Same thing happened to me about this time last year in my 4 month old Acura RSX Type S. A van cut me off and in an effort to avoid a collision, I slammed on my brakes and swerved to the right. But when I did this, my rear end broke loose and I found myself heading across 3 lanes of traffic right into the center median. I was lucky enough to be able to turn the car enough to not hit the median head on and ended up facing traffic when I came to a stop. But suffice to say, my car was totalled. I was lucky enough to walk away without any scratches.

Just like neal540, my air bag did not go off. But then again, I did not hit the median head on.

Both the CHP officer and my insurance said that I would have been better off if I had hit the van. That way, he doesn't get away. I got a point on my record because CHP and my insurance had no one else to "blame" for the accident. I even had 2 separate witnesses that stopped to help me and they both said that they saw the van cut me off. But no one got the van's tags.

 

Yeah, its tough to ignore your natural inclination to avoid hitting someone, but realistically, you're much better off letting their idiocy cause a crash.

Also, if your passenger airbag deployed, but driver one did not, Id be worried. So what if you didn't get hurt? What if you were in a much worse collision? When that airbag doesnt deploy, you fly through the windshield instead of walking away (little exaggeration)?

 

Sorry to hear about this Neal, I hope they total your car

 

Neal, glad you're ok at least! Really sorry about the ride though

 

because of the way lawsuits are these days and if i swerve to miss an accident and cause another one (i wouldnt drive off if i didnt get hit but still caused one), i would never take a chance if someone cuts me off or changes lanes into me. I would try and minimize the danger however possible, but if i wreck my beautiful G35, its not going to be my fault and there WILL be another car at the scene for the police to blame.

 

Glad you are ok. This happened to me but slightly different. I was in my Isuzu Rodeo about a 1 1/2 years ago and the lady to the right swerve to miss the car in front of her but she clipped him and cut me off. However, I went straight on, slammed on my brakes (to no avail) and totalled my truck on her rear-end. Suffice to say, she didn't get away from it. It was an easy-shut-case and I got my money from her insurance.

As for the airbag not going off, I would send a letter and complain like hell. Also, I don't know why the passenger side would go off if it isn't occupied. I see that there is a sensor on the passenger's seatbelt, so if there isn't engaged, it shouldn't go off

 

I was in the same situation. I got screwed over because I avoided another party that was trying to run me off the road. I ended up totalling my car into the median. So the insurance company put me down as a solo accident. Insurance company just straight out told me, it would've been best if you didn't try to avoid the situation. But of course natural reaction would be to do so..

 

first, glad to hear YOU were physically okay.
second, i would write Infiniti because even though you didn't get hurt someone else might in a similar situation.
third, doesn't damage > half value of car constitute as totaled? looks like you got that down hardcore.
last, good luck with everything.

y is everyone getting in the same accident? aren't g35's supposed to handle like "nobodies' bizniz." maybe i'm missing something important but i like my wrx more now.

 

Doesn't matter if you're driving a Enzo, Z06, M3, Volvo, Focus or Pinto. In everyday driving with the everyday idiotic people out there, there are no guarentees.

Neal, Sorry to hear about the car. I hope you end up with another one that's just as good. The insurance company is always going to say you did the wrong thing. Like just about everyone else says, you did the natural thing. Probably what most of would do in the same circumstances.

 

everybody thanks for the support, we will find out with the insurance co. in the next few days. unfortunately ive been looking around for a new g35 coupe and they are quite $$$, i will try on this used 06 silver one that they have at major in kansas city.

 

If you hit a car that cuts you off, isn't the fault 50/50. Because you are rear-ending the car in front of you by being unable to stop. I would guess this is the way insurance companies look at it, unless you have a couple independent witnesses. I mean, the person you hit could lie and say he/she did nothing wrong and you just didn't brake in time?

Btw, this is why I always drive with a big enough gap in front of me that I can stop if someone cuts me off.

 

I know I'm new here but wanted to say how sorry I am about your car. Remember though cars can be replaced..you can't. Your car did what it was supposed to and protected you. About the airbags, I worked for a collision repair shop and most airbags will not deploy unless it is a direct frontal hit, did you hit at any sort of an angle? If so that could be the reason the drivers side didn't deploy. I'm not saying nothings wrong with the airbag just in most cases I've seen it has to be a direct hit.
Lisa

 

Wooow. Sorry man

 

unless you have witnesses hitting from behind is always 100/0 ........ if you get cut off and hit from behind, technically you're still at fault because you weren't at a safe distance. now if you have witnesses to prove otherwise.....

 

Just glad to hear that you are unharmed...cars can be replaced...life cannot