Side airbags did not deploy in a tbone accident going 55 mph?

Question

We were traveling on the highway going 55 mph in a 2008 new sedan with curtain and side airbags. We were hit directly on driver side and front end by a cadillac crossing the highway throwing us into the side guard rail. The drivers side door is completely crushed and the passenger side door, front and back ends dented in. Not one side airbag deployed? Auto body shop says they have to be hit just right but I can't see how ift could have been hit any better and we were doing 55 mph when hit. Has anyone else had this experience? Does this sound unusual?

Answer 1

Sensors detect when a crash is severe enough for deployment. Some curtain side airbags may stay inflated longer to protect occupants in rollover crashes.

So to me this sounds like a problem and the manufacturer as well as the national highway traffic and safety administration should look into.........

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/