Got in an accident....in a rental....

[Pablo]

OK I wasn't driving, but actually riding in the passenger seat right behind the driver in a 2009 Ford Explorer (V6).

It's like this: ~8:00AM headed up US 101 in San Jose. Driver decides to merge into the commuter lane....looks to left, car in front stops, he looks forward and everyone is screaming "STOP!!!!"

And we almost did. Hit the back of a Honda Pilot at something less than 5 mph or so. Now here's the odd part. Something went pop in the cabin, maybe the sound of a .22 or so. And white smoke. So naturally I think airbag. But not one airbag showed evidence of deployment. The airbag light was on, though. Hmm...

What do you guys think happened?

 

[crinkles]

could it have been the pyrotechnic seatbelt pre tensioners?

 

[crinkles]

glad everyone is OK. I am always paranoid about stuff like that when someone is behind me at intersections... they think you are going, then they look away to check for traffic, and start accelerating thinking you have gone...

 

[Tosh]

You were here and you didn't call?!

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: crinkles
could it have been the pyrotechnic seatbelt pre tensioners?


this.

 

[oilyriser]

at 5 mph?

 

[JTK]

Glad it wasn't serious Pablo. This was on the job I presume? Man are rental car 'accidents' a nightmare where I work. Every swinging ____ Safety Manager frothing at the mouth, full blown investigation, your name in the paper, etc..

Joel

 

[Papa Bear]

If you were in CA it probably was a gun shot....

It's the ones you don't hear that are fatal.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: Tosh
You were here and you didn't call?!


Do I have your number?

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Originally Posted By: crinkles
could it have been the pyrotechnic seatbelt pre tensioners?


this.


Interesting - do not know much of such technology.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
If you were in CA it probably was a gun shot....

It's the ones you don't hear that are fatal.


I think there is an Oakland joke in there!

Originally Posted By: JTK
Glad it wasn't serious Pablo. This was on the job I presume? Man are rental car 'accidents' a nightmare where I work. Every swinging ____ Safety Manager frothing at the mouth, full blown investigation, your name in the paper, etc..

Joel


I think that will come.....

 

[eljefino]

Wife's job they literally fly in from corporate HQ for any OSHA reportables.

Glad you're ok and not going to be buried in paperwork.

 

[Pablo]

I hear you. The driver is part of upper management, so let's see what happens.

The only real hassle is Hertz had us going to three agencies and we ended up in Palo Alto for a replacement (Suburban!)

 

[tom slick]

You wouldn't have been working in Sunnyvale by chance, would you?

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
You wouldn't have been working in Sunnyvale by chance, would you?


Yes. And right by the SJ airport.

 

[tom slick]

what about near Moffett field? Defence contractor?

 

[Pablo]

Our accident was like 3 miles before Moffett or so, headed north.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

A friend had a accident in a rental from Enterprise in the Fort Lauderdale area..He called them right after it happened and the first thing they said was did you take out the collision insurance with us..He said yes and they brought another car out to his location immediately..They said that would have not happened if he had not had the insurance.

 

[bdcardinal]

a lot of ford models have pyro pretensioners in the seat belt buckles.

 

[Pablo]

Good info.

I forgot to mention something. The CHP officer who arrived on the scene: Officer Fear (I'm not kidding). He was cracking jokes and stuff. Pretty mellow.


Not sure what to make of Hertz service. Yes we had their collision insurance.