Why did the side airbags not deploy during a side impact crash (on the drivers door) going 30 MPH?

Question

I had a car accident a few weeks ago. I was turning left. The other driver hit me almost dead on in the side going more than 30 MPH. I drive a 04 VW Jetta. He drives a 86 full size van. The metal from my door broke through my door paneling and touched my knee/leg. Both driver's side doors and a part of the front quarter panel is damaged but the driver front door took the brunt of the impact. Thankfully we walked away with minor injuries but shouldn't the airbag have deployed? If so, why did it not?

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.

If the vehicle is equipped with side airbags, you can either contact the vehicles manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

To see if your vehicle does have side airbags go to this site and check it out.

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/side_airbags...

Answer 2

Does your car have side curtain airbags?

Answer 3

it depends where the crash sensors are located in your car.  The most basic one is behind the front bumper, but some cars have crash sensors in each of the doors, once these sense an accident they should set off the airbags, Unless they're defective