Deployment of side curtain airbags?

Question

We were cut off by a driver near a toll plaza on the Florida Turnpike. My husband being a former police officer kicked in his defensive driving and swerved to the left and bumped a small median that divided the north and southbound lanes. The side curtain airbags deployed and hit me in the shoulder and him in the neck. We were stunned that this happened. Now here is the fun..We were in a rental vehicle from Enterprise, a 2008 Chevy Trailblazer with 260 miles on it. My mom had recently passed away and we were on our way to her apartment to clean out belongings. We were able to pull into a safe spot and called Enterprise immediately. They sent a wrecker who advised us to take pictures-there was absolutely no damage to the vehicle. He flatbedded the vehicle and gave us a ride to mom's. The next day Enterprise gave us another vehicle. We arrived home, returned the vehicle and paid the bill. The fun then began.

Answer 1

Side airbags are designed to protect an occupant's head and/or neck from striking objects inside or outside the vehicle in the event of a side impact crash.

Because of the small amount of space between an occupant's head and the side of the vehicle, these airbags must deploy very quickly to cushion the occupant from any intruding vehicle or object such as a tree.

Sensors detect when a crash is severe enough for deployment. Some curtain side airbags may stay inflated longer to protect occupants in rollover crashes. Allowing the airbags to remain inflated or triggering their deployment during a rollover can help prevent full or partial ejection of occupants.

Answer 2

Where is the fun?