driven into the car in front of me. Considerable nose/hood damage and was pried off the ground by a small compact car that bent my hitch, exhaust, and damaged my bumper.

Speed at the time of impact was minimal as I recall... However both driver airbags deployed as well as curtain bags the entire length of the t4R. Cops and tow driver were both surprised the curtains deployed...and was wondering what would have triggered them to blow. Has anyone here had a similar experience?

Needless to say I've gotten the first estimate from the insurance company and without looking at the undercarriage they're already at 16k in damage. About 3/4 of that amount is attributed to replacing the airbags and in that initial estimate they didn't include the exhaust or hitch work.

At this point I'd love for them to salvage it so I can pickup another off the lot, but don't think they will... I'll need another 10k+ in damage identified for them to salvage it as I understand. Anyone else been in a similar wreck and had luck getting it salvaged?

Thx

Glad to here you are ok!

If memory is correct, believe once air bags deploy, most cars go into category considered for totaling vehicle and parting out. Has to do with certification of the system for operations mandated by law. Second is cost to replace as think you need new components, no reman's or parts from wreck.

Have had two major wrecks with same vehicle. Both hit by 18 wheel semi while parked. Toyota RAV4 2005: First time with Frame damage total in 12K range, vehicle repaired. Took almost 3 months. 2nd time, truck backed into parked car, pushed it into wall and airbags deployed. Damage substantially less then 1st wreck, but Insurance totaled citing Air-bags deployed and associated cost to repair and meet mandated Federal laws repairing correctly.

Good Luck

 

[WV runner]

If it gets repaired, instead of written off, consider trading it on another. Be honest and upfront about the repair. Lots of uses for repaired trucks - they often go on to lead good lives as work trucks. Keeping it will undoubtedly result in problems down the road, problems you wouldn't have with an non-accident truck. It's a little like having an affair: once the trust is broken, it's never the same again.

I hit a deer on 12/30 last year and set off the passenger side air and curtain and seat airbags on my '12 SR5. Ended up with $12K worth of damage to it. The dealer says a lot of the cost is that they have to replace all the airbag sensors when 1 is set off. It took about 10 days to settle with my insurance and I traded it to that dealer for a new '14 TE. I ended up at about 10% below KBB value on trade, about $23K with 50K miles, but it may have been worse if I had tried to trade at a later date with the damage. That truck would have never been the same to me so I traded. And I am really happy with '14 TE which made it worth it.

 

[splash101]

Off topic, but how did the 8 car pile up happen?

In the morning, folks often cut into my safe driving distance.

 

[NERunner]

glad you are ok, pics please!

 

[burninator]

That is a metric shit-ton of airbags. Wow.

 

[Clark]

Front damage honestly doesn't look too bad from the pictures. Side curtain bag is typically deployed if yaw sensors detect certain rate of side roll or spin that could indicate potential roll or passenger sideward movement. Better a curtain airbag than a body or head against the interior. If vehicle in back went under you possible sensors detected upward movement of the truck and thought you were spinning or rolling.
All deployed airbags will have to be replaced, all sensors designated with those components so all front sensors and all side sensors on the side of deployment, usually clock spring in steering wheel, seatbelt and pretensioner on side of deployment airbag modules, pillar trim and headliner, seat cover if seat bags deployed, etc. each manufacturer has requirements of what has to be replaced. Good chance of hidden damage but may not be enough to make up another $10k.

 

[Hillbilly Mac]

I've got to figure out how to keep the airbags inflated. I could go camping, roll the truck on it's side & have a comfy place to sleep! In all seriousness though, cosmetically, I'm rather surprised at the lack of damage to the front. I'll be interested to see the hidden damage list. Still glad you're ok.

 

[Seatown]

Sorry to hear about the wreck and glad to hear you're okay. I am in a somewhat similar situation currently. I was hit by a driver last Saturday in my new to me 2012 TE (with 16k miles on her); 100% fault to the other driver. There is only $4k worth of damage on mine, but it will still show up on the vehicle's history report.

The problem you (and I) will have if they fix your 4runner is the diminished value when you go to sale/trade in. Chances are your dealership will offer you significantly less than a clean history 4runner due to your accident. You should start looking into filing a claim for DV against the at fault driver's insurance to try and offset the reduced trade in value.