Marlin's daughter & son-in-law were involved in a serious car accident, Friday

[*FFC*]

Wow, I'm sorry I'm just getting to this.  I'm so glad to hear that you and your husband are okay, Chrystal.  With all the bad that's been going on over the past years on here, it's nice to hear a story with a happy ending, even if you're still recovering.  I'm sad to hear about the other driver, and his family will be in my prayers.  I'm praying that you two have a speedy recovery and can be back on the trail in no time

[MiniSimp]

After researching about airbags we are pretty confident that it should have deployed.

I had a similar (but different) situation happen to me.
I was going NB on 280 about 70mph when traffic stopped, I stopped, the Honda Civic HB behind me never touched the brakes. He was absolutely pissed! He hit me (at dead stop with the brake on) doing 70mph pushing my Dodge Dakota on 35's forward about 35 feet. His air bag never went off. Our bumpers never made contact. My trailer hitch hit his intake manifold, my bumper hit his windshield. Luckily the guy was about 6'6" and around 250lbs (weight lifter) otherwise he would have been toast. He pushed his car uphill to the center divide by himself, we offered help, but he was too mad that the airbag didn't go off and did it alone. My airbag did not deploy either.

[*FFC*]

You never know, the airbag not deploying *could have* saved your life.  With something like this - it could be one of those "could have been worse" moments.  Who knows

[BigMike]

We have hired an attorney. After researching about airbags we are pretty confident that it should have deployed.

I think having an attorney is a good idea INCASE the guys family decides to sue you guys. Regarding the air bag, of course I only have the crappy pictures to go from, but you guys got hit from the drivers corner and the drivers side air bag did go off. Maybe both air bags do not deploy unless it is a square headon hit? Also, remember your car was used, right? It is possible the previous owner tampered with it in the past and it is disabled. Just a thought!! I would look into that first before I started blaming Honda..

According to the cops he had been at work and starting feeling really bad so he decided to drive home. Sooooo sad!!!!

Wow, out of all of this I would have to say this is the sadest part by far. Poor guy..

Ha, ha, ha that is funny!! Those were the days. 

So, these days aren't?

His air bag never went off. Our bumpers never made contact.

Remember a sudden negative acceleration is required to set off the air bag(s). Maybe because your trailer hitch made use of his Honda as a crumple zone prevented the needed sudden impact for his air bags to go off.

When I read your story Mini it immediately made me think about my truck. There have been times when slowing for a red light some squirrel in a car behind me slams on his brakes (what, he couldn't see my truck? yeah right) and he goes so close to me that I can't see his face in my rear view mirror!! I have always wondered what would happen. My bumper is up far too high, most small car's bumper would directly contact my MTRs before my rear spring shackles get a chance to crumple their hood far enough to hit anything solid. I think the back end of my truck would get bucked hard into the air and the other car would end up completely under my rear axle. Then I could just shift into double low and Monster truck over him in reverse hahahahaha nah j/k but I've always wondered what that would be like. Crazy you had this experience!

You never know, the airbag not deploying *could have* saved your life.  With something like this - it could be one of those "could have been worse" moments.  Who knows

Very good point Found Fondling Cows

[fordh8r]

Wow!    My thoughts are with Marlin's family right now. I know you guys are thoroughly thankful for the outcome on your end as well as with unselfish thought and prayer for the other driver's family. It's good to hear that you guys did not suffer any life threatening injuries from this event and that your recoveries should be quick.

Seeing those pictures is definitely a heart stopper thinking that it could have been far worse for the two of you.  Luckily, the story was told different than what might be expected, in what could have been a life altering situation for the two of you. 


Again, glad to hear you are doing well, considering the circumstances. 

[79coyotefrg]

Chrystal,  if he lost conciousness he obviously  has a "traumatic brain Injury"  watch him,  if the headaches get worse he MUST get help to reduce the swelling,  i didnt and my brain swelled and pushed my brain stem down causing a "Arnold Chiari malformation" or "brain stem herniation"

as for yourself,  i know its going to hurt but you have to force yourself not to breath shallow as this can lead to pneumonia


God Bless

Glen

[BigMike]

According to the cops he had been at work and starting feeling really bad so he decided to drive home. Sooooo sad!!!!

Wow, out of all of this I would have to say this is the sadest part by far. Poor guy..

I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone to always wear your seat belts!!

This guy was just going home because he was tired and not feeling well. He would have lived if he had his belt on. Chrystal, Tyler, don't you ever blame yourselves for this! It was HIS lack of responsibility for his life!!!

[fordh8r]

Chrystal, Tyler, don't you ever blame yourselves for this! It was HIS lack of responsibility for his life!!!

You can't sit there and dwell on all the "woulda, coulda, shoulda.... "  Because that doesn't help or change anything. I know it's tough not to have those thoughts...but....you have bigger things to concern yourselves with right now. Like getting better, for one. And getting your selves situated for any possible things to deal with as a direct result of this incident (legal maters and what not...). So take care of each other and stay focused on what is important right now. 

[MT4Runner]

Just saw this.

Very, very glad you are both OK!!  I hope Tyler's headaches go away soon and that your breathing returns to normal, as well!!

I'll say a prayer for the other driver's family. 

[*FFC*]

I also gotta say, all my friends who have been in accidents (and survived, thank God) have not been able to avoid physical therapy.  Chrystal, I'd recommend you and your hubby look into that early rather than waiting so long that it doesn't do much good. 

All the best!

[CLC]

I just want to thank everyone for their prayers for Chrystal & Tyler. They are okay, but are very, very sore. They both went to see their doctors yesterday for check-ups. Tyler's doctor had him go and take another CT Scan. He also wants him to get x-rays of his neck area. Tyler has been complaining about headaches (he isn't used to getting them). They were able to get his briefcase from the police. Chrystal says it doesn't really smell all that great -- Tyler had a frozen dinner in there along with his students' papers. The papers weren't ruined, but the frozen dinner is totally dried up. Still haven't been able to get his cell phone back. As for the car, they were told that the police will still have it for at least a week or two more. Chrystal said as soon as they can see the Honda, they plan on taking pictures of it and sending it to Marlin & myself.

They have retained an attorney so they will keep me informed as to how things are going.

Thank you also for keeping the other driver's family in your prayers. They need it just as much, if not more, than the rest of us.

I'll keep you all updated as I hear more.

Thanks again,

Christine

[THK Matt]

WOW this took my breath away reading all this.

glad you two were able to "walk" away from this.
car accidents are really scary and I have been involved in 3 car-to-car accidents and over 15 animal accidents.

I have to thank god for being on my side on every one of those. it goes to show how lucky we really are and how quickly it can be taken.


My prayers go out to you and your hubby as well as the other guys family.


85HOrunner

[79coyotefrg]

Wow, out of all of this I would have to say this is the sadest part by far. Poor guy..



I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone to always wear your seat belts!!

This guy was just going home because he was tired and not feeling well. He would have lived if he had his belt on. Chrystal, Tyler, don't you ever blame yourselves for this! It was HIS lack of responsibility for his life!!!

absolutley, i used to never wear a seatbelt, mostly because i watched a friend burn to death after a wreck  

but  i wear it now and wish i had when i had my wreck, maybe i would have full use of my brain, right arm and leg  and my back, neck, and pelvis wouldnt have permanent damage

[germ]

Wow, just found this thread, and had no idea about the accident. I'm glad to hear your doing ok. It usually takes a couple of weeks for everything to settle back down after a crash, especially that violent of one. Did Tyler have to have surgery for the spleen injury, or did they just watch that it healed OK? Hope his headaches have gotten better.

Hope your recovery goes well, and glad to hear you're already starting to improve. FFC's right about the physical therapy. I refer all my patients to therapy after even a trivial accident if they're having some pain. Tyler's headaches are likley due to muscle spasm, but as Glen pointed out there are some other things to watch for. If they continue, pursue it with your doc.

Erik

[BigMike]

Ok guys, I have an update.

Chrystal got some pictures and I'm sure she won't mind me sharing them. Check it out:

[V-Man]

   Looks to me like most of the impact happened on the Driver's side.  Maybe two feet to the drivers left and it would of been a hard side swipe or a direct hit of the drivers door.  I'm glad they were just leaving the light and not driving at speed...Hope Tyler and Chrystal,have a speedy recovery will be fine in the end.

[MiniSimp]

Interior held pretty well considering.

[V-Man]

Interior held pretty well considering.

  The crumble zones work pretty good... .

Maybe Marlin will start building bumpers for "honda"s now..

[BigMike]

  Looks to me like most of the impact happened on the Driver's side.

That is why I argue the passengers side air bag did not deploy.

BigMike

[BLACKDOG]

Simply based on the very first picture, (I'm at work, can't see the others)  the pass. side airbag should have gone off.  That is enough of a frontal impact for the airbags to go off. You'd be amazed (for those of you that haven't seen an airbag go off) at how big they really are, and how much they stop movement, not just front to back, but also side to side.  They tend to "wrap" around the person, which really helps control their momentum in all directions. 

If there is any intent to keep the vehicle (remember, I can't see all the pics)  Make sure the airbag on the pass. side gets inspected.  There are many cases of an airbag not deploying for whatever reason, but having been activated, and going off minutes later, to weeks later, for whatever reason, a slight tap on the bumper, closing the hood, etc. 

[THK Matt]

that looks like an insurance claim guys.

your pass side air bag should have deployed for sure.


How's the recovery going?

[*FFC*]

After *finally* seeing the pics, I agree - that is WAY too much of an impact for the pass air bag NOT to deploy.

[fordh8r]

 I agree with anybody who said the airbag should have deployed.  When you consider this is a textbook example of how vehicles are crash tested (slightly off to one side in a frontal crash, driver's side in particular) for safety this scenario probably and most likely would have failed that crash test.

Although, someone mentioned the fact that this was possibly a used vehicle  .  In that case, there may still be some recourse, as far as I know, it's against the law (federal law) to willingly or negligently alter or disable any safety system. That includes Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). 

If for some reason there was no airbag present for deployment then that would let Honda off the hook unless it can be proven that it was never installed in the first place, which may be unlikely. But then, where would you turn to persue the responsible individual(s) for there not being an airbag? This would be a lot tougher. 

[MiniSimp]

Low speed crash video. Impact in the same area. Passenger airbag does go off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBsiPV74Mbs

[fordh8r]

Low speed crash video. Impact in the same area. Passenger airbag does go off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBsiPV74Mbs

You don't really see it until the last clip and then you only see it after it's deployed from through the windshield. But yeah, it went off. 

[germ]

Holy smashed Honda, Batman!

Wow, the damage is significant, and I'm also surprised that the pass. air bag didn't deploy. I suppose the next thing to do would be find out if there was even one installed, and if so, could do a carfax, and see if it was ever in an accident and maybe it didn't get fixed/replaced. Not really knowing the law on these things, it would make sense that if it were repaired, and the shop didn't fix the airbag, they could be liable Honestly though, I don't know. I'm just glad they're alive (sorry for the other driver though).

Any update on Crystal and Tyler? are they doing OK? (don't want to pry, but just ensure they're OK)

erik

[Plekto]

Catching up on the chit-chat... hope you get better soon.

Oh - what boggles my mind is the guy with seizures(most likely) would have lived if he'd been wearing his seat belt, most likely.  Knowing you have such a condition and driving without one...     

[CrawlerChick]

Hello all! Thank you again for the kind words! We are doing well! Tyler is feeling great! He has minor pains and is counting down till he can rock climb. I still have a lot of pain thanks to the broken rib but am doing fine. Now we are dealing with the reality of getting another car. We found out today the the guy DID have insurance!! That was a huge relief! Time to get some sleep! 

[*FFC*]

Thanks for the update!! So glad to hear you two are feeling better.  Hang in there and take care of that rib.  My uncle is learning the hard way why it's very important to take care of it early on 

[79coyotefrg]

Hello all! Thank you again for the kind words! We are doing well! Tyler is feeling great! He has minor pains and is counting down till he can rock climb. I still have a lot of pain thanks to the broken rib but am doing fine. Now we are dealing with the reality of getting another car. We found out today the the guy DID have insurance!! That was a huge relief! Time to get some sleep! 

 



so its been another couple weeks how are you guys feeling now