my poor 91 infiniti is totaled I need help with some issues

[navyman_98_99]

my 1991 infiniti q45 just got totaled yesterday my girl was driving it from work and a old lady pulled out infront of her at a intersection and she hit the lady. I have a question though? My infinti airbags didnt go off so my girl is messed up in the neck region, she has cracked vertabreas. I went and looked at the infiniti today and the front was pushed all the way back to the engine, so the airbag sensors did get hit, but it didnt blow the bags.So I did some more investigating and turned the car on and the airbag light flashed and went off like it was ok. I then cranked the car and it sounded horrible but sure enough it started and I had no air bag warning light. like everything was ok again. So my question is; is this a common thing with these cars. I spent alot of time on this website, form buying parts form all of you and getting to know this car. After I had it perfect some 78 year old lady just had to be in the wrong place. I am very sad I loved that car and after I sue the living hell out of infinit and the ladys insurence I am sure that I will be ending up with a new infiniti.Thanks for all the help you have provided me and I am sure i will be on here again with a new infiniti that they garentee me the airbag system will work.Thanks again Mike

[maxnix]

Sorry to hear of your girlfriend's misfortune. Hopefully she will recover soon. I wonder if the airbags were tampered with before you bought the car?

The old lady is an easy target. INfiniti may be a little slippier.

[navyman_98_99]

I'll find out soon I have my mechanic going over tomorrow to pull code off the car and find out, he also had mendioned checking all the wires to the air bag sensor.Thanks Mike

[Q45tech]

Legal car life is only 100,000 miles or 10 years.............never been a NHSA recall for air bags...........outta luck..............what was impact speed, the air bag computer module has all the fact data........it can be recovered.

Also there is a warning to replace air bags ever 10 years by now they will blow up and shred like confetti.

Were you running oem tires [equal to the 160 treadwear v rating that the car is designed to brake with? ] if not you are outta luck in the first place.

[Flagship-Q]

How fast was she going (you're girlfriend)? I believe if she was traveling under (somebody will know the exact speed) 14 mph the airbags are designed not to deploy as to not injure the driver in low speed accidents. As a victim of a rearend collision from a year ago (still in physical therapy twice a week, medications, doctors appts., attorneys, etc.) with neck pain, I really feel for her. She (you) have just begun a very long journey with usually a ugly outcome no matter what the compensation will be.

[navyman_98_99]

I was running brand new tires and the airbag had been replaced from the infiniti dealership in vegas. she was going 35 miles an hour, the old ladys car she said flew around a full 360 and then another 180. So we will see!Thanks Mike

[Jeff Williams]

Ouch! I hate to hear a bout a Q death, but your daughter,(girl?) is much more important. I hope the therapy does not interfere with her 2010 Olympic scating debut.

Take LOTS of pictures before your mechanic tampers with anything.

Get pictures of the skid marks, etc as well. Also get shots of the little old lady's car.

Documentation is your friend.

Get signed and notarized statements from everyone, including the tow truck driver and cop that wrote up the report.

[Q451990]

Why was the airbag replaced? Had the car been in a frontal impact before? If so that will probably be Infiniti's out... they may say that the previous repiars could have caused the problem and therefore it's not a manufacturer defect. Hard to say.

In any case I'm very sorry to hear about your car and your girl...

Heath