So what happens when you hit a deer at 95KMH? (about 60mph)

My mom hit a cow about that speed in her explorer back around 1999. As you can imagine, it caused a lot more damage from a much heavier animal, and her airbags did not go off either. She just got the car, bought a used 98, and the insurance company chose to repair instead of total, and spent more on the repair than my parents paid for the car. My dad wasn't happy with that so sold it and bought a new one.

We thought it was strange the airbags didn't deploy, but she was lucky she wasn't hurt at all, someone hit a cow about a week later in the same spot in a minivan and was killed (farmer obviously did not take care of his fences).

 

So to be less safe then?

 

No. Supposedly to prevent deployment related injuries. Imagine hitting a deep at 65 MPH, and getting an airbag in your face. It could easily cause you to veer into other lanes of traffic, possibly resulting in a head-on collision, when a deer is only likely to damage the driver's vehicle.

 

Well, it seems to me that hitting a deer at 65 is about the same level of impact as hitting a Volkswagen at 35...Also, hitting something like a cow or a moose at speed is like broadsiding a Buick...the OP's air bag SHOULD have deployed.

 

Meat gives, and bounces - Buicks don't. To trigger deployment, newer airbags require more force. If it were me, I'd be glad they didn't.

Not a sermon, just a thought.

 

Your frame is fine. Nice dead center hit!

 

Only think I can think of is the tire I nailed hit right on the sensor, making it fire. Must have been an old style sensor. Anyone know where the airbag sensors ARE located?
And yes, deer are on legs, so the center of mass is much higher then a car. That might have something to do with it as well.

 

I believe they are #16 in this:

 

That's more then likely it, then. The tire and rim almost nailed it square, firing it.

 

What happens if the deer comes through the windshield? Not trying to be a smartass here, but I think it's a legit question.

 

http://www.news-leader.com/story/ne...-when-deer-comes-through-windshield/93954204/

Good chance you will be on your way to see Jesus.

 

First, you change you underwear...

 

;0)

 

Put some tiny headlights on that bullet and slow it down to 55mph and deer will jump right out in front of it. - Jeff Foxworthy

 

This is just not necessarily true. Impacts are not always that simple. Saying my bag deployed in crash A so his should fire in crash B is flawed. There are countless factors that determine deployment...from speed, deceleration, angles, height of center mass of impacted object and on and on.

20+ years of mandated airbag usage has taught the auto industry much about proper and appropriate bag deployment. Gone are the days of trigger happy firing of bags when not needed. Unnecessary deployment can cause more harm than good....increasing the likelihood of bag related injury and/or collateral crash issues. Plus it greatly adds to the cost of repair

 

I notice in the posted videos, folks going at a good speed in low light. My last trip to Eastern Sierras driving at dusk the occupants of my truck asked why I as driving so slow. My response was it was getting dark and we just passed two deer on the left. As the occupants started to complain again a deer jumped out, slammed the brakes on and just missed the deer. No more complaints on speed.

 

The sensors for the airbags lower, near the bumper. If the deer did more of the damage to the grill area, then they wouldn't have been triggered.

To the dude that that them deploy cause of a tire, it's probably cause it hit dead on to the sensor area near the bumper.

 

Not sure if you have talked to insurance yet
but be sure to say a deer hit your truck and not you hit a deer.
Seriously, my friend was considered at fault just for the wording he use. Said he hit a deer, and insurance took that as him admitting fault. His broker told him he should've said a deer hit him.

 

YES!! They wrote it off and my replacement insurance means I do in fact get a new truck!! Will post pics when I get the new one!

 

Hey OP... are you a fly fisherman..?? Looks like that deer is missing it's tail... hehe.