I was involved in an accident last weekend. My girlfriend was received 15 stiches for a deep gash in her hand. Otherwise everyone was ok. The other car was a 2 door saturn. She turned left in front of me on a yellow light. We were both probably at fault. I believe impact was at approx 30-35 mph. Everyone was wearing their seatbelts. I only received abrasions on my forearms from the airbag deployment. My girlfriend also received abrasions on her face from the airbag. The other driver was unhurt.

I have two reasons for posting.
1) It cannot be emphasized enough how important seatbelts are. My girlfriend is very petite (5' 4'' / 110 lbs). Before we met she wasn't in the habit of wearing her seatbelt. I have tried to change that and I am very thankful she had her seatbelt on, otherwise she would not have walked away. Even so, she has a very deep cut between her forefinger and thumb (about 1 1/2 inches deep).
I'm not sure yet how that occurred. Maybe from bracing herself?

2) This is by far a lesser concern, but more related to this board. Any advice on dealing with insurance concerning the car? I don't know if it is totalled. I am going to the car later today to retreive some personal belongings. I had full coverage, but I don't know what to expect. Damage was isolated to the front quarterpanels and the front of the car. The radiator is gone. The police officer was able to drive the car to the side of the road.

I apologize for the length of this post. And please, always wear your seatbelt.

Ted

An update on the accident. It appears the actual deployment of the airbag caused my girlfriend's injuries. The hand specialist equated it to an explosion. She went under for a 1 hour surgery that turned into 4 hours due to 'complications'. I haven't been able to ascertain any details as of yet. I am wondering if in this specific accident the airbags caused more harm than good.

One piece of advice would be to position the passenger seat as far back as possible.

My biggest concern is that she regains 100% use of her right hand.

Just had a front end accident 2 weeks ago at about 10-15 mph rearended a Pick up with a really big Trailer Hitch that did me in. replaced the hood with one from a wrecked car the same color: $350.00, no paint needed! The header/filler panel (some people call it a core support-it holds the headlights) cost 100.00 used, but i priced it from 200-300 used depending on who has it. (i guess i got price break because i bought hte hood at the same time) AC condensor 139.95 aftermarket, Headlight Lenses 69.00 aftermarket. Turn signal 29.00 aftermarket, Grill 155.00 IPD. Total about 1000.00 do it yourself, but i did not have frame damage or airbag deployment.

Dan

Good Luck and I always wear my seatbelt.

At 30mph, that's a very substantial impact.

The parts for that fix are very expensive. Not so much the hood and quarter panels, but the sundry parts inside the front sheet metal. The condenser is probably shot too, but I've seen it quite often where the condenser stays intact while the radiator splits apart. There is definitely frame work to be done on the car. Most impacts of that type stay forward of the passenger compartment, affecting only the front sheetmetal.

What usually totals the car is the airbags and pyrotechnic seatbelts. It's not unusual, especially with an 850, to run up $2000 in airbags and seat belts alone. Even with cheap front sheet metal, when you start adding up the plastic parts in the front end, frame time, SRS components, and refinishing, the bill mounts quickly and soon exceeds the insurance company's repair allocation. Especially if they specify Volvo-only parts. That runs up the tab in no time at all. (Airbags and belts are NOT available from anywhere else but Volvo, or from a used Volvo that's been parted.).

That's not a guarantee that the car is totaled, but with your description of the impact, it sounds as if it's very likely. That is a very common thing with FWD Volvos--totaled because of parts prices. Let us know what happens.

Glad to hear you both walked out of it. I wonder what hurt your girlfriend's hand? You might figure it out. It could've been anything. Be happy you were wearing belts, and have a safe car.
--
Chris Herbst
1992 745, 68k

And others:
93 944, 150k
90 245, 110k
88 744, 160k
87 245, 185k

It's very important to wear your seatbelts. I learned this in 1970 when I totalsed my fathers MB 220SE. If I hadn't been wearing my VOLVO seatbelt, installed by the local MB and Volvo dealer, I would have been bounced around the inside of the car. I make sure my wife and kids wear theirs. My stepson has been in two crashes and was not wearing his seatbelt. He was injured.

With airbags it is important not to brace yourself for the crash. The airbag is inflated at 200 mph and will break the bones in your arms if you have your arms infront of you to brace yourself.

I'm glad everyone is OK.
--
Warren Bain - '86 744Ti M46 >290Kmi, '99 V70Glt > 45K mi, '96 965 >100Kmi Wifemobile near Manassas Va.. Check the 700/900 FAQ via the 'features' pull down menu.

i'm happy everyone is still alive.

i was in the reverse situation... i was turning left and this truck ran the red light. (I live in Vancouver, B.C, Canada) my insurance adjuster told me that i was at fault unless i could prove the guy going straight actually ran a red light, becuase people going straight have the right of way over someone who is turning.

the Dakota totaled the front end of my 240DL at over 70km/h, but luckily i was uninjured (no airbag in my car).

in the end, three witnesses came forward and told me they would tell our insurance company they saw the guy run the red light. the other guy was found 100% at fault and he paid for my car, which was totaled. (the insurance company bilked me, but that's another story)

i would take it one step at a time, and handle at fault claims first then car repair, then injury last. make sure you get documentation the entire way, and be sure to make copious notes. for now, let the adjustor do her work and inspect the car. they may think twice about repairing the car, especially if it has heavy frame damage.

make sure you have your hospital bills and potential post-accident injuries assessed properly. document everything.

once again, i'm really happy everyone was alive and your girlfriend suffered only minor injuries.

I nailed a Mercedes under similar circumstances, the Mercedes actually ran the red arrow for left turn, I had green. In any case the Mercedes driver got the ticket, and her insurance paid without a wimper. The most amazing thing was that the total damages, bumper cover parking light and headlight wiper didn't even meet my $500 deductable. If the other driver ran a yellow and you ran a yellow don't be sure you're partially at fault. Yellow just means "caution" in my state, unless you enter the intersection after the light changed to red, you have right of way through the intersection. In my state. Others may vary. File a police report, of course. Sorry about your girlfriend, I'm glad everyone's OK otherwise. Leave your car with a shop that knows what it's doing, a Volvo shop or Mercedes/BMW/Porsche shops usually do an excellent job, too, since you've probably exceeded your deductable it doesn't matter WRT your insurance rates. Best get a result you are happy with.

-Phil Punxsuawney

Thanks for emphasizing the importance of seatbelts. Unfortunately some people learn only too late. Be happy that you and your passenger got away only with a few injuries, others fare much worse. Happy motoring and remember, safety first.

I think in Colorado that stop signs and red lights are now the same thing as yield signs(stop only if you feel like it). At least that is the way people seem to treat them.